Meet our Members - Cody Sojka
This week on Meet our Members, we chat with Firefighter Cody Sojka, who joined Comox Fire Rescue at the start of 2021.
Was there any specific event that first interested you in becoming a firefighter?
I would say the one specific event that first interested me in becoming a fire fighter was hearing my Father's passion for his career when I was a young child, and still to this day. Growing up in a fire fighters family, I was fortunate enough to hear first hand how much my Father not only loved his job, but what it meant and took to be a fire fighter. Spending time with him at the stations, and with other members of the Fire Service at various functions really showed me the many great people and experiences that came along with it. Becoming a fire fighter has always been the only calling I could see for myself, and now residing in Comox, I could not think of a better way to give back to such a wonderful community that I enjoy so much.
What is your favourite part of volunteering for Comox Fire Rescue?
My favourite part about being at Comox Fire Rescue are the amazing individuals within the team I am very fortunate enough to train with and spend time with. The camaraderie and team environment is something I hold very close, and everyone is always more than willing to help one another - there is a great mutual respect and understanding. The training is very detailed and in-depth, and I am grateful for the never ending access to equipment and fitness training at my disposal at any given moment in the week. In addition, the Comox Valley is simply an amazing place to call home!
Outside of the fire department, what are your interests/hobbies?
Outside of the fire department, I am an avid freshwater and saltwater angler, and avid hiker. I recently got back into snowboarding and mountain biking, and living in the Valley is the perfect place for all of the above!
Do you have family/children/pets?
My immediate family resides in the Lower Mainland; Mom, Dad, and two younger sisters. I do not have any family, children, or pets of my own, but would love all of those things one day!
What is your regular "Day Job"?
In my regular day job I work as a Forest Engineer designing and laying out pre-harvest forest operations of a forest cutblock. Essentially, I am often designing roads, taking stream measurements for prescribing culvert sizes, assessing large cultural trees and other archaeological identifiers, and hanging falling boundary for fallers.
If you could change one thing about the fire service or fire safety, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about the fire service or fire safety, it would be the affects of PTSD for all involved. Understanding that the fire service has taken great strides and been very progressive with the importance of mental health, I think like many things in life, there are always improvements to make. With that being said, I am incredibly happy to see how mental health is being managed, and I strongly believe it will only get better with the great tools and research available. My door and ears are always open!
“Cody brings a great background to Comox Fire Rescue.” says Fire Chief Gord Schreiner. “We look forward to working and training with you Cody. Thanks for joining our team.”
