Service medal awarded to Thames Centre firefighters

Pictured from left to right are Thames Centre Fire Chief Nick Dorken, retired Cpt. Dave Cove, district chief Wes Fox and district deputy chief Robert Kuenzlen.

By Nancy Abra

At the Nov. 18 Thames Centre council meeting, special medals were awarded to firefighters recipients who already have the medal for 20 years of service.

For every decade after that, a bar is added to the Provincial Exemplary Service medal, indicating further years of service.

Receiving this special recognition of service was retired Cpt. Dave Cove of Thorndale Station for his 40 years service, Rick Sage of the Dorchester Station for 40 years service and David VanDyk for 30 years service, also from the Dorchester Station.

“I was very humbled,” said Thames Centre Fire Chief Nick Dorken, “to present these awards along with Mayor McMillan on behalf of the Ontario Fire Marshal to our dedicated recipients. The long-serving firefighters that we have in our municipality are a testament to the dedication that encompasses volunteer fire services throughout the province and contribute to the high standard of service the Thames Centre Fire Department provides to our municipality day in and day out.”