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2022 Fire Chief of the Year Winners


For many years, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) and Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) have sponsored Canada’s Fire Chief of the Year Awards.

These awards are a wonderful opportunity to recognize excellence in the fire sector. It’s a delight to hear from municipalities and it’s a general celebration for the sector.

The Awards were presented at Fire Rescue Canada 2022. We would like to thank our winners of the 2022 Fire Chief of the Year Awards below.


2022 Fire Chief of the Year Winners


Valleyview Fire Department
Valleyview, AB

Born and raised in Valleyview, Alberta and following in the footsteps of his father and his brothers, Danny started his career with the VVFD in October 1995. Whether behind the scenes or on the frontline, his dedication to the safety of VVFD members and his strong leadership, mentorship qualities, and good firefighter skills were recognized. Accordingly, Danny was elected as Valleyview’s Fire Chief in October 2007.

Over the past 27 years, with the last 15 years as Fire Chief, Danny is commended for his unwavering commitment to serving and protecting our community (Valleyview) and surrounding area (Greenview). His altruistic behaviour and genuine concern for the welfare of others, including that of the firefighters, the fire department, and the community served, is admirable and inevitably appreciated by all.

Overall, Danny is a good, unselfish person who leads the VVFD to the best of his ability, with strong moral and ethical principles and values. He achieves this through hard work and dedication, by being purposively and respectively collaborative and supportive to each member, and while empowering his members and building trust within his teams and the community as a whole. Danny has selflessly committed his time within the fire department and the community.

He is a leader and mentor of people at several levels: fulltime employee, husband-father-grandfather, Fire Chief/fire fighter (15/27 years), Councillor (3rd term, 6+ years), and volunteer (i.e., golf club).

He is integral to things that matter most, giving back – innovatively creating opportunity in times of despair (pandemic), combining ideas and working together to achieve success while contributing to the community and members of the VVFD and fire/emergency service departments in the surrounding areas (i.e., VVFD annual Fun Hockey Tournament).


Fire Chief Danny McCallum

Whistler Fire Rescue Services
Whistler, BC

Chief John McKearney joined the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Whistler Fire Rescue Service (WFRS) as the Fire Chief November 2018 after completing 37 plus years with the Vancouver Fire Rescue Service; 5 years as Deputy Fire Chief and 9 years as the Fire Chief/General Manager with the City of Vancouver.

Chief McKearney has led the WFRS with professional distinction, building strong partnerships across the RMOW corporation, BC Wildfire Services, Emergency Management of BC, Fire Chief Association of BC, Office of the Fire Commissioner, and many other agencies.

Shortly after joining the RMOW, Chief McKearney was elected as President with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs and together with the CAFC Board has worked effectively to advance public safety in our communities and has fostered policy advocacy for firefighter safety nationally. Chief McKearney has built strong relationships with our Labour Executive team and with our Whistler Firefighters Association; volunteer, Paid on Call firefighters.

Chief McKearney provided experienced leadership related to maintaining community and firefighter safety during the pandemic, identifying alternate operational planning and execution as the science and impact of COVID became a reality and the ensuing challenges presented as they evolved. Chief McKearney has continued to build strong competencies within our firefighters in the areas of structural firefighting preparedness and in response to potential Wildland Urban Interface wildfire readiness.

Chief McKearney was awarded the Honourary Life Membership for his dedicated service and commitment to the Fire Chiefs’ Association of British Columbia and all of its members. He was awarded the Marie Rogan Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years of service as Director with the Pacific Northwest Preparedness Society advancing research and education with emergency preparedness and business and community continuity.

Fire Chief John McKearney



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