From volunteer firefighter to Grande Prairie Fire Chief Verdun brings over 25 years of experience.
The City of Campbell River (the City) welcomed new Fire Chief Dan Verdun on October 19, 2022. Verdun hit the ground running and swiftly settled into the leadership role at the City Fire Department, overseeing the City’s fire prevention, suppression, 9-1-1 dispatch, and emergency management programs.
Most recently, Verdun comes to the City from Alberta, where he was the Fire Chief for the County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service. However, Dan started his career in the fire service in 1995 as a volunteer firefighter in Union Bay and welcomed the opportunity to return to Vancouver Island.
“The City Fire Department is full of highly dedicated and engaged professionals who I am proud to have the opportunity to work with in my new role as Fire Chief,” says Dan Verdun, City Fire Chief. “Thank you to the City staff and the residents of Campbell River for inviting me into your community. Campbell River is an incredible, friendly place, and I look forward to serving the community and enhancing the fire department with my experience and skills.”
After working through the ranks from firefighter to lieutenant, then from training officer to deputy Fire Chief, Verdun assumed his first Fire Chief role. As Chief in Union Bay, Dan oversaw the implementation of a first responders program, began an occupational health and safety program, was active in the Comox Valley Chiefs Association and honed skills in leadership, instruction, fire prevention and emergency management.
While with the County of Grande Prairie, Dan served as the Deputy Chief of Training and Rural Operations and later the Fire Chief. Dan was responsible for the building and accreditation of the County’s first regional training facility and oversaw 80 IAFF members, two career fire stations, five paid responder stations, and two volunteer stations. Dan is a certified instructor for JIBC and the Province of Alberta and is a safety codes officer for the Province of Alberta (equivalent to an LAFC in BC).
“The City is fortunate to have Dan, and his 27 years of experience, on the City team as the new Fire Chief,” says Peter Wipper, Director of Community Safety. “With proven success as a leader and a passion for fire safety and prevention, the City Fire Department and the community are in capable hands.”
For more information on the City Fire Department, visit campbellriver.ca/fire.
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Contact: Peter Wipper, Director of Community Safety | 250.286.5707 | Peter.Wipper@campbellriver.ca
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