Former Whistler, Vancouver fire chief John McKearney receives national honour
After more than 40 years of service, former Vancouver and Whistler fire chief John McKearney has received one of the highest honours in his field.
The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs named McKearney the 2022 Canadian Fire Chief of the Year at a ceremony in Ottawa this month.
McKearney told CTV News it was an "amazing experience" to receive the recognition, which included a standing ovation from the audience.
"(I) felt like an imposter, and I meant that, sincerely, to the audience," he said. "There's so much talent across this country, and I am under no illusion that I am the 2022 fire chief of the year. Rather, I feel – and I stated (at the ceremony) that I feel – as the representative of so many great leaders that I worked with throughout my career."
McKearney spent 37 years with the Vancouver Fire Rescue Service, beginning his career as a firefighter and eventually becoming fire chief. He retired from VFRS, but came out of retirement in 2018 to serve as fire chief in Whistler, a role he held until his second retirement earlier this year.
Shortly after joining the Whistler Fire Rescue Service, McKearney was elected president of the CAFC.
The Resort Municipality of Whistler congratulated McKearney on his achievement in a statement issued Friday.
“I would like to congratulate John and to thank him for his extraordinary work leading the Whistler Fire Rescue Service,” said Mayor Jack Crompton in the statement.
“Whistler is vulnerable to wildfire and John’s work both for our community, and on a national level, has been critical to further public safety and emergency preparedness.”
Though he's now retired, McKearney said he plans to continue offering support and coaching to fellow fire chiefs.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.