Okanagan fire service leader honoured

 VERNON– Veteran Okanagan fire service mentor and advocate Ann Hancock was presented with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal today by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond at a fire safety event at the Vernon Fire Hall.

Hancock has been recognized for her 20 years of fire service leadership.  She has served as a volunteer firefighter, mentor and for the past 14 years, the administrator of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of BC. During the Okanagan wildfires of 2003, Hancock was pivotal in identifying key resources throughout the province and played a crucial role in facilitating responses across multiple jurisdictions.

Bond and Hancock were joined by Vernon fire chief Keith Green and Victoria fire chief Jeff Lambert representing the Fire Chiefs’ Association of BC, as well as local officials, to reaffirm the provincewide campaign to have a working smoke alarm in every home in British Columbia. The campaign is part of the important B.C. initiative to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries.