January 28, 2013

Doug Trussler

Fire Chief

Dear Chief Trussler:

On behalf of Partners for Human Rights, we want to thank the Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency Service for its contribution to this year's International Human Rights Day, held on December 10, 2012.

Your contribution greatly assisted in providing prizes for the students for their hard work and making this day enjoyable for everyone.

Once again, we are very grateful for both the Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency Services contribution and the hard work of your representative to the Partners Committee, Nadya-Lyse Paré.

We also appreciate the Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency Service for providing the Honour Guard for the event.

Sincerely,

Ann Divine and Floria Aghdamimehr

Co-Chairs of Partners for Human Rights

October 24, 2012

Dear Sir or Madam:

In June of this year I contacted the Fire Service to advise that the property owners on Kings Road in Wellington, HRM (a dead end private road) were going to have two bridges replaced in the fall and what if anything could the Fire Service do to help out in case of emergency.  The situation we were faced with was that when one of the bridges was out for approximately 48 hours, there was no road access in or out of that part of Kings Road, with approximately 50 residents cut off save for a walking bridge over the river, and when the other bridge was out, also for approximately 48 hours, the only access in and out was a woods road connecting through to the Beaverbank Highway.

The response from Fire Service was immediate, comprehensive and very professional.  Over the following several months until bridge replacement in October of this year, I had contact with Division Commander Gord West who organized and coordinated all aspects of the service provided.  I must say that I am most impressed with Commander West's professionalism and attention to detail.  I met with him on several occasions on the road itself, as he was keen to see exactly what the situation was and could be given the worst-case scenario.  Thanks to you folks at Fire Services, a pumper truck and emergency response vehicle were stationed on the road while the bridge was replaced that prevented vehicular access in and out, an emergency response vehicle station on the road while the other bridge was replaced and contingency plans were put in place to have Beaverbank Kinsac Fire Hall respond as well as the Wellington Fire Hall.

On behalf of the members of the South West Grand Lake Property Owners Association, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of you at Fire Services that were involved in this occurrence, especially Commander West and members of the Wellington and Beaverbank Kinsac Fire Halls.  The members of this  Association of property owners as well as the public at large in the HRM have a tremendous asset in the Fire Services and we can all feel confident and proud that our best interests are being looked after in a very professional and sincere manner.

Sincerely,

Peter A. Lewis

Chairman

South West Grand Lake Property Owners Association

September 18, 2012

Dear Sir,

On Sept 6, 2012 my son Colin was involved in a horrible traffic accident about 5 pm at the intersection of the Bedford HWY & Larry Uteck.  Fortunately, he is alive and without serious injury.

The fire dept. & police personnel were incredible.  The response time was remarkable  and the staff were very professional, competent, helpful and empathetic to my son and to me when I arrived on the scene a few minutes later.

I am sure your records will show who of your staff were involved.  Please pass on to them our gratitude for their professional competence and gentle caring.

Virginia MacDonald & Son Colin

August 23, 2012

To:  Andrew Bednarz and David Meldrum

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your support during our visit yesterday.  We realized that we took quite a bit of your time and unfortunately took away your lunch hour.  We wanted you all to know that we were very impressed in your help and willingness to help us.  On our drive home, we could do nothing but talk about the excellent support that your department has provided us.  In my experiences across Canada there have been many large Fire Departments that keep their cards close to their chest and are not willing to help the smaller departments.  It was great to see that Halifax is not that way.  In the last year or so we have received great support from the HRM Fire Services.  My previous visits and yesterday's trip have made it clear to me that in the Halifax Fire Services, pride, professionalism and helping others is systemic throughout the entire department.  It is always a pleasure to meet a member of your team.

Thank you again for your time and patience yesterday.  It was sincerely appreciated.

Denis Pleau, Chief

Riverview Fire & Rescue

August 22, 2012

To:  David Lovett, William Marr, Lloyd Currie, Gord West, Jeff Pickrem

Good Morning,

I came back to work this morning and was speaking with my co-worker and friend (Emily Pickrem), and I was telling her about the fabulous fire station tour that was provided to my son (Liam Ford) and his best friend (Riley Duggan) on Monday morning.  Emily was able to provide me with your contact information so that I could pass along my thanks for the greatly appreciated time that was provided to two very excited 6 year old boys.

On Monday morning, we were at the Gordon Snow Community Centre for a basketball camp that the Rainmen were putting on...Liam and Riley's sisters were participating in the camp.  The camp was for two hours in the morning, and although the boys didn't mind watching for a little while, we needed to explore the rest of the community centre after a period of time.  After playing on the equipment, and the ramps at the skate park, the boys wanted to take the path over to the fire station side.  They were examining the two cars that were used for practicing rescues when they spotted a couple of firefighters coming out of the building.  Bill, the Captain, was so very kind to offer the boys a tour inside.  Bill, along with the other three firefighters on duty Monday, gave the boys such a thorough tour of all the vehicles, they answered all of their questions, and were just so patient and kind to these two boys...they felt pretty special and loved telling everyone about their exciting morning.  I myself have actually never had a tour of a fire station either, so it was pretty cool for me as well.  The boys were also given some helmets, tattoos, pencils, and paper fire trucks as souvenirs for themselves and their sisters.  So, we have had four tattooed kids going around explaining where they got their tattoos from.

Anyway, I know we often take the time to complain about things that go on, and I just wanted to make sure that I took a few moments to say thank you so much for the effort that was given to these boys.  Bill, and the other firefighters, really went above and beyond any expectations I had for the tour.  Liam loves dressing up as a firefighter and playing with his fire truck, so this was a big deal for him.  So, a huge thank you from me as his mom!  If my thanks could be passed on to the other guys as well, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again and I hope you are all having a great day.

Susan Ford

May 29, 2012

Chief Director Doug Trussler

P.O. Box 1749

Halifax, NS

B3J 3A5

Participation in JEM JAMBOREE - Saturday, May 5th, 2012

On behalf of the Eastern Shore Joint Emergency Management (ES-JEM) Team, I would like to sincerely thank you for your department's participation with the JEM Jamboree Emergency Preparedness Campaign on May 5th at the Porters Lake Superstore, Porter's Lake, NS.

We annually organize the Jamboree as a community awareness project so local residents can obtain information to better prepare themselves and their families for any type of emergency and as an opportunity to meet emergency service responders in a non-emergency environment.  We were very pleased to have representation from Fire Station #23 Chezzetcook.  Your department's staff were a pleasure to have at the Jamboree.  They were very informative and related well to the public.

An unanticipated and particular highlight for participants and the JEM team was to have the chance for members of various agencies/partners to meet and get to know one another.  It is our sincere hope that as we proceed, events such as this will provide further opportunities to befriend the individuals we will be working with as we meet local needs in a time of crisis response.

Thanks you for your support, and please pass along our thanks to Station #23.  We are certainly grateful to the Fire Service for their support at our meetings and events.

Sincerely,

Len Milne

ESJEM 2012 Chair

Peter [Greenham] & Rob [Belliveau],

Thank you so much for taking time to come in to talk to the students at PA!  Your presentation was fantastic and provided valuable information.  You are great role models in our community.

Kim Duncan & the Gr. 10 02 Students at Prince Andrew

May 10, 2012

Mr. Doug Trussler

Chief Director

Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency

PO Box 1749

Halifax, NS B3J 3A5

Dear Chief Trussler:

As Her Majesty's representative in Nova Scotia, I was delighted to participate in the Halifax Fire & Emergency's Line of Duty Death Memorial Service on May 6th, 2012 at St. Agnes Church.

The strong bond of camaraderie among the firefighters was clearly evident.  Without their heroism, the public would not enjoy the protection and assistance that all too often is taking [taken] for granted.  I was deeply honoured to be amongst you all as you pay tribute to and remember your fallen team members.

Please express my sincere gratitude to Captain Paul Edwards for the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation pin and also to David Smith for the limited edition coin commemorating the upcoming unveiling of the Canadian Fallen Firefighters National Memorial in Ottawa.  I will treasure these gifts as mementos of this inaugural service.

With warm regards,

Yours sincerely,

Brigadier-General The Honourable J.J. Grant, CMM, ONS, CD (Ret'd)

Lieutenant Governor