2024 Fire Chief of the Year Winners

Involved in all aspects of the fire service as a long-standing firefighter and Fire Chief, Chief Keven Lefebvre was, until early 2024, involved in development of Alberta Provincial safety Codes (11 years on Fire Technical sub-committee, and three years on building codes sub-committee.)

Rising to be a Chief Officer, Chief Lefebvre put his varied experience to good use as he then joined the CAFC. He quickly became a board member, and is currently the Treasurer, the Chair of the Data Committee, and Chairs the Building Codes Committee for the CAFC. In this capacity, Chief Lefebvre has addressed Senate and assisted with National Fire Service Code related issues.

Finally, Chief Lefebvre is now also the CAFC rep on the International Codes Committee which helps develop international Fire Codes and deals with items of concern to the fire service across North America. Municipally, in addition to overseeing a fire service which includes 120 POC firefighters and as Leduc County prepares for an increase of 22,000 residents over the next 5-10 years (which is more than the current population), Chief Lefebvre has had oversight of three fire station builds in the past six years, introduced the first 24/7 truck into the Leduc County fire service and added Warburg fire department as a direct control district to the County.

Chief Rick Elder has made a very significant impact on not only the Dalmeny Fire Department, The Town of Dalmeny but even on larger local (and provincial) levels through his unmatched commitment to Dalmeny Fire and Rescue and the community it serves.

Chief Elder started with the Dalmeny Fire Department in 1990, rising through the ranks to become Fire Chief in 1997. In his 34 years on the department, he has managed to take a small department of only a few members, in an outdated hall with minimal equipment and transform it into a modern, professional department with strict training and professional standards, EMS, and advanced equipment and techniques.
Chief Elder has made all of these improvements at great personal expense- he spent 40+ hours a week working on improving and maintaining the department (before becoming a part time Chief only a few years ago, after which the hours he dedicated grew even more). This dedication has raised not only the standards in Dalmeny, but also the surrounding communities as well.

In April of 2023, Chief Elder was diagnosed with a large brain tumor at the base of his cerebellum which wrapped down his brainstem (Which may be linked to his career in the Fire Service). He went through brain surgery to have the tumor removed, and while the tumor was removed successfully, Chief Elder was in a coma for over 3 months, and now faces significant rehabilitation.