Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Whitby fire service recruits class of 2025 on their graduation.
The recruits powered through demanding training, long days, early mornings and more ladder drills than anyone should be able to brag about at family dinners. This week they joined one of the most respected fire services in the country, and they have earned every bit of this moment.
I grew up in a family of first responders, so I learned that service is not a job but a duty. That same sense of duty is alive in each of the graduates. Firefighters step forward when others step back. They bring calm to chaos, and their work goes far beyond emergency calls. They support families and strengthen our community every single day.
I thank the Whitby firefighter graduate class of 2025 for choosing this path. Their community is proud of them and grateful for their service.