Firefighters from Venezuela visit Caledon

May 18, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
Firefighters regard their trade as a sort of fraternal order, which crosses international boundaries.
Caledon fire officials demonstrated that last Wednesday when they welcomed representatives from the fire brigade in Valencia, Venezuela.
Caledon Fire Chief David Forfar said the visit to the fire hall in Bolton was “acknowledging the brotherhood and sisterhood of firefighters all over the world.”
Arne Roostna is a colonel in the Valencia Fire Department with 50 years of service, as well as a retired professor of electrical engineering, and his wife Elizabeth is a captain with 30 years, as well as a professor of English as a second language. The visit was organized by the couple’s daughter Erika Roostna de Brett, who lives in Bolton.
The festivities included Colonel Roostna presenting a City of Valencia Firefighters’ Medal of Honour to the Caledon department. He ceremonially hung the medal on the staff of the department’s flag. He also conferred the title of Honourary Chief on Forfar, and the title of Honourary Deputy Chief on Captain and Training Officer Colin Hanna of the Bolton station.
“The Medal of honour is an expression of unity between the two fire departments,” Forfar observed.
He also commented on the years of combined service between the Roostnas. “Eighty years between these two people is really quite extraordinary,” he declared.
“It is always very gratifying to learn from experience and make new friends,” Colonel Roostna remarked.

Colonel Arne Roostna and his wife, Captain Elizabeth Roostna, were welcomed to the Bolton Fire Station last Wednesday.

Colonel Roostna conferred upon Chief David Forfar the title of Honourary Chief of the Valencia Fire Department as Captain and Training Officer Colin Hanna watched. He was made an Honourary Deputy Chief.