A pair of Lake Country firefighters have been awarded provincial government medals for long and selfless careers, fighting fires in the community.
Steve Windsor, Lake Country's fire chief since 2004, was recently awarded with a 35-year bar as part of the British Columbia Long Service Medals awarded by the provincial government.
At the same awards ceremony, Lake Country Fire Department firefighter Jim Thompson was presented with the Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal bar for 30 years of service.
The awards recognized the dedication and selflessness with which both men have served the community and this province in the protection of life and property.
Steve Windsor’s career in fire service began with the District of Central Saanich in 1976 where he worked through the ranks to achieve the level of captain before moving to the District of North Cowichan in 1989. There Windsor served as deputy fire chief until May 2000 when he moved to Pender Island and became fire chief until 2003. He then took up his post as Lake Country Fire Department fire chief.
The British Columbia Long Service Medal and British Columbia Long Service Bar are administered by the Office of the Fire Commissioner.
“We really appreciate the dedication of the protective services team,” said Lake County Mayor James Baker.
Jim Thompson has been a mainstay with fire departments in and around Lake Country for years beginning in Oyama from 1983 until 1995 when he became a paid-on-call firefighter with the Lake Country Fire Department.
The Exemplary Service Medal is administered by the Chancellery of Canadian Orders and Decorations in Ottawa.
The awards that Windsor and Thompson received are made on behalf of the Queen by instruments signed by the Governor General and are announced in the Canada Gazette.
An engraved 30 year bar and certificate of award was presented by acting mayor Jamie McEwan who congratulated Windsor and Thomson on their long-time commitment to fire service.