annual report 2013-14 - indigenousfiresafety.ca...aboriginal firefighters’ association of canada...

Annual Report

2013-14

Aboriginal Firefighters’ Association of Canada Annual Report 2013-14

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Table of Contents

Executive Summary: 2013-14 Fiscal Year ............................................................................................................... 2

Board of Directors and Administration as at March 31, 2014 ............................................................................. 3

Promote Fire Prevention and Collaboration with Partner Organizations ............................................................ 4

Aboriginal Affairs & Northern Development Canada ....................................................................................... 4

Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs ................................................................................................................. 4

Assembly of First Nations .................................................................................................................................. 5

Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation ......................................................................................................... 5

Comparable Fire Services Research Project ................................................................................................... 5

2013 Annual General Meeting .................................................................................................................................. 5

2013 National Firefighter Competition .................................................................................................................... 6

National Fire Safety Multimedia & Poster Contest ................................................................................................ 9

Social Media .............................................................................................................................................................. 12

Website ............................................................................................................................................................. 12

Facebook .......................................................................................................................................................... 13

Operating Budget ...................................................................................................................................................... 14


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Executive Summary: 2013-14 Fiscal Year

AFAC has continued with our mandate to reduce the loss of life and property on First Nations’ communities through enhancement of a federal fire framework that is relevant and provides comparable service. The last year saw additional losses of life on reserve in the majority of the provinces. We continue to not be able to consistently and systematically investigate and identify the cause of fires, information that would help us to direct fire prevention programs.

AFAC continues working with our partners including regional First Nations emergency services organizations, AANDC, AFN and CAFC to deliver programs and support the enhancement of First Nations fire services. The Ontario Native Fire Fighter Society and the community of Walpole Island hosted our 24th annual National Firefighter Competition in August. Fire Chief Charles Wright and Wapole Island Volunteer Fire Department were excellent hosts and provided the backdrop of their beautiful community and picture perfect weather for the 3-day event.

With additional support provided by AANDC, the National Multimedia & Poster Contest was managed by AFAC. We provided almost 1,300 poster mail outs to schools and communities from coast to coast. This enabled improved fire prevention messaging during national fire prevention week in October. Eighty communities submitted posters to regional competitions, which resulted in a full submission for consideration for the National contest. Changes made to the contest included individual prizes for winning students, and the school attended by the first place winners from each category also received computers to support access to fire prevention programs and multi-media tools to participate in future contests.

AFAC attended and presented at the Assembly of First Nations Sustainability Conference. The focus of the presentation was how the fire service can support sustainable communities. The work performed at the Ontario August AFAC – AANDC national fire strategy working group meeting was continued in Ottawa in February and resulted in a revised strategic framework. The relationship with CAFC continued at 2014 Government Relations Week. Significant work was done to educate members of parliament of the current issues facing First Nations communities.

The collaboration with AANDC on fire strategy projects continues to be an ongoing relationship as opportunities were identified and undertaken. Two key projects were started this year including the launch of a national fire prevention messaging campaign utilizing expertise at both AFAC and AANDC to create radio spots that focus on season fire prevention messaging. The second project focused on a research initiative of comparable fire service standards. The project’s first phase was engaged and completed in the current fiscal year. Aon Reed, an engineering firm in Ottawa provided technical services on this project. AFAC continued providing support and services through both our website and social media with record engagement from First Nations communities across the country and international Aboriginal communities and organizations.

Blaine Wiggins, MA Executive Director


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Board of Directors and Administration as at March 31, 2014

President: William (Billy) Moffat Quebec Region representative

Term: 2012 – 2015

Vice President: Vacant

Term: 2011 – 2014

Secretary / Treasurer: Richard Kent

Saskatchewan Region representative Term: 2013 – 2016

Director: Allan Peters

Atlantic Region Representative (acting) Term: 2013 – 2015

Director: Charles Wright Sr.

Ontario Region Representative (acting) Term: 2013 – 2015

Director: Leon Smallboy Alberta Representative

Term: 2011 – 2014

Past President: Arnold Lazare

Term: Annual

Executive Director: Blaine Wiggins


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“We all have a role to play in preventing fires in our homes and communities which is why our Government is proud to be teaming up with the Aboriginal Firefighters’ Association of Canada to raise

awareness about the importance of fire safety and prevention throughout the year. Fire prevention can make a positive

difference in reducing fire incidence and can even save lives.”

Bernard Valcourt Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

Promote Fire Prevention and Collaboration with Partner Organizations

Aboriginal Affairs & Northern Development Canada

In March 2014, AFAC and Aboriginal Affairs & Northern Development Canada (AANDC) partnered to launch the Be Fire Safe campaign.

The campaign features a series of fire prevention and safety tips throughout the year. Messages are shared through radio features and various social media, including the AANDC and AFAC websites and Facebook pages.

Be Fire Safe focuses on topics such as being cautious with open flames, barbeque and heater safety, careful use and storage of chemicals, the importance of having working smoke detectors and planning an escape route for your family. It underscores the important role everyone has in preventing fires both inside and outside the home.

Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs

The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs’ annual Government Relations Week took place in March. AFAC representatives Richard Kent and Blaine Wiggins met with MPs and AANDC to discuss building codes, fire inspections and investigations, and the Federal Fire Marshall’s Office. Meetings were held with:

Blaine Wiggins, Minister Bernard Valcourt, Richard Kent

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, Bernard Valcourt.

Deputy Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, Michael Wernick.

Associate Deputy Minister, Scott Stevenson.

Director General, Daniel Leclair

Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of AANDC, Mark Strahl.

NDP Critic for Aboriginal Affairs, Jean Crowder.

Liberal Critic for Aboriginal Affairs, Carolyn Bennett.

Dick Harris MP (Conservative)


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Assembly of First Nations

AFAC was invited to present at the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National First Nations Infrastructure Conference. Leon Smallboy and Blaine Wiggins presented an overview of First Nations fire service, and how the fire service supports the sustainability framework in communities including utilization of capital assets, fire prevention, community capacity, healthier communities and building planning.

Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation

AFAC continues to liaise with The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation (CFFF) to promote the mandate of CFFF which is to HONOUR and REMEMBER firefighters who have been killed in the line of duty and to SUPPORT their families. Through the promotion of CFFF to regional First Nations organizations, AFAC continues to ensure that all fire service programs are available to First Nations firefighters and continue to support the memory and sacrifice of all fallen firefighters.

No line of duty deaths of First Nations firefighters were reported to AFAC or CFFF during the previous year, the annual CFFF ceremony was held at the national memorial in Ottawa in September 2013.

Comparable Fire Services Research Project

We applied for and received funding to initiate a three-part research project that will provide AANDC with base level information on the overall fire service framework for comparable services, covering the scope from legislative authority to service delivery. The first phase will be performed in the 2013-14 fiscal year and subsequent phases initiated in the following fiscal year. AFAC contracted the project to Aon Fire Protection Engineering Corporation and Aon Reed Stenhouse of Ottawa, ON.

The completed Phase 1 project report provided an overview of legislation in each Province that determines how the authority for providing the fire service is mandated including the role of the Fire Marshal/Fire Commissioner’s office, inspections and associated compliance mechanisms in each Province.

2013 Annual General Meeting

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place on August 23, 2013 at the Walpole Island Recreation Centre, Walpole Island, ON.

Notice of the meeting was posted on our website and Facebook page, email notifications were sent to our regional organizations. Agenda items covered included;

o Introduction of Board & guests o Approval of 2012 AGM minutes o Report from AFAC President Billy Moffat o Presentation of financial statements for 2011/12 & 2012/13 o Reports from Assembly of First Nations, Ontario Native Firefighters Society (ONFFS) and AANDC. o Scheduled election of Secretary/Treasurer


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2013 National Firefighter Competition

The competition was hosted by Bkejwanong First Nation, Walpole Island ON. Prior to the competition day, teams participated in Fire Scene Safety and Fire Prevention training. Teams demonstrated their skills by performing four evolutions: SCBA Relay, Replace a Burst Length, Dual 38mm Attack Line and Hose Rolling.

Results 1st Saskatchewan 2nd Quebec

3rd Alberta 4th Manitoba 5th Ontario 6th Nunavut

7th BC 8th Atlantic Max McNeil most sportsmanlike team award - Nunavut


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1st place – Team Saskatchewan

2nd place – Team Quebec


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3rd place – Team Alberta

Most Sportsmanlike Team – Team Nunavut


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National Fire Safety Multimedia & Poster Contest

The contest was launched in September 2013 and was promoted online via our website and Facebook page. Contest information packages were mailed to 1,255 Band offices, and Band and federally operated schools across the country.

Entries were received from eighty schools:

Region Number of Schools Participating

British Columbia 16 (8 via FNESS, 8 direct to AFAC) Alberta 9 Saskatchewan 10 Manitoba 14 Ontario 22 Quebec 5 Atlantic 4

Regional winning entries were judged by the AFAC Board of Directors and the National Contest results were announced in February 2014.


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Category One:

Preschool to Grade Two Category Two:

Grades Three to Five Category Three:

Grades Six to Eight

1st p

lace

2nd p

lace

3rd p

lace

Hon

oura

ble

Men

tion


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In addition to the iPad mini tablets that each category winner was awarded for their entry, their schools were awarded computers.

Second place students received GoPro video cameras. Third place entries were presented with Wii consoles. Older Honourable Mention students received digital cameras, while our youngest was awarded a portable DVD player.

Contest winners at Le Goff School, AB.

Liam Glaude and Principal Duane Manderscheid of Pakan School, AB

Leon Smallboy and Meadow Makokis of Pakan School AB


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Social Media

Website

The www.afac-acpi.ca website attracts an average of 320 unique visits each month, the vast majority of visitors are in Canada.

After the home page, the second most popular page is the competition, closely followed by the events page. Peak visitor activity occurs in July and August around the National Firefighter Competition.

In March 2014 AFAC and AANDC partnered to launch the national Be Fire Safe campaign. In the first ten days that it was published, the page was viewed 184 times.


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Facebook

At the end of the 2013/14 fiscal our facebook page had 286 followers, a 65% increase over 12 months.

59% of followers are men and more than half of our fans are aged between 25 and 44.

An average of 65 people per month talked about our page, this includes activities such as liking, commenting on or sharing a post.

Engaged users are measured by any click on the page, such as viewing a story posted, on average 213 unique users per month engaged with the page.

Over the course of the year 22,806 people have seen content associated with the page.

As with the website, we saw a spike in activity during July and August when content related to the National Firefighter Competition was posted.


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Operating Budget

Lost Wages $7,500

Audit & Legal $4,900

Consultant (Fac. Mtg) $38,205

Host Community Contr. $20,000

Travel - AGM $14,000

Travel - NFC $84,345

Travel - Fire Strat. Mtg $17,000

Travel - AFAC Admin. $11,000

June AFN Meeting $6,000

Marketing/Promotion $3,000

Poster Contest $12,000

Postage/Courier $1,000

Telephone/Fax $2,800

Office Supplies $1,000

Other-IT lease $1,200

Insurance $2,200

Bank charges $250

AFAC Admin. $25,425

AFAC Finance $17,000

Website $4,000

Total Budget $272,825

Corporate Office: 12411 Dawson Place, Maple Ridge, BC V4R 2L6

Dwww.afac-acpi.ca Ifacebook.com/AFAC.ACPI A(250) 267 2579 [email protected]

annual report 2013-14 - indigenousfiresafety.ca...aboriginal firefighters’ association of canada...

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