Pincher Creek Emergency Services holds 2013 Awards Night

Pincher Creek Emergency Services Chief Dave Cox
with his Diamond Jubilee Medal
C. Davis photos

Toni Lucas, Pincher Creek Voice

On Saturday April 6, 2013  Pincher Creek Emergency Services (PCES) held their annual awards banquet at the Pincher Creek Legion.  In addition to the yearly Transfer award, and the Years of Service Awards, this year  five Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals were presented during the ceremonies.

Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient
Lynn Brasnett

"We've had a busy year.  We've lost some members, we've gained some members," said PCES Chief David Cox, who acted as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.  "We have a great crew that step up to serve our community.  They show their dedication not only by responding to the incidents, but also by training."

Cox explained some of the challenges his crew faces, "Our community is changing.  People are aging, communities grow, populations change.  This is a very dynamic business.  We have a great bunch,  the people that do the training, become the trainers, passing their knowledge on.  We are blessed with people that see this as a calling as well as a job.  They make that extra effort count."

Diamond Jubilee recipient
Marg Cox

"This service wouldn't be what it is without the support of the communities that we serve," said Cox.  He cited thank-you cards, positive feedback, and contributions from businesses that support with  funding and by allowing their staff to respond to incidents and emergencies.  "Most important in this support is the support of the municipalities that we serve."  Cox was enthusiastic about the support received from MD and Town council members, and from Deputy Fire Commissioner for Alberta Jacen Abrey.

Chief Cox congratulates Chief Tapay
for 12 years of service

"The resources we have in our community are geared to compliment each other.  If Pincher Creek is fighting a grass fire, Beaver Mines and Lundbreck engines will either be involved in that fire or will move up to take responsibility of the community as a whole.  We work as one big group," said Cox.

Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient
Jennifer Fisher Sundberg

"I can't tell you how proud I am of all of you and the work you do.," said Pincher Creek Emergency Services Committee Chair and MD of Pincher Creek Reeve Bjorn Berg.

Chief Cox congratulates Chief Molnar
for 12 years of service

"We are looking for better and greater things in the future.  All I can say at the moment is that some of the things we have planned are going to set us up very nicely for our organization for the future, give us more support, and a measure of independence in the way we make decisions.  It will be nothing but positive."

Stats and notable calls
A summary of some of the department statistics for the year included 27,500 hours  of combined service representing 25,000 of ambulance duty and 2,500 hours of  fire and rescue duty, 1204 ambulance calls (transfers and emergencies), 120 fire/ rescue calls from Pincher Creek, 20 calls from Lundbreck, and 56 calls from Beaver Mines

Mike Swystun (left) receiving
his five-year award

Some of the notable calls that the departments responded to over the last year included blown over vehicles on the highways, a rescue off of Victoria Peak requiring a multi-agency response, mutual aid to Willow Creek and Lethbridge, and the Burmis fire in October.

Emergency Services families lauded
"I especially want to thank the family members of all the people that work on our service.  The are as much a part of the service as those that wear the uniform.  They are the ones that see their counterparts leave at mealtime, and in the middle of the night, miss appointments, and miss functions," said Cox.  "They put up with us being gone all hours of the days and nights.  All the families deserve a big round of applause."

Michael Whittington (left) receiving
his five-year award

Awards:

Transfer Award (for most ambulance transfers) going to Jennifer Fisher Sundberg, with Mike Swystun  and Alyssa Wadman as runners up.

5 year awards - Amanda Valin EMT-A, Mike Swystun and Michael Whittington.

10 year award - Kerry Smyke

Kerry Smyke (left) receiving
his ten-year award

Provincial 12 year awards - Allen Tapay Captain/EMR of Beaver Mines Station and Anne Molnar Captain/EMR Lundbreck Station.

Chief Cox recieving his Diamond
Jubilee certificate from Councillor Hancock

Diamond Jubilee Medals
MD Reeve Bjorn Berg, Town Councillor Sahra Hancock and MD Councillor Terry Yagos were on hand to help award the Diamond Jubilee Medals to the Emergency Services crew and to Deputy Reeve Rodney Cyr.

Four people were awarded with this prestigious award through the Canadian Fire Chiefs Association.  "This is not only a tribute for doing the job that you do, but going the extra effort,"  said Chief Cox.

Captain/EMT-A/ 1001 Jennifer Fisher Sundberg (13 years of service),
Lieutenant/EMT-A/ 1001 Lynn Brasnett (9 years of service),
 Asst. Deputy Chief- Amb/ EMT-P Marg Cox (16 years of service),
 and Chief Dave Cox (11 years of service) each received the award.

Reeve Bjorn Berg said when giving the medal to Chief David Cox "It's been a real privilege to learn just how giving this man is to the community and the organization.  It makes me so proud to know you."

Marg Cox receives congratulations
from Reeve Berg

"I'm deeply honoured, but I feel that this belongs to everyone here," said Jubilee Medal recipient, Marg Cox.  "Everyone that gets out of bed, that gives to their community, and cares about their community.  That's what these medals are.  Everyone in this room is deserving of sharing in this.  everybody does their advocacy, everybody is here because they care about their community."

Marg related a story about talking with an emergency worker from Calgary.   She told the worker from Calgary that "Our councils support us, and we care about our community."  He responded with, "That's so romantic, I don't care about anybody in Calgary, it's a big city."

"That defines us as a community, and a service group, that we care deeply about where we are, and who we're caring for.  Thanks again."

Rodney Cyr (centre) with Terry Yagos (left) and Reeve Berg

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities Diamond Jubilee Award was presented to Rodney Cyr.  Cyr has been an MD Councillor, Reeve, and currently serves as Deputy Reeve.  He said that he was a member of the Emergency Services Committee for eight years.  "Some of the things we tried to do then, we are just starting to reap the benefits now.  Sometimes the journey is a long journey in politics before you see things happen."

"For all of those that have won these awards in our community I would like to congratulate them,"  concluded Reeve Berg.  "I think that we have done well to honour those that have contributed their time and volunteered their effort to our community.  Thank you so much."