Annual Report 2019/2020
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ABORIGINAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION OF CANADA ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 1 The Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada (AFAC) was formed in 1991 and officially incorporated on May 4, 1995. AFAC is formally recognized and supported by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) through Resolution 18-92 Recognition of an Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada (AFAC) and Resolution 33-94 Creation of an AFN Chiefs’ Committee on Fire and Emergency Services. AFAC is a non-political, non-profit service organization comprised of regional organizations with membership in fire and emergency-related services from First Nations communities across Canada. Vision statement “Working together to improve fire safety in all Aboriginal/First Nations communities across Canada to protect and enhance the quality of life, health and safety.” Our mission To unite First Nations fire and emergency service organizations through a national association to achieve the following: 1. Enhance fire prevention on First Nations reserves across Canada by delivering fire prevention programs, liaising with fire prevention organizations, promoting NFPA standards, and enhancing research. 2. Promote the evolution of a National Fire Protection framework on reserve and utilizing industry standard building and fire codes. 3. Support the development of fire service operations standards for on-reserve fire services. 4. Provide national coordination for First Nations fire services and emergency services. 5. Coordinate efforts with Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to meet the objectives defined in the joint national fire strategy. 2 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 Table of Contents Executive Directors Report 4 Board of Directors 5 Annual General Meeting 5 Corporate Office 5 AFAC Programs and Projects 6 National Firefighting Competition 6 National Poster Campaign 7 National Fire Service Collaboration and Engagement 9 Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs 9 Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation 9 National Fire Prevention Association 9 Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners 9 Assembly of First Nations 9 National Joint Fire Protection Strategy 9 NIFSC Project 10 Engagement 10 Working Group and Technical Services Groups 14 Program Development 16 National Advisory Committee 18 Conference and Trade Show Participation 20 Communications 21 Operating Budget 23 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 3 Executive Directors Report April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020 was another busy and productive year for the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada. This year was the 30th anniversary of the National Firefighting Competition which, along with our Annual General Meeting, was hosted by Eskasoni First Nation in Nova Scotia. We continued our collaboration with national fire organizations to ensure active knowledge transfer. Our National Poster Campaign encouraged schools to learn about fire safety using the NFPA Fire Prevention week messaging. Much of our work this year was focused on the Indigenous Fire Marshal Office project. We completed the planned technical and community engagement sessions to gather information about the programs that are needed and to understand some of the legislative and organizational considerations. Building from research, engagement findings, and our work with regional service providers we began the work to develop a suite of programs to meet the needs of Indigenous communities across the country. During February and March 2020, we adapted our planned approach to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Having worked virtually as a national organization we were able to leverage our existing IT infrastructure to continue operations in a virtual format. It is an honour to continue serving AFAC in our work to support safer communities. Blaine Wiggins Executive Director 4 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 Board of Directors As at March 31, 2020 Vacant – President Jerry Anilniliak – Vice President & Territories Representative Allan Peters – Secretary / Treasurer & Atlantic Representative Leon Smallboy – Director & Alberta Representative Michelle Vandevord – Director & Saskatchewan Representative William Moffat – Director & Quebec Representative Melvin McLeod – Director & Ontario Representative Anthony Moore – Director & British Columbia Representative Blaine Wiggins – Executive Director Annual General Meeting Friday August 16, 2019 Sarah Denny Memorial Cultural Centre, Eskasoni NS Corporate Office 12411 Dawson Place Maple Ridge, BC V4R 2L6 [email protected] 1(250) 267 2579 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 5 AFAC Programs and Projects National Firefighting Competition The National Firefighting Competition was hosted by Eskasoni First Nation in New Brunswick on August 17, 2019. The Eskasoni community of 4,500 people is very enthusiastic about sharing views of Mi’kmaq life. The teams toured Goat Island and participated in a variety of cultural activities. Throughout our time in the community, our hosts showcased their plentiful and delicious food culture. Firefighting training was generously provided by AréoFeu and included auto extrication using a variety of equipment and techniques. The competition evolutions were drawn at the captain’s meeting: 1. Bucket Target Relay 2. Bucket Brigade 3. Breathing Apparatus & Bucket Walk 4. High Flow Knockdown 5. Tiebreaker – Bucket Target Throwdown Showdown For this 30th anniversary year, to recognize and celebrate the commitment of our volunteer firefighters, the AFAC Board of Directors chose to award all teams the title of champion. The Regional teams competing were: > BC – Saik’uz > Alberta – Fort McKay > Saskatchewan – Fond du Lac > Manitoba – Cross Lake > Ontario – Chippewas of the Thames > Quebec – Kawawachikamach > Atlantic – Elsipogtog > Nunavut – Regional Team 6 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 Regional teams at the National Firefighting Competition National Poster Campaign Not every hero wears a cape Plan and Practice your Escape The annual poster campaign enables AFAC to engage First Nations communities and bring awareness of the annual Fire Prevention Week campaign held in October each year. AFAC adopts the annual NFPA theme; the 2019 theme was “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape and Practice Your Escape.” Packages were mailed to every band office and band or federally operated First Nations school. Students were invited to create their own original artwork or colour the poster provided. We received responses from all over the country. The AFAC Board directed the judging process for the national contest and prizes. Submissions were received www.ifmo.ca/afac-apac/national-poster-contest [email protected] Name: School: by all regions and FNESS regional Grade: Province: Parent or legal guardian name: winners. A total of 67 schools (plus BC Telephone number: Regional Winners) submitted entries to the contest. AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 7 AFAC 2019 National Poster Campaign Results CATEGORY PLACE ARTIST SCHOOL PRIZE Kindergarten Class Kikendaasogamig School – Chrome Book – Multi-Media Poster Elementry School – Laptop 1 ON Class Prize – Vivo Flip Book & 128 GB iPad Sloane Thompson Akwesasne Mohawk Prize – x 2 Fire HD8 Tablet Category 1 Multi-Media 2 and Aubrey Gray- School – ON Benedict Savannah Desjarlais Le Goff School – AB School – Chrome Book 1 Laptop Prize – 128 GB iPad Kira Lazare Akwesasne Mohawk Prize – 128 GB iPad 2 School – ON Clara Brule Oski Pasikoniwew Prize – 64 GB iPad Kamik Bigstone 3 Community School – Grade K-2 Grade AB Category 2 Kaziah Wright- Muskoday First Prize – 32 GB iPad 4 Musaskapoe Nations Community School – SK Sagen Groulx Laura McKenzie Prize – Fire HD8 Tablet 5 Learning Centre – ON Jayde Nickel NeqWeyqwelsten School – Chrome Book 1 School – BC Laptop Prize – 128 GB iPad 2 Eva Janvier-Collins Le Goff School – AB Prize – 128 GB iPad 3 Justice Murray Le Goff School – AB Prize – 64 GB iPad Grade 3-5 Grade Category 3 Sydney Wilson Muskoday First Prize – 32 GB iPad 4 Nations Community School – SK Katie Gladue Oski Pasikoniwew Prize – Fire HD8 Tablet 5 Kamik School – AB TigerLily Morris Yagan Nukiy School School – Chrome Book 1 – BC Laptop Prize – 128 GB iPad Mikehla Omand Otter Nelson River Prize – 128 GB iPad 2 School – MB Ania Pladzyk Laura McKenzie Prize – 64 GB iPad 3 Learning Centre – ON Grade 6–8Grade Category 4 4 Brady Houle Le Goff School – AB Prize – 32 GB iPad Breyanna McKay Michikan Lake School Prize – Fire HD8 Tablet 5 –ON 8 AFAC ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 National Fire Service Collaboration and Engagement AFAC partners with national fire organizations to identify trends related to fire safety issues and ensure information exchange and collaboration between mainstream fire service and First Nations communities. We seek to provide education to mainstream organizations regarding First Nations community challenges. Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs Council of Canadian Fire Marshals and Fire Commissioners The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) mission is to promote the highest CCFMFC is a recognized and trusted source standard of public safety in an ever changing of national leadership and knowledge for fire and increasingly complex world to ensure the safety issues and in support of emergency protection of the public through leadership, resilience across Canada. This relationship advocacy, and active collaboration with key supports AFAC’s desire for a cohesive and stakeholders. consistent national approach to fire service issues and concerns. Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation Assembly of First Nations The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation is dedicated