Established in 2017 by the federal government and awarded in partnership with the provinces and territories, these awards recognize individuals and groups for exceptional service and achievement to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters.
The six Alberta award recipients for 2021-22 are:
- The Tsuut’ina First Nation for exceptional leadership and collaboration in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Cheryl Bourassa of Alberta Health Services for outstanding collaboration and leadership in the execution of pandemic-related initiatives.
- Jennifer Wood of the Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership for the creation, management and execution of emergency management activities for the Grande Prairie region.
- Julien Bergeron, an incident command system instructor whose efforts helped Alberta take a significant step forward in incident management.
- Percy Janke of the City of St. Albert emergency services for outstanding leadership in emergency management for the City of St. Albert.
- Amanda Dalton of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency for her leadership of the Personal Protective Equipment Task Force.
“These recipients truly embody the spirit of leadership and collaboration that is essential in emergency management. Their tireless efforts have not only safeguarded our communities but have also set an inspiring example for others to follow. Their recognition under the EMESA program is well-deserved and strengthens Alberta's position as a leader in emergency management.”
Awards are granted in five categories: Resilient Communities, Search and Rescue Volunteers, Search and Rescue Employees, Youth, and Outstanding Contribution to Emergency Management. The awards are Canada’s only formal recognition for service in emergency management.
Through these awards, Alberta continues to lead the way in fostering safer and more secure communities.
The awards ceremony was held in Ottawa on Sept. 7.