Former Puslinch fire chief Robert Gordon passes

ABERFOYLE - Robert Gordon had been with the Puslinch Fire Department since day one.

The former Puslinch fire chief passed away peacefully at Guelph General Hospital on Feb. 29 in his 82nd year.

A farmer all his life, Gordon served with the fire department for 45 years, retiring as chief in 2014.

He also served as a Puslinch councillor and a member of the township’s planning board.

In his words

In February 2014, members of the local community and the fire department gathered at the Aberfoyle station to honour Gordon and Donald Stewart, two firefighters whose careers spanned the 45-year history of the Puslinch Fire Department.

In 1968 Puslinch Township council started the process of forming a fire department.

A fire chief was chosen and ads put in the newspapers for volunteers to sign up.

Training for the eager volunteers started in September 1968 and after four months of training, they were ready to take over fire protection for Puslinch on Jan. 1, 1969.

Gordon and Stewart were there for the first call on Victoria Road south.

Gordon explained it was a chimney fire, but the catch was there was a funeral in progress at the time.

He added “things have changed an awful lot since that first call.”

Gordon added the original department did not respond to accidents - that came later.

As to why he joined the department, Gordon said it was a new adventure ... and a way to protect the community and helping neighbours.

A celebration of Gordon’s life is being held at the Puslinch Community Centre on March 8 from 1 to 4pm, with remarks at 1pm.