CARLYLE - Wayne Zandee always wanted to be a firefighter, and a year and a half ago, he joined the Carlyle Fire Department as a volunteer member.
Now he wants to show off his pride in being a firefighter in a different way.
It was 1979 and Zandee was 18 years old. He wanted to attend the firefighters' school, but needed funds to get him there. He always wondered where the fire trucks were going when he heard them, and he wanted to be involved. It became a passion for him.
He began to work on a drilling rig, figuring he could save up his money and in the future go to school to fulfill his dream.
It did not work out this way for Zandee, as he got pulled into the oilfield business and remained there. Zandee began buying some rigs in 2005, starting his own company, Red Dog Drilling. His firefighter dream was put on the backburner, and he worked at his company until 2017, when he sold the business and retired.
This gave Zandee the opportunity to join the Carlyle Fire Department.
Zandee also wanted to get in shape, and at 63 years of age joined a gym to do this. His fellow firefighter Travis Van Meer put the bug in his ear to try out for the 2025 Saskatchewan Fire Fighters Calendar.
Zandee said the calendar is such a worthy cause, as all the proceeds will go to the Jim Pattison Childrens Hospital in Saskatoon.
He is one of 16 contestants that will take to the stage at the gala in Regina at the Conexus Arts Centre on April 27.
Zandee, although nervous, said it should be a fun time, and it is all for a worthy cause. He hopes to be one of the selected months for the calendar year.
People can show their support for Zandee's effort to be part of the calendar. They can go to the calendar's website and vote for him..
