Powell River’s deputy fire chief has received a provincial award that recognizes exceptional work for the fire service.
Terry Peters has been named BC Fire Training Officer of the Year by the British Columbia Fire Training Officers Association and the Justice Institute of BC.
The award recognizes outstanding achievements in the area of fire service training. Nominees must have provided initiative in developing and applying new ideas in training, creativity in use of resources, highest quality of work, dedication beyond normal and service, both within and outside of their own department.
City of Powell River Mayor Dave Formosa congratulated Peters at the July 5 council meeting. “On behalf of the community, on behalf of mayor and council...thank you very much for bringing this honour on our community,” he said.
Peters acknowledged Dan Ouellette, fire chief. “I wouldn’t have been able to achieve any of this without his direction and leadership,” he said.
The Justice Institute is the largest emergency service training provider in Canada, Peters said. “Our department is now being recognized Canada-wide,” he said. “I think that’s something that looks good on everybody.”
Ouellette said Peters has worked hard to increase the level of training in the department. “Training is a difficult thing to do in terms of dollars,” he said. “It’s not as simple as putting on a course. Terry has managed to bring those levels up to a really high calibre.”
Peters has also helped other agencies in the city, Ouellette said, and supported other fire departments. “It’s not just about us, it’s about a lot of other folks,” he said. “Certainly, it shows well on the department and we’re proud of him.”
Councillor Maggie Hathaway read a letter from MLA Nicholas Simons, who couldn’t be at the council meeting, congratulating Peters. “The entire community is proud of your accomplishment,” Simons wrote. “As Powell River residents, we know we are all well served by our fire department which responds every day to a broad variety of emergency situations, from dangerous rescues, assisting at accidents and routinely providing medical first responder assistance. Our firefighters respond with speed, professionalism and skills, which are all the result of a high level of training provided by many experts, but none better than you.”
