
In 1959, the Chestermere Cabin Owners Association (CCOA) obtained a 1952 Ford with a water tank. It was housed in a shed along with minor rescue equipment at the north end of the lake for use if any of the cabin owners had a fire. Unfortunately, it soon was not sufficient.
Chestermere Cabin Owners Association (CCOA) was incorporated in 1959, it was a social hub for the cabin owners. In 1976 this association purchased the land around the lake to secure the future of the community leading to Chestermere’s transition from a hamlet to a Summer Village in 1977.
Chestermere’s original Volunteer Fire Department was started by Wayne Paquette and Roy Berg in late 1979. Wayne became the chief and stayed for 13 years. Roy Berg started as a training officer and remained on with the department for a little longer than Wayne. It was first called the Volunteer Fire Protection Group and consisted of around a dozen active volunteers.
Roy was a dedicated firefighter for Calgary and became a crucial figure in the history of the Chestermere Fire Department. Wayne went from being a sales representative to a fire chief. He dedicated a lot of his time for the betterment of the community. “I want him to be acknowledged as one of the most key members to help build up the department,” said Roy.
Black fire phones were manned in seven different volunteer homes as a fire warning system. The initial fire hall was the shack on East Chestermere Drive, which served as a first aid station housing the old Ford truck during the Chestermere Cabin Owners Association era. Later, with the new Summer Village office built in 1979, the fire hall occupied a space on the north end of the building, sharing tight quarters with the village’s first constable’s vehicle.
“I was training someone who did manicures, somebody who was a cook, somebody who did dishes for a living. But they were doing the same stuff as volunteers that I was doing as a professional firefighter,” said Roy.
“This wasn’t their only jobs they might be sleeping after a long day, but they will hear a siren go off at 3 am, and they would put their lives on the line to deal with a situation in the village,” said Roy. In June 1980 a tanker was purchased, members did all the modifications and restoration to get it operational as soon as possible. The truck was put into service after Wayne did all the body work and paint in a week’s time during his vacation period.
In June 1995, Chestermere signed the First Response Agreement with the City of Calgary in order to ensure that City of Calgary will respond to a fire if requested by the Town’s fire department.
Recollecting a past distress call, Roy recalls rescuing a pregnant woman trapped beneath her vehicle after an accident on the highway, “She was screaming. There were people over in lakeside estates that heard her screaming. That was ways away from the highway. But she was in that much pain and worried for her child,” These incidents left a lasting impact on the responders, underscoring the challenges and emotional toll of their volunteer work.
In addition to responding to fires, the Chestermere Fire Department expanded its services to include rescue missions, medical emergencies, and more. The volunteers, comprised of both men and women from diverse professions, underwent extensive training to ensure they were well-prepared for any situation. The water rescue equipment was purchased later in 2001 through a grant.
They didn’t do this to get a pat on the back or to be called heroes, they were just bunch of people willing to help,” said Roy.
Roy Berg’s account of his experiences and the history of the Chestermere Fire Department serves as a testament to the vital role that firefighters play in safeguarding communities. Their unwavering commitment and sacrifices ensure the safety and well-being of those they serve.
Original Members: Wayne and Leslie Paquette, Rob Baker, Roy and Barb Berg, Ron Richardson, Doug Dunn, George Kuklisin, Betty and Ted Butler, Wayne Dann, Robbie (Big Rob) Rothwell, Cathy Scott