Fire service honours staff, marks promotions

Brandon Fire and Emergency Services recognized the dedication and service of its employees, presenting awards, promotions and service badges during a ceremony at the fire hall on Tuesday.

The ceremony celebrated employees across the department, including firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers and chief officers, with 24 personnel receiving promotions and several others recognized for their years of service and contributions to the organization.

One of the highlights was the department’s first-ever employee of the year award to acting Lt. II Sean Klemick.

Klemick said he was surprised when his name was announced, particularly because he had helped design and create the award without knowing he would be its first recipient.

“It’s very humbling. To be honest, there’s a lot of people that are deserving of that kind of recognition here,” he told the Sun Tuesday.

“My contributions over the years had focused on supporting colleagues, strengthening workplace culture and improving the well-being of firefighters and paramedics.”

Among his initiatives were helping to establish a strong peer-support team, working to ensure employees had access to family doctors, and supporting younger firefighters and paramedics as they developed their careers, he said.

“I think one of the most important things for me is just trying to help the people who commit their lives to helping others,” he said.

The ceremony also featured the recognition of Capt. Sarah Peto, who became the first woman to hold the rank of captain in Brandon Fire and Emergency Services after being promoted from lieutenant.

Peto, who has served in the fire service for 25 years, said the promotion was an honour and an opportunity to lead the department’s crews.

She said having women in leadership positions in emergency services is important, both for the perspectives they bring and for encouraging others to pursue similar opportunities.

“We serve our community, and that perspective is needed there,” Peto said in an interview. “I carry it with a lot of pride and privilege to be in this role and to be an example to young women coming up in the fire service.”

Peto said there were no women in leadership positions when she began her career 25 years ago, making the achievement particularly meaningful.

Beyond her responsibilities with the department, she is president of Fire Service Women Central Provinces, a non-profit organization that works to encourage, empower and educate women in the fire service through training and leadership opportunities.

Another significant milestone was the promotion of Kevin Garrioch from lieutenant to deputy chief. Garrioch, who has spent more than 25 years with the department after previously volunteering in Carberry, said he was excited about taking on the new responsibilities.

“I absolutely love it. I’ve loved all my roles here,” he said. “I do miss working in operations, but I love moving on to the next chapter and helping build this team and seeing more of the future.”

Garrioch said his immediate focus would be on helping the department respond to the challenges and opportunities that come with Brandon’s growth.

Fire Chief Terry Parlow said the department had promoted two deputy chiefs over the past year, including Garrioch and Michael Lees, noting that both had worked their way up through the organization and undertaken extensive education and training to qualify for the positions.

Parlow also recognized Peto’s achievement, describing it as a proud moment for the department.

“She’s the first female captain we have in Brandon,” he said, adding that he had worked alongside her throughout her 25-year career.

Parlow said he hoped her achievement would encourage other women in firefighting and emergency services.

In introducing Klemick, Parlow lauded his work on the department’s health and wellness committee and peer-support team, as well as his efforts to ensure staff had access to family doctors who understood the occupational health risks associated with emergency services.

Parlow said Klemick’s commitment to colleagues and willingness to put others first made him deserving of the recognition.

The ceremony also recognized three employees — Trevor Wowk, Troy Lamerz and Marc Lefebvre — with Manitoba Association of Fire Chiefs awards for 25 to 35 years of service. Grant Winder and Brent Kyle received exemplary service medals recognizing 20 and 30 years of service, respectively.

In all, 24 employees received promotions across various positions, including two deputy chiefs, three captains, two fire inspectors, four lieutenants, eight acting lieutenants (I and II) and a training officer, among other appointments.

Service badges were also presented to 11 employees marking career milestones. First-class firefighter-paramedic Josh Blondeau received his five-year service badge, while Brandon Public Safety Communication Centre supervisor Melanie Johnston received five-year recognition alongside her promotion from dispatcher.

Blondeau, who is in his sixth year with Brandon Fire and Emergency Services and eighth year in the profession, said the recognition served as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with serving the community.

“It’s a reminder of our job and the people we serve within this community and the responsibility that we’ve taken once we get into this profession,” he said.

Johnston, who now supervises a team of eight employees on Group D, said the recognition was particularly meaningful after moving from dispatching into a leadership position.

“All of the agencies we work with are my family,” she said. “To be able to have that recognition of now leading the team that takes care of these people and takes care of 911 for the province … it’s just really special.”

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