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Valleyview Fire Chief Danny McCallum received 2022 Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year award

Sept. 28, 2022, Valleyview, Alta. – Fire Chief Danny McCallum was given the 2022 Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year award, which is hosted by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) and Fire Underwriters Survey, at this year’s Fire-Rescue Canada conference in Ottawa.

Born and raised in Valleyview, Alta., and following in the footsteps of his father and his brothers, McCallum started his career with the VVFD in October 1995. Whether behind the scenes or on the frontline, his dedication to the safety of VVFD members and his strong leadership, mentorship qualities, and good firefighter skills were recognized. McCallum was elected as Valleyview’s fire chief in October 2007.

The CAFC and Fire Underwriters Survey provided the following statement on why Chief McCallum was given the award:

“Over the past 27 years, with the last 15 years as fire chief, McCallum was commended for his unwavering commitment to serving and protecting the community. His altruistic behaviour and genuine concern for the welfare of others, including that of the firefighters, the fire department, and the community served, is admirable and inevitably appreciated by all.

Overall, McCallum is a good, unselfish person who leads the VVFD to the best of his ability, with strong moral and ethical principles and values. He achieves this through hard work and dedication, by being purposively and respectively collaborative and supportive to each member, and while empowering his members and building trust within his teams and the community as a whole. McCallum has selflessly committed his time within the fire department and the community.

He is a leader and mentor of people at several levels: fulltime employee, husband-father-grandfather, Fire Chief/fire fighter (15/27 years), Councillor (3rd term, 6+ years), and volunteer (i.e., golf club).

He is integral to things that matter most, giving back – innovatively creating opportunity in times of despair (pandemic), combining ideas and working together to achieve success while contributing to the community and members of the VVFD and fire/emergency service departments in the surrounding areas (i.e., VVFD annual Fun Hockey Tournament).”