BRITISH COLUMBIA FIRE CHIEF HONOURED

Press Release date: Thursday, August 17, 2006

Glen Sanders, Fire Chief of the Shawnigan Lake Volunteer Fire Department, is Canada’s Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year   His award was announced last evening during the closing ceremonies at the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs’ annual conference held in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Fire Chief Sanders joined his Department in 1979 and became Chief in 1986.  Under his leadership, the Department has grown to its current compliment of 30 volunteers, seven new pieces of custom apparatus and two fire halls. 

Many volunteer fire departments in Canada are currently experiencing difficulties attracting and retaining personnel.  In contrast, the Shawnigan Lake Volunteer Fire Department’s record of member retention and service years far exceeds provincial averages.  A lengthy pool of applicants makes the hiring pool deep.

Fire Chief Sanders’ record of accomplishment has already been recognized.  He has received both Federal and Provincial Long Service Awards.  In 2004, he was elected President of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of British Columbia. 

During his tenure as President of the British Columbia Association, a Provincial Grow Ops Strategy was devised jointly by the Association and many other stakeholders.  It has proven successful in combating the proliferation of marijuana grow ops in the province.

Fire Chief Patrick Burke, Niagara Falls Fire Services is President of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs.  In congratulating Fire Chief Sanders he referred to the volunteer fire services “as a crucial and critical component of the front line response capability for local emergencies in Canadian communities.”  

The volunteer fire service in Canada is comprised of 3,200 fire departments and 84,000 volunteer firefighters and their officers.  They comprise 91 per cent of all departments and 77 per cent of total personnel.

For more information, contact:

Fire Chief Patrick Burke                                   Telephone:        905-356-1321, ext. 3   :
Niagara Falls Fire Services                              Cell phone:       905-651-2777

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