Cottingham named Firefighter-of-the-Year

Jason Cottingham, left, was selected as this year’s Firefighter-of-the-Year. Presenting the award are High Prairie Fire Chief Ken Melnyk, centre, and High Prairie Councillor Wayne Forrester.

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

Firefighters recognized several of their own at the Emergency Services Ball, which was held at the Elks Pro Rodeo Grounds on April 5. The first award, the Firefighter of the Year Award, went to Captain Jason Cottingham, which he says was quite unexpected. “I’m obviously very proud of the team we have,” says Cottingham. “I’m glad that they’re recognizing me as an individual, but ultimately we’re a team organization. We don’t just go off by ourselves, we have to work together as a team.” Cottingham has been a firefighter for eight years, and he also works in forest protection for Sustainable Resource Development. He’s working on his National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1001 professional fire- fighter designation, and has to take only one more course to obtain it. John McDermott, Deputy Fire Chief of the High Prairie Fire Department and an Emergency Medical Responder for Peace Country Health Emergency Medical Services, received the Fire Chief’s Leadership Award. “It’s humbling to be singled out for something like that. Being the first recipient of the award is an honour,” says McDermott. The criterion includes leadership qualities, a willingness to teach and be taught, and the person’s commitment to volunteering within the community. McDermott began his career in emergency services in Slave Lake back in 2000, and has been a member of the High Prairie Fire Department since 2004. The third presentation was to Capt. Lynn Pardell, who received her five-year service pin. The Emergency Services Ball drew over 140 people, including members of the RCMP from High Prairie, Faust and the newly formed Driftpile detachment. Also in attendance were personnel from Peace Country Health Emergency Medical Services. Bert Daly was the master of ceremonies, and he invited dignitaries to make speeches, including Tim Vandenbrink, the Assistant Fire Marshal with Edmonton Fire Rescue Services. He emphasized that emergency services personnel leading by example is just as important as the content of their public safety messages. “It’s not easy to go out and tell people how to be safe, than to sometimes show them,” says Vandenbrink. “So I think part of the message for us is, ‘Yes, we are making a difference in our community, and we care greatly.’ But we also have to look within and make sure that we’re walking the talk ourselves. That’s the message, leading by example, and those little things will make the difference.” He also says firefighters and police officers have to be consistent in the public safety messages they present to society, especially for children. “Children look at me as a symbol of safety, being the fire marshal at their school. I think it’s only fair that the constable can expect me to model good behaviour in crossing the street and doing those other things. We have to become aware of each other’s little messages so that we’re being consistent.” Vandenbrink commends the High Prairie Fire Department because it has many volunteer firefighters, at a time when community volunteerism is declining. “It is getting harder and harder to get people to volunteer in their communities. So I have to really commend this community (for) the level of service they’re providing,” says Vandenbrink. He also praises Fire Chief Ken Melnyk for the support he provides to his volunteer firefighters. He says Melnyk is enthusiastic and instils this in the people around him. Besides the award presentations and speeches, a fundraiser was held in the form of three treasurer chests. Keys were sold for $5 each, and contestants had three chances to open the chests. The High Prairie Fire Rescue Society, Park Theatre and Pomeroy Group sponsored this year’s Emergency Services Ball. The Emergency Services Ball is organized as one of the primary fundraisers for the High Prairie Fire-Rescue Society. This year’s event, although still considered a success in that it gave a chance for allied emergency services agencies to get together in a social setting, failed in raising any money at all. In fact, despite the efforts of the High Prairie Fire-Rescue Society, in excess of $1,000 was lost on this year’s event, says McDermott. Monies raised in this year’s event would have been earmarked for a live fire training facility, but it’s hoped construction will begin in the summer of 2008, he adds.

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