Canada’s lead carbon monoxide advocate wins Jim Copeland Award

May 7, 2021 – John Gignac, executive director for Hawkin-Gignac Foundation for Carbon Monoxide Education, won the Jim Copeland Award from the Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officers Association.

In 2008, Gignac’s niece, her husband, and two children were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. In response, the veteran fire captain founded the Hawkins-Gignac Foundation for Carbon Monoxide Education to warn Canadians about the dangers of the ‘Silent Killer’.

Since then, he has been working across Canada with other fire services and partners to bring awareness and help save lives from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Since 2001, the Jim Copeland Award has been given to nominees in Ontario who demonstrate and promote support for fire prevention activities, along with fire and life safety in the community.