Kerry Verge (second from left) stands with some of his co-workers. (submitted photo/Andy Cohen)

By Nigel Maxwell

Respected local citizen

Longtime P.A. firefighter to hang up his boots

Apr 23, 2019 | 8:00 AM

A man who has spent almost four decades with the Prince Albert Fire Department, will be clocking in for the final time on Tuesday.

Kerry Verge, 59, told paNOW the whole idea of being retired still feels a bit odd.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my career. It’s an excellent job and I have worked with very professional people,” he said. “If I was 20, I’d start it all over again.”

Verge became a firefighter when he was 21. During the next 38 years with the Prince Albert Fire Department, he had the opportunity to try almost every job possible including assistant captain, captain and acting battalion chief. Reflecting back on his career, Verge said the biggest change he experienced was the advancement of technology, which he explained can be both good and bad.

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“A lot of times people start relying on technology and then when it either fails or does not operate quite the way it was designed, it can actually put people in danger,” Verge said, but added he thought the Prince Albert department did a great job keeping up with new technology and grasping all the new techniques.

While Tuesday may be Verge’s last day working, his official last day with the Prince Albert Fire Department will be on June 1. As a mentor to some of the younger firefighters, Verge said he has tried to teach them to enjoy every moment of the job. While Verge has no immediate plans yet for his retirement beyond doing a little bit of travelling, he promised his extended family he would be coming by regularly to check up on them.

“A lot of times somebody retires and they never set foot in the place again. I don’t want to be one of those people so I’ll come on a weekly basis and visit until they get sick of me and kick me out,” he joked.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell