Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) - Experts & Thought Leaders

Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) is providing the opportunity to Canadian fire departments to apply for $500 stipend, in order to help educate their communities about the benefits of residential fire sprinklers. Fire departments are welcome to combine projects, for example, use the $500 to buy a TV monitor, produce an educational pull-up banner, or boost Facebook posts. Other examples include: Build or refurbish a fire and sprinkler side-by-side burn demonstration. This may include refurbishing existing displays or trailer demonstrations. Home fire sprinkler 13D display (AGF Manufacturing will donate free sprinkler components). Educational banner or canopy tent with HFSC TV monitor to play HFSC educational videos. Conduct a virtual home fire sprinkler contest and offer fun prizes. Boost Facebook posts to reach a larger audience (receipts and analytics must be provided).  The deadline to submit application is March 31, 2021.

The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs’ is honored to announce that Whistler Fire Chief John McKearney has been appointed as the President of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC), effective immediately. He will serve the remainder of past CAFC President, Chief Ken Block’s term. Chief Block stepped down in order to accept the role of Fire Commissioner in the state of Victoria, Australia. “I’m honored to have been appointed by my colleagues and to serve in this capacity,” said Fire Chief McKearney, adding “I am committed to a seamless transition that allows our committees, staff and members, to continue working on the important national priorities that we face, from mental health, to climate emergencies, to building codes, dangerous goods and others.” Veteran in the Canadian fire service John McKearney is a long-standing and well-known member of the fire service in Canada John McKearney is a long-standing and well-known member of the fire service in Canada. Currently the Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Services for the Whistler Fire Rescue Service (WFRS), he was previously the Chief of Vancouver’s Fire and Rescue Services, where he had also served a total of 37 years in various capacities. He has served several terms on the CAFC Board. McKearney also holds a Masters’ Degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University and completed the Senior Fellowship Fire Executive program at Harvard University through the US Fire Administration. New appointees to CAFC Board Supporting the transition, the CAFC Board also appointed Chief Ken McMullen of City of Red Deer as Vice President and Chief Keri Martens of Canmore Fire - Rescue Services as Secretary. Maintaining current elected roles on the CAFC Board of Directors are Chief Daniel Perron, Treasurer, Chief Dan McCoy and Chief Vince MacKenzie, Directors at Large, and Chief Peter Krich, ex officio as the Chair of the CAFC’s National Advisory Council. Chief Jason Whiteley and Dean Colthorp who Co-Chair the Nominations and Bylaws Committee and oversaw the transition noted, “We are honored to have Chief McKearney in this role and also to see a highly functioning board that is so united and committed to the fire sector and to our members. And while we will miss Chief Block, we are also honored that one of our own has been sought out internationally.”

The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) invites organizations and its members to take part in the fall 2019 public review from October 22 to December 23, 2019. Purpose of the review The responsible standing committee will consider each comment in its recommendations on the proposed changes The purpose of the public review is to provide users of the model codes and stakeholders with a detailed look at the changes being considered and to seek comments as to whether proposed changes should proceed as proposed or be edited, revised, or withdrawn. The responsible standing committee will consider each comment in its recommendations on the proposed changes. The final changes are subject to approval by the CCBFC and will be published by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) in the 2020 editions of the Codes Canada publications. Implementation of proposed changes The fourth public review of the 2015 code cycle focuses on changes being proposed to the 2015 editions of the National Building Code (NBC), the National Fire Code (NFC), and the National Plumbing Codes (NPC). A final national public review will take place in January 2020 which will include changes being proposed to the National Energy Code for Buildings, as well as changes related to accessibility, large farm buildings, and updates to referenced standards. Free electronic access to Codes The NRC offers free access to the electronic formats of the National Model Codes, as well as the provincial codes published by the NRC. Paper copies of the Codes, along with other supporting documents including the Guides, are available at a reduced cost.