Well Done Glen Saunders

[hwoods]

All Right!!...............

From South of the Border, Congratulations Chief!

[RspctFrmCalgary]

Hadn't heard about this.

CONGRATULATIONS, Glen!

[MalahatTwo7]

Way to Go Glen!!

Shawnigan Lake fire chief earns national recognition

Amanda Farrell, Times Colonist staff Published: Thursday, August 10, 2006

Shawnigan Lake's volunteer fire chief will receive top honours from his peers next week.

Glen Sanders will be presented with the 2006 Volunteer Fire Chief Award of Excellence by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. The award recognizes Canadian fire chiefs who make an outstanding contribution to the fire service. He will be heading to Halifax to accept it on Aug. 16.

"I didn't even know this award existed," Sanders said after receiving the news. "I'm at a loss for words."

Sanders, 58, has been a member of the Shawnigan Lake Fire Department since 1979 and its chief since 1986. His accomplishments range from creating a confined-space and high-angle rescue program for his local department to helping develop the Provincial Grow-op Strategy, which garnered him and his co-authors a 2005 Lieutenant-Governor's Award for Public Safety. He's also a past president of the Fire Chiefs' Association of B.C., a position volunteer chiefs rarely hold, he said.

"He's done an excellent job as a member and has done many things for the B.C. fire service," said Ann Hancock of the Fire Chiefs' Association of B.C., which nominated him for the award.

Sanders said he owes much of his success in his firefighting career to the members in his department.

"They're so highly qualified in their own right, for them to accept me as a chief, it's humbling," he said.

Sanders, who owns Custom Stamp and Engraving in Victoria, said he knew pouring so much time into his volunteer work was his calling.

"I'm a firm believer that if you've been given a talent, you owe it to society to use that talent," he said.

© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2006

Job well done!