After more than three decades of service, Dave Cockle is stepping down.
Only the ninth fire chief in the District of Oak Bay since 1938, Dave Cockle steps down Jan. 31 and will be replaced by current Deputy Fire Chief Darren Hughes. An Oak Bay firefighter for more than three decades, Cockle said his time serving his communityB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渘o call too smallB次元官网网址� mandate has been a joy.
B次元官网网址淭he people are incredible here in Oak Bay. We are really a community-based service B次元官网网址� and so proud from day one to be able to help our residents with that whether they have an issue with,B次元官网网址� Cockle said. B次元官网网址淎n electrical problem or a water leak whatever it is, we are here to support that and not many [fire] departments can say that.B次元官网网址�
Promoted to lieutenant in 1997, to assistant chief in 2003, Cockle took over as deputy fire chief in 2007 before eventually taking over his current position in 2013. He said the biggest change since being recruited more than three decades ago has been technology and communication, especially with the introduction of cell phones. But at the end of the day, he said the job was always about helping people.
B次元官网网址淚t started in 1938, because thatB次元官网网址檚 what firefighters do and did, you are kind of the go-to for the community and we have managed to maintain that all the way through to where we are today,B次元官网网址� Cockle said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 what our residents want, certainly by our satisfaction survey that we had 99 per cent satisfaction.B次元官网网址�
Under his leadership, a health and wellness program aimed at improving the mental and physical well-being of the Oak Bay fire hallB次元官网网址檚 staff and personnel was introduced. He is also a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Oak Bay, a current chair of the Oak Bay Kiwanis Pavilion Dementia Care Centre, vice-chair of the Rose Manor Society and one of the original founders of ShakeOut BC.
Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch said it will be difficult to watch him go.
B次元官网网址淒ave Cockle has done amazing work in his years as fire chief, and IB次元官网网址檓 sad to see him retire,B次元官网网址滿urdoch said. B次元官网网址淒ave has worked tirelessly to improve the Oak Bay Fire Department, to build regional preparation and co-operation and to contribute to a better society through his volunteer work.B次元官网网址�
Hughes said CockleB次元官网网址檚 legacy stretches well beyond his good work in Greater Victoria.
B次元官网网址淸He was] instrumental in [the ShakeOut BC] program and helped get the entire province prepared,B次元官网网址� Hughes said. B次元官网网址淚 would say that his reach within this community and beyond has been collaborative and his influence is appreciated and stretched well beyond Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 borders.B次元官网网址�
Hughes has met every single fire chief in his departmentB次元官网网址檚 history with the exception of the very first, but the fire hallB次元官网网址檚 tradition sees him receiving the fire helmet of Oak BayB次元官网网址檚 first fire chief from Cockle when he takes over.
B次元官网网址淭here some mixed emotions, very excited to get the helmet for myself and certainly a bittersweet moment to watch my mentor and current Fire Chief Cockle leave our services,B次元官网网址� Hughes said. B次元官网网址淸I have] got really big shoes to fill and I will work extremely hard for the community to fill those shoes.B次元官网网址�
Hughes will become the 10th fire chief in the District of Oak Bay since the department was formed in 1938.
B次元官网网址淚t has been a pleasure to have been able to serve [Oak Bay] up to this point back to 1992 when Chief Cockle and I were running around the district in an ambulance,B次元官网网址� Hughes said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 has been an unbelievable experience and anyone who knows me has heard me say the words that I am as excited and happy to work for the community of Oak Bay as the first day that I started.B次元官网网址�
arnold.lim@blackpress.ca
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