EDMONTON FIRE CHIEF HONOURED

OTTAWA, September 27, 2007 – Randy Wolsey, Fire Chief of Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, is Canada’s Full-time 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 Niagara Falls, Ontario. 

Fire Chief Wolsey began his fire services career in 1972 and became Edmonton’s Fire Chief in 2001.  Edmonton Fire Rescue Service comprises 864 firefighters and 146 support staff working out of 24 active fire halls to protect 760,000citizens.  

Through his leadership, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services has become recognized for its professionalism and dedication.  Fire Chief Wolsey’s ability to communicate, his honesty and integrity and his commitment to work for the betterment of the fire service, locally, provincially and nationally, has earned him widespread respect within his department and across Canada.

Fire Chief Wolsey is a tireless campaigner on the shortcomings in the Canadian and Alberta Building Codes.  His concerns have received widespread attention and he has become recognized as a leading spokesman for the Canadian fire service on this important issue.

Ontario Fire Marshal Patrick Burke is President of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs.  In congratulating Fire Chief Wolsey he referred to him as “a standard of excellence against which all Canadian fire chiefs can evaluate themselves.”

The fire service in Canada is comprised of 3,500 fire departments and 108,000 firefighters and their officers. 

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For more information, contact:
Fire Marshal Patrick Burke                             Telephone:       416-325-3090 
President, CAFC                                            Cell phone:      416-435-6134

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