CHIEFS IN SYDNEY
Conference biggest of its kind east of Toronto
About 500 delegates are expected when the Maritime Fire Chiefs Conference is held here.
About 500 delegates are expected to converge on Sydney beginning Sunday as the Maritime Fire Chiefs Conference is held in Cape Breton for the first time in more than 20 years.
George Muise, chair of the Cape Breton Regional Fire Chiefs Association, said they were approached last year about hosting the conference, the largest of its kind east of Toronto.
“We’ve been working since last year on that end trying to make sure that everything is run smoothly and we have a great show here,” said Muise, who is also chief of the Cape Breton Regional Fire Service hazardous materials response team.
In total, between delegates and vendors, about 500 people are expected to attend the conference, which will be hosted at Centre 200 in Sydney.
“There are different speakers who will be talking about various subjects in regards to fire service management and safety and those types of things,” Muise said. “Of course, there’s going to be the trade show there as well, where all the firefighters will be able to see the latest technology that’s out there today in the fire service.”
Making the best use of changing technology in a time of limited resources is among the challenges facing modern day fire services, Muise noted.
“These things are changing all the time and better products are coming out and new ideas are being tried and this is an opportunity for fire fighters to go and see them demonstrated first-hand, so that when the time comes to make a decision later on, they’re aware of what’s out there,” he said.
The CBRM will experience economic benefits associated with hosting the conference, Muise noted, with delegates filling local hotels and eating in area restaurants.
Events kick off Sunday with events including a trade show and parade. As business continues Monday to Wednesday, the conference will include speeches and presentations, panel discussions and product demonstrations. There will also be excursions available for delegates such as the Fortress of Louisbourg and the Cape Breton Miners Museum.
The CBRM volunteer fire service has about 780 members. Vendors from across Canada and into the United States will be on hand with the firefighting equipment and services.
The Maritime Fire Chiefs Association was established in Halifax in 1914 and is one of the longest serving fire service associations in Canada. It is the only association that serves an entire region of the country.