Local Fire Department Members Celebrated at Annual Awards Night

The Peace River and County of Northern Lights Fire Departments held their Annual Awards Night on December 6 in Peace River. Fire Chief Tim Harris presented nine awards to the members and Mark Owens, President of the Peace River Firefighters Association, presented the President’s Award.

“The awards represent and recognize the achievements members have attained over the year,” said Chief Harris. “Whilst some awards, such as the Attendance Award and Fit-to-Fight Award are based on performance numbers, other awards, such as the Firefighter of the Year and the Officer of the Year are based on nominations from fellow firefighters who recognize the efforts of their peers.”

The 2025 award recipients are:

Attendance Award Junior Fire Fighter Brayden Routhier | Peace River Fire Dept.

Fit-to-Fight Fitness Award

Lieutenant Tim Berger | Weberville Fire Dept.

Kenzie Peterson Junior Firefighter of the Year Award

Junior Firefighter Adam Liar | Peace River Fire Dept.

Rookie of the Year Award

Firefighter Morgan Wilson | Peace River Fire Dept.

Most Improved Firefighter Award Firefighter Shane Brady | Peace River Fire Dept.

Martin Cooper Award of Merit

Captain Patrick Connellan | Peace River Fire Dept.

Lee Vickery Award for Firefighter of the Year Engineer Zach Krahn | Weberville Fire Dept.

Don Konkin Award for Officer of the Year Lieutenant Tim Berger | Weberville Fire Dept.

Fire Chief’s Award Senior Firefighter Jesse Kasouf | Peace River Fire Dept.

President’s Award Firefighter Stephanie Amor | Peace River Fire Dept.

Also in attendance at the awards were Mayor Shelly Shannon, who brought greetings and appreciation from the Town of Peace River Council, along with Deputy Mayor Brad Carr and Councillors Orren Ford and Robin Erickson.

Reeve Terry Ungarian also attended and brought greetings and appreciation from the County of Northern Lights Council with Deputy Reeve Kalyn Schug and Councillor Gary These.

Chief Harris also mentioned another recent ceremony the department conducted to recognize firefighters.

“On November 12, we held our annual graduation ceremony to induct all new recruits and new members that have completed their basic training over the year,” he said. “The ceremony includes the member receiving their membership coin, uniform epaulettes, ‘ringing’ themselves in with our ceremonial bell and citing an oath.”

The five members inducted this year were Firefighters Sam Lavoie, Hayden Reid, Morgan Wilson and Junior Firefighters Adam Liar and Brayden Routhier.

If you are interested in learning new skills and serving your community as a casual firefighter with the Town or County, please contact Chief Tim Harris at 780-624-2993 or tharris@peaceriver.ca