TWO North Shore firefighters are turning up the heat - for a good cause - as part of Vancouver's 2013 Hall of Flame Calendar.
Mr. May, Duncan Maillie, is with the North Vancouver City Fire Department while Mr. July, Shawn Obre, works for West Vancouver Fire and Rescue.
Maillie has been a firefighter for 11 years and says charitable work is part of who firefighters are.
"There's a large community involvement as well, whether it's fundraising car washes or organizing muscular dystrophy boot drives. This just is really a large scale version of that. We do a lot of work within out own municipalities but this is an opportunity to really go across the Lower Mainland and all the various fire departments working together for a common charitable goal," said Maillie.
After seeing a poster in his fire hall, Maillie decided to ask to be in this 26th edition of the calendar. Following a meeting discussing the commitment - four to five media and charity engagements for the next few months - Maillie got the call that he would be Mr. May.
Having been part of the Canadian military, Maillie decided to stay in uniform and become a firefighter and work in the community where he grew up in. After a few years of experience riding the back of the fire engine, Maillie has now moved up and is driving the rig and operating the ladder.
Maillie said they hope to raise $100,000 this year with the calendar which can be bought online or in-store at London Drugs and SaveonFoods. Proceeds go to the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association Burn Fund, the CKNW Orphans Fund and a variety of other Lower Mainland charities.
Once the commitment was made to be part of the calendar it was time for the photo shoot.
"I was very, very nervous about that, but there were six of us there and it was a lot of fun. It was just a good laugh," said Maillie.
Obre said that he would be hearing about his photos from the crew after the calendars launch on Sept. 14, when everyone's pictures go public. After four years on West Vancouver's fire and rescue force Obre decided being part of the calendar would be a good experience.
"When you decide to be a firefighter you always joke around about what would be your firefighter pose for the calendar. I figured it's for a good cause and it would be a lot of fun over the next few months to do it, and it's one of those things when I retire I can look back and have a good laugh," he said.
Obre decided to join the force because he wanted a job that would be different every day and teach him a variety of skills. Right now he rides the back of the fire engine and says he is often part of the crew's responses to medical emergencies as well as fire fighting.
Both men said they love their jobs and enjoy the camaraderie they have with their fellow firefighters.
"It's a great job, it's given me a lot," said Obre. "So I think it's important to give a lot back to the communities."
