Réal Chartrand

Réal Chartrand

Service des incendies de Montréal (SIM)

Firefighter Réal Chartrand died from a work- related illness on March 20, 2019 in Montreal at the age of 89. He joined the fire services of the City of Montreal in February 1951.

Mémoires de famille / Family memories

Réal was employed by the City of Montreal Fire Department (SIM) for 30 years and retired in 1981. Loved by all, he dedicated his life with fidelity and loyalty for the safety of the members of his community as well as those of his precious family. Mischievous and a trickster, he was an exceptional unifier and team player. He was affectionately called ¨Sam¨ by his colleagues. When asked what job he held he answered firefighter ¨simple man¨ referring to the fact that he did not have an officer rank but preferred to be a proud firefighter of the base. It was when we witnessed our father fighting a fire, while we were in the schoolyard next to the burning building around the age of 12, that we realized that the profession being a firefighter was not ¨simple¨and that this work had to be accomplished by exceptional men.

Furthermore, his death will have been the result of a work-related illness related to his work while his human warmth, his good humor and his joy of living will now be forever absent from the lives of his family members, his many friends and former colleagues who adored him and whom he adored.

Have a good, well-deserved rest dear Réal.