Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice
Updated October 4, 2012, 9:20 am
Margetak is a long-serving member of the Blairmore Fire Department, receiving a 30 year service medal in 2010.
Crowsnest blogger John Prince broke the story first (link) yesterday evening, and the MD of Crowsnest Pass released the following press release on Facebook today:
Municipality of Crowsnest Pass Press Release:
Effective October 1st, Station Chief Margetak has been relieved of his active duty. This action has prompted conclusion of additional fire service members from the Blairmore Station. The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass wishes to advise the public that a contingency plan is in place and a protocol has been established to ensure the ultimate safety of the public while the transition takes place. The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass wishes to thank Chief Margetak for the years of dedication and service and wishes to thank also those fire fighters that remain on active duty.
In a recent Crowsnest Pass Herald (link) story Margetak expressed concerns about organizational changes to Emergency Response services announced by the Municipality. “I think it was poorly handled,” he reportedly said.
In a press release dated September 29, 2011, the Municipality stated they had "directed administration to enhance the level of Risk Management for the safety and protection of the Community." Calling separate fire departments and a separate rescue squad "inefficient", the press release stated "The New Emergency Response Model will unite all Emergency Services, Fire, Ambulance, Police, Enforcement Services and Disaster Emergency Response Preparedness into one Protective Services Department." A "platoon deployment model" and two emergency response zones figure into the plan, with one Fire Department expected to encompass Rescue and Support Services.
A new Fire Chief and Manager of Protective Services for the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass was recently hired.
The Municipal Council has faced a lot of criticism from residents over the cancellation of the area's biggest summer event, Thunder in the Valley, last summer. The Blairmore Fire Department was the main organizer for that event.
Update, October 4, 9:20 am: According to a press release by the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, they were informed today by Station 25 (Coleman) Fire Chief Wayne Robutka that 17 of 19 members of that department have resigned and have vowed to not return to service unless Station 24 (Blairmore) Fire Chief Jamie Margetak is reinstated.
Fire Chiefs at Stations 22 (Hillcrest) and 23 (Bellevue) have indicated that firefighters there are likely to resign as well unless Margetak is reinstated immediately.
The Municipality says it has decided "to undertake an external examination of the operations and activities of the Municipal Fire Services". The Municipality has also indicated that recruitment and interviews are scheduled to replace the firefighters that resigned from Station 24 on October 1.
Update, October 4, 9:20 am: According to a press release by the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, they were informed today by Station 25 (Coleman) Fire Chief Wayne Robutka that 17 of 19 members of that department have resigned and have vowed to not return to service unless Station 24 (Blairmore) Fire Chief Jamie Margetak is reinstated.
Fire Chiefs at Stations 22 (Hillcrest) and 23 (Bellevue) have indicated that firefighters there are likely to resign as well unless Margetak is reinstated immediately.
The Municipality says it has decided "to undertake an external examination of the operations and activities of the Municipal Fire Services". The Municipality has also indicated that recruitment and interviews are scheduled to replace the firefighters that resigned from Station 24 on October 1.
Related link:
More to come.
I am surprised you would be interested being a Pincher Creek paper. But, you should know that John Prince is a disgruntled person that ran for mayor and lost, and never quits trying to cause trouble. You need to get the facts I think if it is of interest to you.
ReplyDeleteI'm aware of John Prince's history with CNP. If I got a fact wrong in the actual article, do let me know.
DeleteIt interests me.Why do you not give us these facts.Go to CNP facebook page looks like a lot of people are pretty upset.I look forward to your reply with all of the facts.
DeleteWhat facts are you referring to? As you can undoubtedly see, a link to that Facebook page is included at the bottom of the article, and I have commented on the post itself on Facebook. When there are more facts, rather than conjecture, we will be sure to follow up. In the meantime, what we have published is factual. Again I say, if you see an actual error in our coverage, let us know. Specifically.
DeleteDeliberately smearing people, getting your facts wrong, digressing from the subject matter at hand, does that make you feel better now, 'Anonymous'?
DeleteI was post number 3 responding to post number 1. Things are out of order. I was Questioning the first Anon post.
ReplyDeleteI checked out the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass webpage for myself which confirms what The Pincher Creek Voice has published in this article. In case anyone missed the link, here it is: http://www.town.crowsnestpass.ab.ca/
ReplyDeleteBottom of the Crows Nest Pass Municipal webpage in the Facebook Social plugin section.
Also for the people concerned as to why the Pincher Creek Voice is reporting on this, here is another press release mentioning Pincher Creek:
Municipality of Crowsnest Pass
Press Release
The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass Protective and Community Services Department wants to assure residents that their safety and protection has not been compromised in the delivery of fire services. A contingency plan within the Fire and Rescue Services was developed and included effective communication and collaboration with the other four Fire and Rescue stations as well as our dispatch services. The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass has a mutual aid agreement with the Town of Pincher Creek which can be implemented should the need arise.
~Source~
Municipality of Crowsnest Pass webpage, Facebook Social Plugin.
Check it out for yourself the facts speak pretty loudly for themselves.
Facts? - what facts? But listen, I prefer to remain anonymous so that invectives hurled at anonymous can remain anonymous, not to mention anonymous jibes poked at the Pincher Creek Voice in the suitably anonymous spirit of anonymity. And don't get me confused with Anonymous - I'm the real Anonymous. Ah, life in the sandbox - gotta love it. Anonymously yours.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteFrom John Prince's blog: "Just received word from my source from yesterday who broke this story to me for my readers here that all but two (who couldn't be reached) firefighters in our Coleman Fire Department and all of our Hillcrest Fire Department firefighters have turned in their pagers today, as well. They've all walked out. No word yet on Bellevue."
ReplyDeleteAnon 1.doesn't sound like John Prince may be the only politician with a grudge huh?? At least he is standing up for the people.Many councilors seem to be trying to desperately defend themselves while grasping at the air.Privately confronting the more vocal individuals as though it was their fault the town has turned on them.It's your bed,you made it,now "lie" in it...
ReplyDeleteThis council's credibility has been in question for quite some time now..This is just one more notch in thier stupidity pole. I am disappointed and embarrassed to have them in power. They have done nothing but make poor decisions for this town from the moment they were elected ie. a recent decision to hire two peace officers and outfit them with new pickup trucks under the guise that they will pay for themselves for the tickets they write for infractions. The town does not disclose what it will cost the municipality in legal fees for each ticket that is disputed.When will it end? When this town is bankrupt because of the mismanagement taking place???
ReplyDeleteI do not know what hiring peace officers has to do with the firefighters issue. That is what happens, things get exaggerated by some self-serving people.
ReplyDeleteThis just in:
ReplyDelete"Fire Chief with years of Honorable Service Stands up for what he believes in."
Governments systems have quickly removed this "threat."
Volunteer Subordinates with years of service all back their Chief, community turns on itself.
More to come...
As an old time municipal fireman, with enough experience to understand the many issues, most of the populace that will offer their opinion, have no real knowledge of the situation and the many facets of which. Regrettably, it was the right decision for the future of the fire department.
DeleteAs for the firefighters that have quit, it shows an unwavering allegiance to the "club" and its members, rather than to serve the greater good of the Municipality and its' citizens. Kinda why I thought a firefighter would sign up in the first place. A sad and very unprofessional outcome.
I really wish people who want to comment on stories - whether favourably or unfavourably - would have the courage of their convictions and the guts to sign their own name. Quite apart from anything else, it avoids the rather silly and faintly ridiculous confusion about which anonymous was which.
ReplyDeleteWe had the same thing happen in our Village four years ago. The Volunteer Fire Chief of 25 years was 'fired' without reason. The Volunteer Firefighters, with a total of 225 years of service, all walked off the 'volunteer job' in support of their Fire Chief. It turned out the cause of this whole mess was a CAO of the Village was accused by the Fire Chief of using metal sheeting (paid for by the Village) on his garage (which was 10 miles out of town) and using Village equipment and manpower on his farm to build said garage (this was fact). CAO thought by firing the Chief the problem would go away, but it only mushroomed. To this day we do not have a proper Fire Department. Village residents do not want to get involved until all of those Council members who helped make this all happen, are voted out. Since then we have had two houses in the Village that burned to the ground, and one industrial business.
ReplyDeleteSo in hindsight, put your political views aside and focus on the job that these people are doing. They do not have all the training necessary, they leave their own jobs to fight fire or go to accidents, they put their LIVES on the line, they do not get paid for their time, they work as a TEAM and they do not complain. These VOLUNTEERS are VALUABLE!! Politicians come and go, but the Volunteer Fire Department is there for years and years to come. Think about it!