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TuesdayOctober14201415ByDALICARMICHAELDedicationcommitmenttosafetyandimprovementsintrainingwereallfactorsmembersatthehighestleveloftheNWTreghtingcommunitytookintoaccountastheydeterminedthisyearsFireServiceMeritAwardwinners.TheannualhonourswerehandedoutfromOct.5to10duringFirePreventionWeekaslocalrecrewssharedinformationaboutresafetywhileputtingonenlighteningredis-playsattheirlocalrehalls.WecouldnthavefiredepartmentsintheNWTwithoutvolunteerssaidChuckerDewarremarshalfortheterritory.Theressomesignicantsacricesthatcomealongwiththat.Firesoremergenciesofanykindtheyrenotscheduledeventsandwhetheritsinthemiddleofthenightwhetheritsdur-ingChristmasdinnerThanksgivingdinnerthesefolksareheadingoutandtheyreex-tremelydedicatedandcommittedtotheircommunitiesandtheprotectionofNWTresidents.Itsimportantthatwerecognizetheircontributions.Thisyearsawardsweredoledouttothreeoutstandingindividualsaswellastwode-partmentsDewarsaid.Eachcandidatewasnominatedfromwithintheircommunity.Fromthereapanelofterritorialremar-shalsalongwiththepresidentoftheNWTFireChiefsAssociationdeliberatedandde-terminedwhotheybelievedwasworthyofrecognition.SomeindividualslikeHayRiversdeputyrechiefVinceMcKaywererecognizedfortheirimmenseleadershipskillsnotonlywiththeircrewsbutwithdepartmentsoutsideoftheirjurisdictions.AccordingtoDewarMcKayhasalwaystakenaspecialinterestindevel-opingandmaintainingstandardoperatingprocedureswithinthedepartmentaneces-sityforanycrew.Howeverhissafetyguide-lineshavebeensoimmaculatelyconstructedthatDewarisconsideringimplementingthemwithindepartmentsacrosstheterritory.Theresnousere-inventingthewheelifsomeonesdonetheworkinthecommunityDewarsaid.WhatsapplicableinHayRiverisprobablyapplicableanywhereintheter-ritoryprettymuchandotherdepartmentscantakeitandkindofadaptittotintheirownenvironment.InFortMcPherson42-yearre-serviceveteranNormanFirthwassingledoutasastrongleaderbyhiscommunitywhowantedtogivethankstotheirlong-timerechiefaccordingtoDewar.InWekweektiClarenceNaskenwasgivenanawardforhiseffortstorevitalizetheoncedowntroddenoperation.ThingswerekindoffadingawayandtherewasntmuchinvolvementandClarencehaskindofbreathedsomenewlifeintotheWe-kweetiredepartmentDewarsaiddetail-ingthenewbunkergearcompressorsandtrainingprogramsNaskenhasworkedtoimplementsince2009.FortSmithandBehchokosvolunteerdepartmentswerealsocommendedfortheirdedicationtothecontinuedgrowthandimprovementoftheiroperationsDewarsaid.FortSmiththemoreestablishedcrewofthetwohasnumerouslong-termmembersonitsteamthathaveprovidedupwardsof15yearsofservicetothetown.Inadditiontobeingoncall247Dewarsaidtheiractivitiesinthecommunity-likeanannualChrist-masfoodandtoydrive-demonstrateatruecommitmenttothewellbeingofresidents.OutstandingreghtersrecognizedwithterritorialawardsPhotoDaliCarmichaelNORTHERNERSFIREFIGHTERSJasonPanterleftWilliamReimerDavePorterandPaulBannisterserveupburgersatFortSmithsBurntOfferingsBBQonOct.9.TheFortSmithteamwasoneoftheredepartmentsgivena2014NWTFireServiceMeritAwardlastweek.