Jason Cyr: From engineer to Cub Master

Photo: Kayla Collins

BUSY GUY — Jason Cyr is the owner of Don's Redemption Center on Cottage Street in Norway, which he bought in 2007. He has also been the Cub Master for Cub Scout Pack 130 for two years in Paris, where he lives with his wife and two children.

PARIS — "I like dealing with people in the community," said Jason Cyr, a local business owner and Cub Master for the Cub Scout Pack 130, in Paris.

Cyr has been a leader of the Cub Scouts for two years, but said that this year will be his last year serving. Right now, he said, the club has 48 members, and is run by 15 adult leaders. On top of owning a business, Cyr spends nearly 10 hours per week trying to raise money and organize events for the scouts.

He also owns Don's Redemption Center on Cottage Street in Norway.

"It's very tough," he said. "It's tough to run that, and run a business."

Cyr also has a wife, Anna, and two children, a son named Blaine, who is 11, and a daughter Gwen, who is 9.

According to Cyr, being a leader of the Cub Scouts means that he gets to spend more time with Blaine. Cyr was an Eagle Scout as a kid, and said that he wanted his son to have the same experience that he did.

But this year is also Blaine's last year as a Cub Scout member. Next year, he will be recruited into the Boy Scouts, said Cyr.

"It's a lot of work, like anything, like coaching," said Cyr. "The parents don't see all the stuff you do at home ...  and I am trying to balance my time between this and business, but it's fun. It's really fun."

Pack 130 holds numerous special events, outings, and camping trips throughout the year, including bottle drives, community service, and other fundraising activities like the 2012 Abnaki Pinewood Derby, which was held at the Paris Elementary School on March 31.

"It's teaching the kids to give back to the community," said Cyr.

Cyr has been the owner of Don's Redemption Center for five years. The business first began in 1978, and was owned by Donald Lord for a few years until Cyr's aunt Marlena Jack bought it in the '80s.

Cyr bought the building in 2007, after moving to Paris and marrying Anna.

Cyr grew up in Windsor. He graduated from Erskine Academy in '94, and earned his degree in architectural and civil engineering from Central Maine Technical College shortly after.

After college, Cyr worked for the U.S. Geological Survey for 10 years as a hydrologic technician, measuring stream flow and groundwater levels in Maine.

He also spent 12 years in the Army National Guard. He began his career as a medic for three years, then became an engineer.

"For a week, to two weeks, to a month I was on the road," he said. "I went to Iraq with the engineers over here, and when I got back, I didn't want to be away from the kids anymore. Just being gone for that year-and-a-half ... I told my wife, 'I really don't wanna do this anymore.'"

While he was making good money and receiving benefits, it wasn't enough.

"Sometimes those things aren't the world," he said.

That's when he began to ponder the idea of buying Don's Redemption Center.

"My kids play a big part in everything that I do. I didn't want to go overseas again," said Cyr.

Cyr has been a volunteer firefighter for the Paris Fire Department, and as a kid, was a junior firefighter in Windsor, following in the footsteps of his dad, who was a longtime firefighter and EMT. Cyr worked for the Paris Fire Department for three years.

But being a business owner, a Cub Master, and a dad himself, Cyr had to make a decision.

While Cyr said that he is proud to have served in both the military and as a firefighter, nothing beats his life today. Even though he is still busy, he appreciates the time he can now spend with his family.

On his free time, especially during the summer, Cyr enjoys camping with his wife and kids. He said that the family tries to spend a week out of each month visiting a different state park and hiking. He also said that the family went on its first Disney cruise this year, and plans to do it again whenever they have the time and money.

"We will probably go every couple of years," said Cyr. "It was a blast. The kids had so much fun."

Cyr said that while he enjoys owning a business, Cub Scouts is a big part of who he is.

"I've met a lot of friends in Cub Scouts. It's the majority of friends I have right now," said Cyr, who also appreciates the time he gets to spend with his kids. In March, he and Blaine spent time building the car that Blaine raced in the Pinewood Derby. 

"When the kids do something they really enjoy, and seeing them having fun, and helping kids out that need the help," said Cyr, is what he loves the most about being Cub Master.

"It's nice to see the kids have fun," he said. "I think that's the most rewarding thing."