Skip to content

Profiling our firefighters: Glenda Bilinsky

The Sooke News Mirror will be talking to local volunteers

Who is Glenda

Bilinsky?

 

Glenda Bilinsky, 58, is an Emergency Social Service volunteer with the Sooke Fire Rescue Department.

She has been taking courses related to ESS for the past year and a half in the Sooke and Greater Victoria area.

“Some of the courses that we have been taking is how to deal with walk in volunteers at a reception centre, how to set up a reception centre for various disasters, anywhere from a single family that has been burned out of their home and a larger disaster like a tsunami,” she said, adding that a large part of the program is public awareness on emergency preparedness.

“I just think it’s really important that we are prepared for the changes that are going to happen in our future, whether it be a disaster or the natural changes that are occurring within our environment.”

What brought you to Sooke?

“Affordable housing. We lived in Brentwood Bay for 28 years.”

What do you like most about Sooke?

“It’s beautiful. I mean, there’s a spiritual quality about Sooke that is unique. Probably part of that spirit is the people.”

What is your favourite saying?

“Carpe diem.”  (Seize the day).

When the well runs dry, how do you recharge?

“I escape into a book.”

What/who is your strongest influence?

“My husband’s pretty wonderful.”

The world would be a vastly better place if only people would...

“Think of others before themselves.”

Accomplishments you are proud of?

“The volunteer work that I do, the giving back that I do, that I’ve done ever since I was in Girl Guides at age 11.”

No one is better than me at...

“At having a good laugh or being able to laugh at myself.”

I just can’t get the hang of...

“Crocheting. I knit like you would not believe, I’ve knit over 500 hats for the Afghanistan program (Boomer Cap project), but I can’t crochet.”

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

“Believe it or not, I have a fascination with Marilyn Monroe. I’d love to know the truth.”

If you couldn’t do what you’re doing, what would you do?

“Teaching children to read in a Third World country -- specifically, young girls.”

What do you do for kicks?

“Every year I try to do something I’ve never done before. This year, it’s climbing a wall.”

The Sooke News Mirror will be  profiling area volunteers with the Sooke Fire Rescue Service, to let the community know who they are and why we’re proud to have them in our midst.