Awards honour County’s long-serving firefighters

Deputy Chief Tim Kraemer, Division Commander Roger Flower (50 year honoree), Betty Flower, MPP Todd Smith, Firefighter Leonard Bedford (50 year honoree), Marjorie Bedford, MP Ryan Williams, Gwen Bedford, Captain Bill Bedford (50 year honoree), Fire Chief Chad Brown, Louise Tolley, Retired Captain Bob Tolley (50 year honoree).

Eighty-one current and retired members of the Prince Edward County Fire and Rescue recently received federal, provincial, and municipal awards in recognition of many years of service.

“The formal awards ceremony is an opportunity to recognize staff that have achieved significant milestones in the fire service. These honours demonstrate our members’ commitment to serving and protecting the citizens and visitors to our community,” said Fire Chief Chad Brown says. “This year was special as we have four members with 50 years of service. I am truly honoured to have our members formally recognized for their hard work and dedication.”

The Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal, awarded by the Governor General of Canada, honours Canadian fire service members who have completed 20 years of service – 10 years of which have been served in the performance of duties involving potential risks. A bar may be awarded for each additional 10-year period of service.

The Government of Ontario awards the Fire Services Long Service Medal to recognize firefighters’ dedication and hard work. The long service medal and subsequent service bars are awarded to those who have achieved a minimum of 25 years in suppression, training, public education, inspections, and communications. The spouse of the 25-year service recipient receives a companion brooch.

The PEC Fire and Rescue awards service pins to firefighters who have achieved 10 years, 20 years, and then every additional five years of service.

“On behalf of County council and the municipality, I want to congratulate all of the firefighters who have reached these impressive milestones,” said Mayor Steve Ferguson. “Firefighters are truly at the heart of our safe, strong, and vibrant rural community. We are extremely grateful for all that they do giving back to our community every day.”

Award Recipients:

10-Year Municipal Service Pins
Curtis Baitley, Brendon Conley, Dylan Cox, Steve Dawson, Morley Dayton, Steve Everall, Ken Gibbons, Jody Hudson, Alex Ingram, Phil Kinnear, Nathan Koutroulides, Deputy Fire Chief Tim Kraemer, Wes Manlow, Bryan Markland, Chris Morris, Tim Noxon, Jeremy Prinzen, Terry Rashotte, Mike Renaud, Phil Roblin, Dan Sprigings, Ryan Walmsley, Jason Young

20-Year Provincial Administrative Award, 20-Year Municipal Service Pin
Bernie Dunphy

20-Year Federal Fire Services Medals
Darren Bedford, Fire Chief Chad Brown, Greg Bulgajewski, John Carter, Dan Claxton, Darren Flower, Glenn Guernsey, David Jones, Al Koopmans, Todd Lamorre, Rick Leavitt, Dale Milligan, Lucien Paradis, David Rallison, Jeff Snider, John Thissen

25-Year Provincial Long Service Medals and Companion Brooches
Gord Bell, Fire Chief Chad Brown and Lynda Brown, Richard Copple and Karen Hatchard, Robert Downey and Linda Downey, Jerry Ferguson and Robin Ferguson, Greg Gorsline and Shannon Coull, Andrew Prinzen and Grace Prinzen, Robert Rorabeck and Donna Faye Salt, Brian Yott and Jacqueline Yott, Jim Young

30-Year Federal Bars, 30-Year Provincial Bars
Michael Branscombe, Craig Burris, Steve Coates, Paul Creasy, Kevin Harrington, Don Leavitt, Retired Fire Chief Scott Manlow, Paul Vidito, David Wetherall, Shawn Whalen

35-Year Provincial Bars
Carman Courneyea, Richard Doyle, Terry Kewley, Robert Manlow, Maurice Miller, Greg Moore, Retired Fire Chief Robert Rutter, Peter Williams, Dale Wood, Randy York

40-Year Federal Bars, 40-Year Provincial Bars
Dan Bakker (Sandy), Elmer Bentley, Peter Cole, David Fox, George Storms, Stephen Vickers, Brent Walker

50-Year Federal Bars, 50-Year Provincial Bars
William Bedford, Leonard Bedford, Roger Flower, Robert Tolley.