Fire Fighting in Canada: A Story of Resilience

Twenty-eight years ago, at the age of 14, Tyler Pelke, deputy fire chief at the City of Red Deer Emergency Services in Alberta, went through a horrific ordeal. An assailant murdered his friend, assaulted Tyler, slit his throat, threw a blanket on him, doused it with gas, set him on fire and left him to die.Somehow, Tyler survived the violent attack. His assailant was caught and sent to prison. Later, Tyler found it within himself to confront his attacker in jail and find peace and purpose in life through a journey of forgiveness. He now speaks to audiences across North America about the power of forgiveness and why understanding your purpose in life is the key to dealing with adversity.Tyler talks to Fire Fighting in Canada editor Grant Cameron about the experience and how he refused to let the events of his past define him. Tyler believes it’s important for people to find a purpose because that will give them hope. He’s a living example of how to turn a negative into a positive.