Meet Alex Canasi

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alex Canasi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alex below.

Hi Alex, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?

That’s an easy one. Simply put, if you have haters, you must be doing something right. My grandfather was a man of few words, but one of his favorites was “Pa’lante”, which is a Spanish slang term that means “forward”. It’s short for the phrase “para adelante”, which means “straight ahead.” It’s funny; you would think that a non-profit organization run by firefighters in their spare time couldn’t possibly have any “haters” or “nay-sayers”… but they are out there! In the four-plus years that I have served as President of Tampa Firefighters Charity Fund (TFCF), we have accomplished so much. Success has its enemies, and there are those trying to hinder our efforts. It’s unfortunate, but the higher you climb, the more some people want to see you fall—even if the success is not necessarily your own. As I said, we are a non-profit, and no Board member is paid for their service. I consider myself very lucky to be surrounded by like-minded individuals who share the common goal of just doing good for others—and they are some of my biggest motivators. Thanks to their tireless efforts, TFCF has flourished. When it was established in 2003, its primary focus was to support our Pediatric Burn Survivor Summer Camp. Since then, we have been able to expand our efforts and assist other worthy causes. We just keep moving forward.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Tampa Firefighters Charity Fund had a very busy year in 2024. Thanks to our dedicated volunteers and the generosity of our donors, we once again had a fantastic Pediatric Burn Survivor summer camp. We also organized two successful toy drives for St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital with the help of our friends at The Rotary Club of Safety Harbor Noon and BAPS Charities. We love participating in their Christmas and Christmas in July events. Tampa Fire Rescue is kind enough to send over a fire engine so the kids can get to see all the equipment up close and interact with real firefighters. It’s truly a wonderful experience.

We also have our annual Pediatric Burn Survivor 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk quickly approaching on Saturday, April 5th. It’s a great event held in beautiful downtown Tampa that raises money for the summer camp. Last year, we achieved a record turnout, and we aim to surpass that again this year! If you’re interested in signing up, you can find all the information right here: https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Tampa/tampafirefighters

We’re also ready to launch a project that has been many years in the making that I am very excited about. Our Pediatric Burn Survivor Summer Camp welcomes children aged 6 to 17, and we always remind them that even after they turn 18, they will always remain part of our family, and we will always support them. The previous charity president, Retired Chief Ken Huff, expressed a desire to establish a scholarship program for any camper interested in pursuing a career in firefighting or emergency medicine. I’m overjoyed to announce that this year we will award our first scholarship to a remarkable young man and former camper who will be attending both Emergency Medical Technician school and the Fire Academy in 2025! Additionally, it was our treasurer, Jeremy Finney, who had the idea to name the scholarship after Robbie Leatherwood, another former camper who tragically passed away. I can’t think of a better way to honor his memory.

Lastly, it’s news to no one that Tampa Bay suffered significantly during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Many Tampa Fire Rescue employees faced severe hardships, with some even being displaced from their homes. I’ve spent hours speaking both in person and over the phone with my brothers and sisters, and we felt compelled to do something. Tampa Firefighters Charity Fund raised tens of thousands of dollars, which was donated to those still in need of assistance. As we delivered the checks, we were not only moved by the stories of what they’ve endured over the last few months, but also by their genuine gratitude. It was very humbling and worth every moment of the effort.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The first two qualities that come to mind are maintaining integrity and doing the right thing. Those two are very similar, but integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching. Theodore Roosevelt said, “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” I firmly believe that if you consistently do the right thing, you’ll never have to worry. The third quality is to endeavor, or to always do your best. At the end of the day, when the sun sets, regardless of the outcome, you can always rest easy if you at least tried your best. You can’t be afraid of failure because ultimately, there will always be things that are simply out of your control. You have to be prepared to accept that. If you failed, but you can stand tall and say, “I tried my best, and I did the right thing”, then that wasn’t a failure at all.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

Mental health is finally getting the attention it deserves, and it’s long overdue. This is such an important topic in firefighting and emergency medicine. We’re constantly faced with tragedy and loss, but you have to maintain your composure and professionalism for the public, often at the cost of your own well-being. It’s easy to say, “This is what you signed up for”, and to some extent, that’s true. However, I don’t recall any clause in my contract when I was hired with the fire department that said I had to sacrifice my emotional and mental health for the betterment of this profession. There has to be a balance.

I have seen several brother and sister firefighters suffer, and I think the first thing we can do for one another is simply reach out and tell them that we care. One of the worst feelings that can arise after a traumatic event is loneliness. Even in a department like Tampa Fire Rescue, which has over 750 sworn employees, it’s easy to feel alone or as if no one can truly understand what you’re going through. One of the valuable tools we have at our disposal is the Critical Incident Stress Management Team (CISM). It’s a group of firefighters of various rank and seniority who can deploy quickly to provide support. It’s led by our Occupational Health department, which has consistently been an excellent resource and a strong advocate for our well-being.

I have personally sought professional help in the past, and I’m not at all ashamed of it. In fact, I highly recommend it. We love this career so much that we are willing to ignore the signals our bodies send us until they can’t be ignored any longer, and that’s something I don’t want for any of my brothers and sisters.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tampafirefighters.com/camphopetake/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tampafirefighterscharityfund
• Other: PayPal.me/tampafire

  https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Tampa/tampafirefighters