Follow us on: Bre a k i ng n e ws at n el s on st ar. c om
PM41537042
Free
Friday, April 11 • 2014
Vol. 6 • Issue 82
Ladies soccer playoffs wrap up Page 20
No compensation for spill victims Page 3
name We ne ed help to t!!! co as M our office ril Ap of For the month ne yo er ev ng ki as e we ar our r fo e m na to submit a urous nt ve ad d an e tiv ac ly fair he skeleton - it’s on s own! get a name of hi e will m na g The winnin card for t gif 00 $1 a ive re ce Max & Irma’s. Email names to: ce chiro.ca @a info ctivebalan office! e th in p or sto
et 384 Baker Stre 35 51 2(250) 35
CITIZEN
280 Baker Street Nelson BC (250)
of the
354-4089
valhallapathrealty@telus.net www.valhallapathrealty.com
YEAR
Buying or Selling a Home?
Peter Defeo honoured SAM VAN SCHIE Nelson Star Reporter
Laura Salmon Cell 250-551-8877
E-mail Laura@LauraSalmon.com Website www.LauraSalmon.com
RHC Realty
Each office independently owned & operated
Serving Our Community for
Over 35 Years
Quality, Individualized Rehabilitation in a Relaxed, Friendly Environment.
& SPORTS MEDICINE CLINIC 801 B Front St • 250-352-7030
Peter Defeo, the longest serving auxiliary firefighter with Nelson Fire Rescue, has been named Citizen Sam Van Schie photo of the Year by the Nelson Knights of Columbus.
HIPPERSON HARDWARE 395 Baker Street 250.352.5517
Home Owners helping home owners
The longest serving auxiliary firefighter with Nelson Fire Rescue has been named Citizen of the Year by the Nelson Knights of Columbus. Peter Defeo, 56, was born and raised in Nelson. He joined the fire department in 1976 — the same year as now Fire Chief Simon Grypma. Unlike many auxiliary members, Defeo didn’t look at his position as a step towards becoming a career firefighter. He signed up because he wanted to gain some skills and contribute to his community, and 38 years later that’s what he continues to do. “There’re always courses to take and something new to learn, which keeps it interesting,” Defeo said. “The way we fight fires has changed a lot over the years, as technology and different protocols are developed.” Having been with the fire department for so many years, Defeo has come to be part of the history of the place. His younger colleagues like to joke that he’s been there since the fire cart was pulled by horses. “I tell them, ‘no, I started two weeks after the horses left,’” he laughs. Like all auxiliary members, Defeo attends weekly fire practice and when there’s a serious fire in town he’ll respond alongside the career staff to knock it down. Typically auxiliary firefighters get called to two to five fires per year. Defeo also participates in fundraisers and community events as a member of the fire department. You can see him in uniform collecting donations at annual boot drives, ticket raffles and the rooftop campout; or volunteering at Santa on Baker or fire truck show and shines. Defeo considers his commitment to community service to be “just what you do when you live in small community,” and so he was genuinely shocked to be named Citizen of the Year. “I thought it was a prank call at first,” he said of the phone call he received from the Knights of Columbus informing him of their decision. “I’m still questioning the sanity of their decision.” Defeo was nominated by John Riesterer, a longtime friend and former local firefighter. Riesterer said he put Defeo’s name forward because, “I cannot think of anyone who does more in Continued on Page 5
NELSON HOME BUILDING CENTRE 101 McDonald Drive 250.352.1919
REGISTER AT WWW.HOMEHARDWARE.CA
WE’VE GOT YOUR LUMBER ®