Retired Fire Chief Walt Osellame received a surprise retirement package at a small ceremony at Midway’s village office Monday, Dec. 7. Chief Administrative Officer Penny Feist and mayor Martin Fromme presented Osellame gift certificates for a couple’s retreat and a helicopter ride — a small token of appreciation for his many sacrifices on behalf of the village and surrounding area.
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Osellame gave 30 years’ volunteer service to Midway’s fire department, at several points refusing a paid salary, according to Feist.
“I offered it a few times to him,” she told The Times.
“But he said, and he was adamant about it, ‘we are a volunteer fire department and I’m doing my part in it.’”
Osellame said he went to the village office on the pretense of a Monday afternoon meeting with the mayor and village staff. “It was totally unexpected and very, very humbling,” he said, adding that, “a ‘thank you’ would’ve been more than good enough.”
Mayor Fromme praised Osellame’s leadership, calling the chief’s plan to extend the department’s services to neighbouring Rock Creek, “a brilliant idea.”
“I very much personally appreciate his contributions in training the department and being on-call all those years; the sacrifices that his family made,” Fromme continued.
Feist said the village hopes to host Osellame at a retirement dinner as soon as provincial health orders allow. The village would celebrate his long and storied career with volunteer members of the department and their families, she said.
Osellame said he and his wife hope to book a weekend at the resort, a wellness spa near Vernon, in late June.
“My wife will really enjoy it, because with COVID, we really haven’t been able to get out much.”
The 66-year-old said his volunteer fire career spanned 41 years, starting in the wildfire service when he was just 17.
“I don’t think it’s over,” he said, adding that his successor, Chief Mike Daloise, “is very interested in me staying on in some capacity.”
Osellame repeatedly emphasized his gratitude to the department’s volunteers. His “number 1 priority” was guarding their safety as they put themselves on the line to protect their communities, he said.
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laurie.tritschler@boundarycreektimes.com
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