CVFSA appoints new Manitoba board member

Bradley Davidson, a company officer with the Hudbay Minerals Fire Department in Flin Flon, Man., assumed a seat on the CVFSA board on July 1.

Davidson fire experience includes 28 years with Hudbay Minerals – where he is involved as an instructor and investigator – as well as nine years as a volunteer firefighter with the City of Flin Flon Fire Department.

In an email to Canadian Firefighter, Davidson said some issues he’d like to help address include line of duty deaths, continuing education for volunteer firefighters, and health concerns including post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Continuing education, training and financial support are key factors for volunteer fire services continued success in Canada,” Davidson said. “We also now know that our members are exposed to many toxins at fires and some members suffer in silence with PTSD. Thankfully we have many great fire-service leaders stepping up to educate everyone on these health issues to better serve members by raising awareness and funding for support services.”

Another item on Davidson’s mind is recognition of Manitoba firefighters.

“Our organization – CVFSA – has an award process and to my knowledge no firefighter in the province of Manitoba has received our awards and my aim is to change that,” he said.

Davidson holds a fire service management certificate in fire service leadership from Dalhousie University, and has met the NFPA standards for professional qualifications as a fire investigator, fire and life safety educator, emergency services instructor and incident safety officer.

The new board member said he’s looking forward to working with the team at the CVFSA to represent Manitoba’s volunteer firefighters, and encouraged members to contact him at bradley.d@cvfsa.ca