A volunteer fire chief from Behchoko received a medal from the Governor General in Ottawa last week.
Rene Camsell was awarded the SovereignSA国际影视传媒檚 Medal for Volunteers in recognition of over three decades of service in the community.
The medal 'recognizes the remarkable volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields' according to the Governor General's .
SA国际影视传媒淚 became a fireman about 35 years ago, somewhere in there,SA国际影视传媒� said Camsell.
Camsell said he was playing baseball with Leon Lafferty one day when there was a fire call.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey told me to join, so I joined the fire department,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Camsell worked as a volunteer firefighter for years before becoming the fire chief about ten years ago. He is also the captain of the search and rescue team.
The Behchoko Detachment often calls upon his team in the event of an overdue hunter, stranded traveller or missing person.
When Camsell first got the call from Governor General Julie Payette two years ago, he thought it was a prank.
SA国际影视传媒淵eah right,SA国际影视传媒� he said when Payette told him it was the real thing.
Governor General Payette informed him that in two weeks time he would receive a letter about the award.
SA国际影视传媒淣ext thing you know, two weeks came and then my daughter checked the mail,SA国际影视传媒� said Camsell.
The letter from Ottawa said he had been awarded the SovereignSA国际影视传媒檚 Medal for Volunteers for his work as a search and rescue captain and volunteer firefighter.
SA国际影视传媒淎nd I said holy smokes,SA国际影视传媒� said Camsell.
Camsell and his wife Elizabeth Apples flew down to Ottawa for the awards ceremony on March 26. When they arrived at Rideau Hall he was shocked by the number of people at the ceremony.
SA国际影视传媒淭here was a red carpet and I told my wife that canSA国际影视传媒檛 be for us,SA国际影视传媒� Camsell said.
The other award winners were announced row by row and eventually, they called his name.
SA国际影视传媒淪o I got up, walked to the Governor General, I bow to her, turn around and as soon as I turned around I said holy smokes. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of people,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Camsell said he was honoured to receive recognition for his work over the years.
SA国际影视传媒淚 was so excited regarding that medal, I was so happy,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Camsell oversees two crews, one in Behchoko and one in Edzo and after all these years, he's come to see them as a second family.
SA国际影视传媒淚 tell them you guys are just like my brothers and sisters. ISA国际影视传媒檝e been with you guys for about 35 years,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
The communities are currently looking for new recruits to join the crew of volunteer firefighters, he said.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 hard work, youSA国际影视传媒檙e on call 24/7 but [join] if you want to serve your own community and work as a family,SA国际影视传媒� said Camsell.
