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Fire Underwriters Survey Recognizes Top Fire Chiefs, 2021

28 September 2021

The 2021 Canadian Fire Chief of the Year awards were presented by Fire Underwriters Survey during the Awards Gala at the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs’ annual conference, Fire-Rescue Canada. These awards are an excellent opportunity to recognize excellence in leadership in the fire sector.


Career Fire Chief of the Year Bill Boyes Brampton Fire and Emergency Services	Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year Arnold Lazare Kahnawà:ke Fire Brigade

“Presenting the awards for Canada’s Fire Chief of the Year is a tremendous privilege,” said Michael Currie, Vice President, Fire Underwriter’s Survey. “This year’s winners are outstanding examples of great Canadian Emergency Service leaders; they are examples of those who are willing to go above and beyond to improve life safety and fire protection in their communities and for all Canadians.”

“We are so proud of Canada’s Fire Chiefs—our members,” stated John McKearney, CAFC President. “The truth is,” he added, “you likely can’t be a fire chief at all unless you can meet a certain standard of professional and personal excellence. In these awards, we look for those who go well above and beyond. It is about selecting excellence from excellence.”

Fire Underwriters Survey & the CAFC National Awards: Past Recipients

	Professional Fire Chief of the Year	Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year
2020	Fire Chief Ken McMullen of Red Deer Emergency Services	Fire Chief Randy Schroeder of Mayerthorpe Fire Department
2019	Fire Chief Cameron Abrey of Dauphin Fire Department	Fire Chief Judy Unsworth of Wheatland County Fire Services
2018	Fire Chief Pierre Voisine of Cornwall Fire Department	Fire Chief Dale Ashbee Neebing Emergency Services
2017	Fire Chief Tim Armstrong New Westminster Fire & Rescue Service	Fire Chief Alain Nadeau Le Broqueri Fire Department
2016	Fire Chief Stephen Gamble, ECFO Township of Langley Fire Department	Fire Chief Cecil Kerr Gillam Volunteer Fire Department
2015	Fire Chief Daniel Brazeau Service incendie MRC d'Autray	Fire Chief Edward Bryan Atonable South-Monaghan Department of Fire & Emergency
2014	Division Chief Gordon Routley Montreal Fire Department	Fire Chief Gerald Jones Petitcodiac Fire Department
2013	Fire Chief Ken Block Edmonton Fire Rescue Service	Fire Chief Jerrold Lemko Vegreville Fire Department
2012	Fire Chief Bruce Burrell Calgary Fire Department	Fire Chief Harry Farrell New Maryland Fire Department
2011	Directeur Gilles la Madeleine Sécurité incendie de Beloeil	Fire Chief Charlie Boyte, CFO Pender Island Fire Rescue
2010	Fire Chief Gord Schreiner Comox Fire Rescue	Fire Chief Miles Boulter Chief Instructor of the Prince Edward Island Firefighters School
2009	Fire Chief Les Karpluk Prince Albert Fire Department	Fire Chief DanThorsteinson, Selkirk Fire Department
2008	Fire Chief William Stewart Toronto Fire Services	Fire Chief Bill Higgs Sechelt Chief Fire Officer
2007	Fire Chief Randy Wolsey Director of Community Protection for the Mohawk of Kahnawake Territory	Terry Diabo Founding President the Aboriginal Fire Fighters Association of Canada
2006	Fire Chief Serge Tremblay Montreal Fire Department	Fire Chief Glen Sanders Shawnigan Lake Volunteer Fire Department
2005	Fire Chief Donald Warden Wasaga Beach Fire Department	Fire Chief David Guilbault Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service
2004	Fire Chief Terry Allen Cambridge Fire Department	Deputy Fire Chief Dennis Levy Marsh Lake Yukon Territories
2003	Deputy Fire Chief John de Hooge Oakville Fire Department
2002	Fire Chief Wayne Morris Calgary Fire Department	Fire Chief Robert Prima Grenfell Fire Department