Awards

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Call for nominations for 2023 Annual Awards

OMFPOA Executive are requesting annual nominations for the following awards, please nominate deserving individuals: Jim Copeland Award Dave Sylvester Student Bursary Al Suleman Award (Fire Prevention Employee of the Year) Fire Chief of the Year Award The deadline for submissions is 26 April 2023.

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2023 Symposium Hotel Bookings

  Delta Hotels London Armouries has created a website to enable Symposium attendees to register at the discounted rate. Follow the instructions below to book . Further information on the Symposium and registration forms can be found here. Book your group rate for OMFPOA 2023 Symposium Thank you for considering to stay at the Delta

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Please start considering nominations for 2023 awards listed below. Applications will be open early 2023.

OMFPOA Awards

The OMFPOA likes to promote and recognize the people in the community that have went over and beyond for Fire Prevention in Ontario. Please review the nomination forms and seriously consider submitting one as soon as possible.

Awards will be presented to the winning recipients during the gala dinner at the OMFPOA Training & Education Symposium.

SEE OUR RECIPIENTS

JIM COPELAND AWARD

This award recognizes the significant contributions made by a citizen or group to the prevention of  fire and the public  education  of life safety in the community.  The nominee  must be able to   demonstrate support of fire prevention activities and the promotion of fire and life safety in the community.

Nomination Form

DAVE SYLVESTER MEMORIAL BURSARY

This bursary is granted to a student who is furthering their education at a  recognized post secondary institution and is enrolled in a full time program relating to fire prevention and life safety.

Nomination Form

LIFE MEMBER AWARD

Persons eligible for Life Membership in this Association shall be any member or person, who shall serve this Association with Honour or distinction, may be elected as such upon the unanimous recommendation of the Executive committee and adopted by a majority vote of the members at an Annual Meeting.

FIRE CHIEF OF THE YEAR AWARD

To be eligible for the Chief of the year award the Fire Chief shall make significant contributions to the prevention of fire and the Public Education of life safety in the community.  The Fire Chief must be able to demonstrate support of all fire prevention activities undertaken by their department and promote fire prevention and life safety in the community.

Nomination Form

AL SULEMAN AWARD (FIRE PREVENTION EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR)

An award may be granted to an individual employed in a fire department, excluding Chiefs and/or Deputy Chiefs.

Purpose: To recognize the significant contribution made by an individual in the field of fire prevention and/or public education within the community.

The nominee must be able to demonstrate innovation in fire prevention activities and the promotion of fire and life safety within the community.

Nomination Form

PAST WINNERS

2020 Winners Expand

Dave Sylvester Bursary:  Patrick Hutchinson Fanshaw College

Jim Copeland Award: John Gignac, Hawkins Gignac Foundation

Nominated by Jeff Balkwill, County of Brant Fire

Fire Chief of the Year: No nominations.

Employee of the Year: No qualifying nominations.

Public Education Fire Prevention Grants
Centre Wellington Fire Rescue Services
Chris Paluch, FPO St. Mary’s Fire Department
Brian Leverton, CFPO 2019 Winners Expand

Jim Copeland Award: Derek D’Agostino, First General

Fire Chief of the Year: Michael Cain, Grimsby Fire Department

Dave Sylvester Award: Tatyana Coghlin

Employee if the Year:  Derek VanPagee, Public Safety Educator

2018 Winners Expand Jim Copeland: Robert Clark
Fire Chief: Thomas Cartwright
Dave Sylvester: Quintin Matthews 2017 Winners Expand Fire Chief: Ron Jenkins
Fire Prevention: David Montone
Dave Sylvester: Jessica Weinhart 2016 Winners Expand Jim Copeland: Wendy Krebsz
Fire Prevention: N/A
Dave Sylvester: Kathryn Schramm 2015 Winners Expand Jim Copeland: Birnie Current
Fire Chief: Hamilton Fire
Fire Prevention: N/A
Dave Sylvester: Kevin Bourke 2014 Winners Expand

2014 Winners

2005 Winners Expand Jim Copeland: Peter Bendington
Student Bursary: Colin Lahey
Fire Chief of the Year: Chief Bennett (Gananoque Fire Department)
Life Member: Scott Richardson (Markham Fire & Emergency Services) 2004 Winners Expand Jim Copeland: Dave Flynn
Fire Chief of the Year: Chief Paul Olah (Welland Fire Department)
Life Member: Rich Morris National (Fire Protection Association) 2003 Winners Expand Jim Copeland: Stephanie Gaetz
Fire Chief of the Year: Chief Dave Fields (Windsor Fire and Rescue) 2002 Winners Expand Jim Copeland: Rich Morris
Fire Chief of the Year: Chief Jim Sales (Markham Fire & Emergency Services) 2001 Winners Expand Jim Copeland: Ed Davies
Fire Chief of the Year: Chief Clifford Jeffrey (Quinte West Fire Department) 1999 Winners Expand

Fire Chief of the Year: Chief Jim Handcock (Kitchener Fire Department)

1998 Winners Expand

Fire Chief of the Year: Chief Cyril Hare (Mississauga Fire Department)

1997 Winners Expand Fire Chief of the Year: Chief Dave Guilbault (Ancaster Fire Department)
Life Member: Roy Phillippe (Office of the Fire Marshal) 1996 Winners Expand

Fire Chief of the Year: Chief Alan Speed (North York Fire Department)

1995 Winners Expand

Life Member: The National Fire Protection Association

1991 Winners Expand

Life Members: Duff Dell (Sarina Fire Department), John Simon (Niagara Falls Fire Department) and John Bateman (Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office Ontario, Fire Marshal)

1990 Winners Expand

Life Members: Lou Vaughan (Canadian Steel Institute), Don Bryant (Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office, Instructor Ontario Fire College), and Walter & Helen Anderson (Hand Chemicals)

1977 Winners Expand

Life Member: Jay Cosgrave (North Bay Fire Department)

1975 Winners Expand

Life Member: Ken Roberts (St. Catharines Fire Department)