(Facebook/Canadian Firefighters - CVFSA)

By Mat Barrett

New President

‘It’s been mushrooming’: Starkell named president of CVFSA

Dec 4, 2020 | 2:33 PM

The Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Association (CVFSA) has a new president.

The previous president recently had to step down due to new job commitments, and his successor is Brian Starkell of Nipawin. Starkell has been part of the CVFSA since 2012 and was named an ambassador in 2019. He said it was an honour to be named president.

“It’s just been mushrooming since I’ve been involved with the organization,” Starkell laughed.

Starkell has over 40 years of experience in the fire service industry and was also the fire chief in Nipawin between 2010 and 2019. He began his career in 1976 in Codette with the volunteer department.

The CVFSA is an organization that represents volunteer firefighters across Canada and Starkell said it’s an important organization to him and for firefighters across the country.

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“I think this is one way I can pay back to the membership,” he said. “And throughout Canada is that I give up some of my time and go from there.”

Now as president, Starkell said his role with the CVFSA will change a bit as he has a bit more of a workload including meetings, lobbying governments, sponsorships, and being a voice for volunteer firefighters in Canada.

“Make sure that we keep promoting the Canadian Fire Fighters Foundation, so that we can keep this momentum going,” Starkell told northeastNOW. “And try to get more membership throughout Canada, not just in certain areas, but right across Canada.”

Starkell also received a CVFSA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6