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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, F eb ru ar y 7, 20 19 | 10 KICKSTART FAT LOSS CHALLENGE meal plan + fitness 30 days drop 10 lbs starts Feb 11 sign up today metabolic care clinics 905-825-3800 info@metaboliccareclinics.com in so much time and effort toward achieving this goal, to be given this opportunity is not only spe- cial as a first for our team, but just a truly amazing achievement for the department and team members past and present." The Oakville team was select- ed to compete by the Transporta- tion Emergency Response Com- mittee of Canada, a not for profit corporation, which represents Canadian emergency service per- sonnel from coast to coast. The selection followed the team's performance during the 2018 North American Vehicle Rescue Challenge, which took place in Long Island, N.Y. in Sep- tember 2018. The group came in first in the rapid extrication pit, third in the limited pit and was judged the team with the best medic in the competition. The group also competed in November's 2018 National Extri- cation Challenge and Sympo- sium in Jacksonville, Fla. where, despite not placing among the top three, the team did well enough to catch the attention of the Trans- portation Emergency Response Committee of Canada. "Regarding the auto ex team, they are a group of dedicated peo- ple. They work year-round train- ing at their skills for auto extrica- tion," said Oakville Fire Chief Brian Durdin. "Definitely we are thrilled that they have done so well. Over the history of this department we've had a really good auto ex team. They're at times champs and at times runners-up ... but the cur- rent team has broken the ceiling and have been qualified to go to France." Roberts said all team mem- bers volunteer their time to at- tend these competitions, not only for the personal challenge, but to garner a level of education and experience that is not always at- tainable in the day to day setting. He said the competition sce- narios and training courses en- countered at these competitions allow the team members to gain an amazing level of knowledge in vehicle extrication. This training and knowledge, he said, allows these firefighters to do their job that much better when they return to Oakville. Roberts said the team is looking forward to representing their department and the Town of Oakville. Oakville Fire's Extrication Team is asking for the public's help in reaching France. The group is holding an e- waste drive, the funds from which will cover the cost of their training and their trip overseas. Residents can now drop their e-waste at two participating Oak- ville fire stations (2264 Cornwall Rd., and 2024 Sixth Line) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Acceptable items include printer cartridges, mobile devic- es, computer equipment, audio video equipment, network equip- ment, telecom equipment, print- ing devices and batteries. Non-acceptable items include mercury switches and thermo- stats, bio and hazardous waste, household hazardous waste, gas powered equipment and liquid chemical waste. Residents can drop off smaller items in the wagons located at the front door area of the fire sta- tions. When dropping off e-waste resi- dents are asked to take a moment to log their waste drop off into the binders located adjacent to the wagons in the front door area. Oakville Fire's Extrication Team members include Chad Roberts, Stephen Sacchitiello, Pe- ter Tirkalas, Andrew Marchand, Octavian Vlaicu, Marcel Per- reault, Ryan Borg and Alex Jef- feries. The World Rescue Organiza- tion, which is holding the compe- tition, is a non-governmental or- ganization and registered charity committed to improving techni- cal rescue standards by bringing rescue and medical services throughout the world together. NEWS TEAM GAINS 'AMAZING LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE' IN VEHICLE EXTRICATION Oakville Fire Department's auto extrication team practices prior to leaving to compete in Jacksonville, Florida in 2018. Graham Paine/Metroland Continued from page 1