Comox Firefighters Association Expands AED Program in the Comox Valley

The Comox Firefighters Association has donated another Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to help enhance public safety in the Comox Valley. The latest recipient is Vida Movement Community in Comox.

Pictured are Monica Rosenke and Sydney Fletcher, who accepted the AED on behalf of the organization. Presenting the device were Comox Firefighters Association Chairperson Tammy Blair and Work Experience Program member Conor Hills.

“It’s encouraging to see more public access AEDs becoming available throughout our community,” said Comox Fire Chief Gord Schreiner. “I’m extremely proud of our firefighters and their ongoing commitment to this life-saving initiative. To date, we’ve helped place over 65 AEDs in public spaces—representing more than $90,000 in funding, all from non-tax sources, over the past decade.”

Public access AEDs are easy to use, require minimal maintenance, and most importantly, save lives. Each unit costs approximately $2,000. In addition to donating AEDs, the Comox Firefighters Association also provides CPR and AED training to community members.

Each year, the association receives numerous requests and carefully evaluates where new AEDs can have the greatest impact. Their goal is to add several new units throughout the region annually.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can strike without warning—at work, during community events, or in public places. While survival rates are typically below 10%, studies show that when CPR and an AED are used within five minutes, survival can increase to 30–50%. That’s why communities across the country are expanding Public Access Defibrillation programs to pair widespread AED placement with public education.

Comox Fire Rescue understands the importance of AEDs firsthand—every emergency vehicle carries one, and an additional unit is installed at the fire station.

For more information or to inquire about AED support, please contact Comox Fire Rescue at firehall@comox.ca or call 250-339-2432.

Meet our Members: Lawrence Floucault

This week on "Meet our Members", we interview Firefighter Lawrence Floucault

Was there a specific event that first interested you in becoming a firefighter?

I’ve been volunteering in my local community since I was a teenager, so I’ve always had a strong desire to give back. That commitment to service, combined with my love for challenges and working under pressure, naturally drew me toward the fire service. After university, I knew I wanted a career that was more hands-on, and firefighting was the clear choice. To support that goal, I earned my Primary Care Paramedic license and began serving as a paid-on-call firefighter in Ottawa, with the aim of becoming a full-time career firefighter. My wife and I later made the decision to move back to my hometown of Comox to raise our three daughters and be closer to family. I’m excited to get back into firefighting and continue serving the community.

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Tell us about your family.

My parents are both originally from France and eventually settled in Comox, where I was born and raised. Growing up, I had the unique experience of spending my summers in France visiting extended family, which gave me a deep appreciation for my French roots. My wife, Whitney, and I are now raising our own family here in Comox. We have three beautiful daughters—Evelyn, Vera, and Zélie—who keep life busy, fun, and full of energy.

What is your regular “Day Job”?

What is your regular “Day Job”

I’m a high school teacher at Isfeld Secondary, where I teach in both the English and French Immersion programs. My subjects include science, math, basic First Aid, and a paramedic prerequisite course called Emergency Medical Responder, which aligns closely with my background in paramedicine and previous experience as a firefighter. It’s incredibly rewarding to bring real-world experience into the classroom and help prepare students with practical, life-saving skills.  Outside the classroom, I also coach the junior boys’ and girls’ soccer teams. I find it incredibly rewarding to support students both academically and athletically.

Tell us about your passion in life

I’ve always had a deep love for the outdoors. Whether it’s climbing, mountaineering, skiing, mountain biking or golfing, I feel most alive when I’m active and outside. That passion for the outdoors led me to volunteer with Comox Valley Search and Rescue, where I volunteered for the past six years.  Above all, my greatest passion is spending quality time with my wife and our three daughters travelling and experiencing new adventures together!

Tell us about the most amazing thing you have experienced so far in life.

It’s hard to beat the birth of your children!  If I had to pick something noteworthy, I’d say being the first recorded winter ascent of Mt. Filberg (Vancouver Island) with two friends.  This experience was a milestone for me because there were many challenges in route finding, mitigating avalanche hazard and because it had never been done before.

Do you have any fire service goals?

I’m proud to be a firefighter and to serve in my hometown. I’m committed to continually learning and developing my skills, and I plan to take full advantage of every opportunity I am offered to grow as a firefighter. With my background in education, I’d love to one day take on a leadership role with Comox Fire Rescue in whatever form that may take. I’m also eager to contribute through teaching, especially in emergency medical response, where my paramedic background can support the department and help my fellow firefighters sharpen their skills.

“Lawrence, we are very excited and happy to have you join our team, and we look forward to working and training with you." says Comox Fire Rescue's Chief Gord Schreiner.

Comox Fire Rescue promotes new Assistant Fire Chief

A huge congratulations to Pascal Lafreniere on his promotion to Assistant Fire Chief of Comox Fire Rescue. Pascal has been a dedicated member of Comox Fire since 2009 and has played an important role in many of our successes over the years.

He steps into the role following Rick Shelton’s retirement, after more than 25 years of exceptional service as Assistant Chief. Rick leaves behind a legacy of leadership, and we thank him for his remarkable contributions.

Chief Gord Schreiner states: “Pascal has a great balance of all the skills and attributes needed to help lead this amazing organization. We look forward to working with Pascal in his new, and very important role.”

We wish Pascal every success in his new position and look forward to his continued leadership within our department and community..

Comox Firefighters Donate Another Life-Saving AE

Comox, BC – The Comox Firefighters Association has donated another Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to support public safety in the Comox Valley. The latest recipient is the Courtenay Legion. Pictured in the attached photo is Courtenay Legion member Rollie Rowland, accepting the AED on behalf of the organization.

“It’s encouraging to see more public access AEDs becoming available throughout the community,” said Comox Fire Chief Gord Schreiner. “I’m extremely proud of our firefighters and their continued commitment to this life-saving initiative. To date, we’ve helped place over 60 AEDs in public spaces. This represents more than $85,000 in funding—entirely from non-tax sources—over the past decade.”

Public access AEDs are simple to use, require minimal maintenance, and most importantly, save lives. Each unit costs approximately $2,000. In addition to donating AEDs, the Comox Firefighters Association also offers CPR and AED training to members of the community.

The association receives numerous requests annually and carefully evaluates each one to determine where they can have the most impact. Their goal is to add three to four new AEDs across the region each year.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen without warning—at work, at community events, or in public places. Survival rates are typically under 10%, but studies show that when CPR and AEDs are administered within five minutes, survival rates can jump to 30–50%. This is why communities nationwide are implementing Public Access Defibrillation programs that combine widespread AED placement with public training.

Comox Fire Rescue understands the importance of AEDs firsthand. Every emergency vehicle in the department is equipped with an AED, and a unit is also installed at the fire station.

For more information or to inquire about AED support, please contact Comox Fire Rescue at firehall@comox.ca or call 250-339-2432.

Meet our Members: Recruit David Schostek

This week on "Meet our Members", we interview Recruit David Schostek

Was there a specific event that first interested you in becoming a firefighter?

As long as I can remember, becoming a firefighter is something that interested me. For me, it represents challenge. Challenge of learning something new, something uncomfortable, and something that can help others. It also represents community. It’s about supporting public safety, it’s about making connections in the community, it’s about being a bigger part of the place I love and call home.

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Tell us about your family.

My parents immigrated to Canada from Germany when I was quite young. My family set up shop in Calgary, where I spent most of my youth growing up. All my immediate family remain there, while one of my brothers followed me to the Island several years ago and set up in Sooke with his wife and twin children.

I met my wife in 2017 while I was living in Victoria. She was living and working in Nanaimo and we dated “long” distance for just over 2 years before moving in together in Langford. Not long after that she found a job opportunity in the Comox Valley – somewhere we knew little about but jumped on the chance to move here in 2021.

Since then, we’ve added a cat (Binx) and a dog (Sage) to the family and are starting to feel settled in the Valley.

What is your regular “Day Job”?

My day job is as Manager of Corporate Priorities and Submissions in the BC Government. I work in the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. My role is to manage the development of what we call Cabinet and Treasury Board Submissions. These are lengthy and complex documents that we put forward for Cabinet (elected representatives in the BC Government) and Treasury Board (a group among Cabinet that has responsibility for fiscal management of the BC Government) consideration.

A submission is a document that rationalizes a decision where there is no established authority, such as a policy-based or statutory decision. Basically, most of government operates through established authorities but when it comes to implementing new measures, services, agreements or the like, we need to seek the appropriate authorities through Cabinet and Treasury Board (when there is a fiscal implication for that decision).

Tell us about the passion in your life.

I love being outdoors. I grew up being quite active and I have always found ways to engage with the natural environment through activities. Lately it has been spearfishing and freediving in the ocean, ski touring during winters, hiking, rock climbing, and boating in the summer.

Any opportunity I have, you will almost certainly find me outside on my boat, in the ocean, on the mountains.

Tell us about the most amazing thing you have experienced so far in life.

I love being outdoors. I grew up being quite active and I have always found ways to engage with the natural environment through activities. Lately it has been spearfishing and freediving in the ocean, ski touring during winters, hiking, rock climbing, and boating in the summer.

Any opportunity I have, you will almost certainly find me outside on my boat, in the ocean, on the mountains.

Do you have any fire service goals?

I am sure I will develop some in time, but for now I am committed and eager to learning the basics and graduating from the training as a fully-fledged firefighter.

“David, we look forward to training and working together as you start your Fire Service Career. Thanks for joining our team!" says Comox Fire Rescue's Chief Gord Schreiner.