More used to putting out flames, a Langford firefighter is turning up the heat and fanning flames of admiration instead, stripping off for the annual Professional Firefighters of Greater Victoria calendar.
Posing for the month of June, Garrett Egli can be seen flexing his muscles to raise money for a good cause, the Victoria Hospitals Foundation.
After spending what he describes as years getting into the fire service, Egli says his family has always joked he should take part in the calendar. So when the opportunity arose, the fitness buff jumped on it.
“I love putting myself through a challenge, so getting ready and training for something like this was fun,” he said.
And train he did, dialing up the intensity of his workouts and overhauling his diet, four months prior to his modelling debut.
“I also had to dehydrate myself to be ready for the picture,” he adds.
When the news broke that he would be featured in the calendar, Egli says he quickly became a talking point at the station.
“It was definitely a hot topic as soon as everyone knew that I was in it,” he said. “But I enjoy the teasing – I can take the rousing pretty well.”
With his picture set to hang in potentially thousands of homes across Greater Victoria, is Egli prepared for what might come next?
“I don't think there'll be very many fans or fame,” he says modestly. “I’m just happy to be a part of the cause, raising money for the Victoria Hospitals Foundation.”
The 2025 calendar marks the first time West Shore firefighters have taken part in the fundraiser, which helps the hospital foundation purchase equipment for Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria General and Gorge Road Health Centre.
This year’s calendar, titled Between the Calls, highlights how firefighters cope with the cumulative stress of being first responders.
For Egli, he lists time with his family and being outdoors in the sunshine, soaking up rays, as some of his coping mechanisms. But it's exercise, he says, that's his go-to outlet to boost both his physical and mental health.
“When I put on my favourite music and focus on my workout, I find that it helps me clear my mind and unwind from the stresses of the job,” he says in the calendar.
The Greater Victoria Firefighters Association has been raising money for the Victoria Hospitals Foundation since 2009, with $250,000 donated between 2010 to 2020.
The association has pledged to donate another $250,000 over the next 10 years.
The Professional Firefighters of Greater Victoria 2025 calendar is on sale now in more than 50 locations across the south Island.
