Half a century of volunteer firefighting excellence and bravery in Innisfail has been honoured by Canada's highest office.
Dennis Fehr, deputy chief of the Innisfail Fire Department and Tim Ainscough, the department's assistant deputy chief of training, were both given long service awards by Alberta Lt.-Gov. Lois Mitchell during a May 29 ceremony at this year's annual Alberta Fire Chiefs Association conference in Calgary.
Fehr earned a 30-year bar for three consecutive decades of volunteer firefighting service in Innisfail, while Ainscough received a 20-year Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal. Ainscough has served in both Innisfail and Swan Hills during his distinguished firefighting career.
Both men were formally honoured locally during a June town council meeting.
Dean Clark, the town's fire chief who nominated both men, noted the process for the long service awards must go through the office of the Alberta Office of the Fire Commissioner, then through the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta and then to the Chancellery of Honours, a division of the Governor General's office in Ottawa.
“When you think of the time commitment of 20 years of service to an organization or to a service like the fire department, absolutely,” said Clark of the magnitude of both local firefighters' achievements.
The local fire chief added the award is always special for all firefighters, whether they are volunteer or full time.
“Speaking of the volunteer service in both the 20- and 30-year service (categories) and the sacrifice that comes with that, you got individuals that hold everyday jobs and they are doing this in their spare time,” said Clark. “There are a lot of times they have missed family functions or they leave a hot meal on the stove or on the table, or getting up at two or three in the morning to help perfect strangers.
“I think the medal itself means quite a lot,” added the Innisfail fire chief, noting the red and gold colours of the awards. “Red simply signifies fire and gold signifies excellence. When you take a look at it that way that is exactly what it is, excellence.”
Dean Clark, Innisfail fire chief
"There are a lot of times they have missed family functions or they leave a hot meal on the stove or on the table, or getting up at two or three in the morning to help perfect strangers."
