Lake County proudly honors and celebrates Ric Carriveau for his nearly four decades of devoted service to the Finland community.
On Saturday, December 13, coworkers, family, and friends gathered to celebrate a true hometown hero: Ric Carriveau, marking his retirement after 38 years of service with the Finland Fire Department, Rescue, and Ambulance.
During the heartfelt celebration, Ric was presented with tokens of deep appreciation, including a commemorative axe, a plaque, and a sign, all recognizing his many years of devoted service to the community.
Ric’s journey began when he was just 20 years old. He first started by simply helping out around the Finland Fire Hall in the late 1980s. When a fire broke out one day, Ric went along to assist. Following that day, he was officially asked to join the volunteer department, and he has been in service ever since.
Over the years, his roles and responsibilities expanded:
• Volunteer Fire Department: Since 1987
• Rescue Service: Since 2003
• Ambulance Service: From 2006 to 2016
Upon his retirement, Ric held the highest rank, serving as the Fire Chief of the Finland Fire Department, having taken over the reins from Pete Walsh. Thanks to his hard work and the dedication of others, the Finland Fire Department has significantly grown and expanded over the years. During his career, Ric fought countless fires, rescued many people, and fundamentally made a difference in the lives of his neighbors.
The success of the Fire Departments, EMS, and Ambulance services is built upon three core elements: Dedication, Service, and Caring. The volunteers are well trained, knowledgeable, and educated when it comes to fire and rescue.
However, Ric emphasized that the true dedication extends beyond the volunteers themselves.
“I wanted to specially acknowledge the families’ dedication and sacrifice.”
Throughout his years of service, Ric missed birthdays and other special occasions because duty called. He expressed his gratitude that with the unwavering understanding and support from his family, he was always able to help people in need.
Beyond the emergency calls, Ric was active in many community functions and fundraisers. The Finland Volunteer Fire Department holds an annual raffle and attends numerous community events. Ric was often the one running the raffles, cooking hot dogs during Urhos, and passing out treats to children during Booya and other local events.
When once asked what he enjoyed most about his job, he had a clear answer – interacting with the kids. He loved giving them treats, teaching them about fire safety, helping out the community, and visiting with people he had helped during their time of need.
At his retirement celebration, Ric was genuinely overwhelmed by the large turnout, especially given the extremely cold weather that day. He was touched by the outpouring of support, love, and care shown by everyone who attended to honor him.
He expressed how much the commemorative gifts meant to him and noted how honored and cared for he felt. He also shared how grateful he has been to work alongside the many dedicated people who volunteer their time to help others.
While Ric is retiring from emergency services, he is not retiring completely. He will still be working his regular job. In his free time, however, he looks forward to fishing, spending time with his family, and running a small sawmill.
Thank you, Ric, for your incredible dedication and your many years of selfless service!
