From February 2020 (Courtesy GNB)
Sixteen staff members from the Department of Natural Resources have been recognized for their efforts during last year’s wildfires in Australia.
A request for help from Down Under came in late 2019.
By February 2020, the province sent a group of mostly forest rangers to New South Wales where they worked to clean up hazards left by the fires.
“I am glad that Australia knew they could reach out to Canadians and that we could provide them with assistance,” said Premier Blaine Higgs.
“This was an excellent example of countries working together to support one another,” said Lieutenant-Governor Brenda Murphy.
The following 16 staff were recognized by Premier Gladys Berejiklian of New South Wales, Australia:
- Jason Brideau-Chiasson, forest ranger;
- Alain Bujold, district forest ranger;
- Tony Cole, district forest ranger;
- William Connell, forest ranger;
- Samuel Dumont, forest ranger;
- Terry Jordan, forest ranger;
- Tyson MacCallum, forest ranger;
- Rodney MacEachern, fish and wildlife technician;
- Nathan Martin, forest ranger;
- Miguel Pellerin, forest ranger;
- Bruno Pelletier, district forest ranger;
- Matt Ruff, forest fire management coordinator;
- Phillip Russell, forest ranger;
- Keith Sherrard, forest ranger;
- Adam Sullivan, assistant district forest ranger; and
- Andrew Tingley, forest ranger.
“This (recognition) goes to show that the work done by our forest rangers is so important, not just to us here in our province, but on a global scale, and we should all be proud to be represented by these individuals,” noted Natural Resources Minister Mike Holland.
New Brunswick is a member of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre and provides assistance to other provinces and countries when conditions permit.
