Firefighter thrives on helping those in need of assistance

Manor Park resident Marta Tkaczyszyn in eighth year with Ottawa Fire Service

She didn’t always know she would be a firefighter. But once she got her first taste of this potential career during a high school Co-op placement, there was no turning back. 

“I loved it,” says Marta Tkaczyszyn. 

She still does.

The 37-year-old Manor Park mother of two is in her eighth year with the Ottawa Fire Service. She says she could not have chosen a better career. 

“I just wanted to be in a position where I could assist anybody who needed any kind of help, in any circumstance,” she tells the Chronicle in a recent interview. 

Still, she says the road to her chosen occupation was anything but a clear path. 

After graduating from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Fine Art and minor in History, she took a desk job and soon “realized that just wasn’t for me.”

It would take another four years — gathering experience, tailoring her resume — to qualify for firefighter training. 

Looking back, she knows the jobs she took on that offered related experience — motor manufacturing in Cambridge; driving public transit in Guelph; and Personal Service Worker — have all been valuable influences in her life. 

“Speaking to many firefighters, that seems kind of the way to go. It gave me a lot of the skill sets that I use in my profession right now.”

Even the drive and perseverance it took to become a sprint kayaker — a sport she excelled at in her teens and during her university days — has helped shape the person she is today. 

“I loved how I felt wearing my team singlet which made me feel like I was part of something bigger than myself. When I put on my bunker gear or Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) uniform, I have the same sensation and the same sense of pride.”

Formal training

Marta traveled to Texas, U.S.A., where she attended TEEX Fire Training Academy. There she earned her pre-service qualifications (Firefighter 1 and 2 certification).

“Texas, at the time, was a good place to go because they offered a lot of hands-on components,” Marta recalls. 

She then also went to paramedic school in Barrie, Ont. There, she received her Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) certification through the CTC Canadian Career College’s accelerated program. 

After receiving her qualifications, Marta served as a volunteer firefighter in Erin, Ont., for six months. 

“But my aspiration was to work in Ottawa, just because I went to school here, my partner’s family is from here and Ottawa’s always felt like home,” she says.  

Marta was brought onto the Ottawa Fire Service in March, 2018 at which time she completed one year probationary service. She rotated stations every three months and eventually landed at Fire Station 33 (McCarthy Road in Ottawa South) where she continued to serve for the past seven years. She just transferred to Station 56 on Coventry Road on Nov. 3.

While some people may not be comfortable with shift work (firefighters put in 24-hour shifts, seven or eight days on per 28-day period), she was already accustomed to it. For 40 years, her mother did exactly that as an ER (Emergency Room) nurse. 

She knows the scheduling is a challenge for her husband (D’Arcy Belyea) but it works for their family. “I didn’t mind it when I was a kid and I hope my kids don’t mind it.”

Count on one another

Marta says her previous station averaged five to six calls per 24-hour shift. In addition to their designated district, Station 33 also backs up the Ottawa International Airport with a crew that’s well trained and ready to tackle any emergency.

Unlike dramatic television shows like ‘9-1-1’ that portray harrowing scenes on every episode, Marta says she’s been fortunate not to have faced many dangerous calls.

“I’ve been in situations where I was doing a search (at a structure fire) and the floor was a little spongy — there’s always a risk of going through the floor — but our training ensures that we test before we advance and make sure there’s structural integrity to the buildings.”

Working together ensures everyone stays safe on site. 

“I think a lot of that comes down to trusting my crew. I know I won’t let anything bad happen to them and they won’t let anything bad happen to me.”

Calm professionalism

Capt. Mark Hatfield says Marta plays a vital role within the station. “Her calm presence and professionalism set the tone for the team, and her dedication ensures that every member of the crew — and every patient or community member we serve — gets the best care possible,” he tells the Chronicle. 

Marta says she thrives on providing relief to those who find themselves in difficulty.

“I really like the fact that no matter who the person is in the community or what their problem or ailment is … we show up in any and every capacity to improve the situation,” she says. 

That positive attitude and drive to succeed is contagious, Capt. Hatfield says. “It’s not forced optimism — it’s genuine care for her teammates and confidence in their ability to handle whatever comes their way. Beyond her skills, she brings heart — and that’s something you can’t teach.”

Chances for growth

Another positive aspect of the profession is the opportunity for advancement. 

“It’s one of those careers — there are a lot of learning opportunities, a lot of leadership opportunities — and it’s built on mentorship,” she says. “My job as a junior firefighter is to keep everyone in my crew safe and mentor other junior firefighters that come into my station too.”

By year 11, Marta says a junior firefighter can start working on their qualifications for senior firefighter. From there, one can work toward Junior Captain and, beyond that, Station Captain as well.

“That’s something I’d like to work towards. It’s a great way to pay it forward within the service.”

Capt. Hatfield says Marta has “a natural leadership quality that helps others stay focused and protected. It’s not jus training, it’s instinct and genuine concern for others.”

Women in the service

The number of women in the Ottawa Fire Service has been growing slowly but steadily, she says. 

Marta knows this, having recently headed up a project through the Bytown Historical Society to document women firefighters in the capital. Today, she says, nine per cent of the service is comprised of women and that number is climbing. 

She notes women do bring different physical attributes to the position, and they also offer “different approaches, and that’s what you need in order to be proficient and effective. I’m the only female on my crew right now, and I like to think that I balance things out at the station.”

Manor Park life

For the past four years, she and her growing family have called Manor Park home. Today, however, they have outgrown their house and are moving to Beacon Hill later this year. 

“We tried very much to stay,” she says. “It was a great place to start a family.”

She’s looking forward to her new assignment so close to home.