Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, 2002 was the first year of the fire service merit awards program.
This program was designed to recognize important contributions of community firefighters and fire departments in protecting individual residents and communities from the devastation caused by fire.
The department recognized the contributions of four individual firefighters on October 10, 2002, with the announcement of the first regional winners of the individual fire service awards, as well as the first territorial service merit award winner.
The department also called for nominations for the 2002 community fire service merit award. The community fire service merit award is presented to one community to recognize the efforts of the fire department and the entire community to improve the local fire protection system. The deadline for this award was extended to December 31, 2002, to ensure all nominations for communities could be included in the selection process.
Five communities have been nominated for this award. They are: Fort Smith; Fort Resolution; Hay River; Fort Simpson; and, Norman Wells.
The process of determining the winner of the community award involves completion of an assessment by the office of the fire marshal in cooperation with regional fire service officials.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce at this time that the 2002 winner of the community fire service merit award is the Town of Norman Wells. The Norman Wells Fire Department was nominated for improvements to its training program, its organizations, command and control, emergency planning and public education activities.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all Members of this House please join me in congratulating the Norman Wells Fire Department for being awarded this prestigious honour in the first year of the program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause