A Central York Fire Services officer known for creating a welcoming environment for his trainees earned the department's top award.
Training officer Andrew Burdette, who has a track record of using his experience in the field to prepare firefighters for emergencies, was honoured with the Jim Allen Award at CYFS' annual recognition ceremony Nov. 28. The award, chosen by a cross-sectional committee from anonymous nominations, was introduced in 2018 to recognize retired Capt. Jim Allen for his "tremendous contributions" to fire services over his 37-year career.
After working as a volunteer firefighter in Stouffville, Burdette joined CYFS in 2004 and, after 15 years as a firefighter, transitioned into training. A CYFS news release describes him as a kind, supportive instructor who goes above and beyond and "encourages his fellow staff to be curious and strive for excellence."
Burdette stands out for his deep knowledge of issues involving power tools, compressors, pumps and apparatus and his willingness to help out, Fire Chief Rocco Volpe said.
“His friendly personality combined with his experience in the field and technical expertise make him someone our crews can rely on to test and support new ideas and initiatives to make our team better equipped and better trained to serve the community,” Volpe said.
The training officer said receiving an award named for Allen "means a lot."
"He’s done so much for fire services in our region and across the province, having trained many Newmarket and Aurora firefighters, being an active member of the York Region Training Association and president of the Ontario Association of Fire Training Officers," Burdette said.
Fostering confidence and curiosity in the CYFS members he works with is a guiding light.
"I really enjoy when members of the crews come to me with questions, or an idea they want to test out, and getting to help them through the process to get it done," Burdette said. "I always encourage young people who are interested in a career in fire services to pursue it ... Stay curious, ask questions and stretch outside your comfort zone."
Past Jim Allen Award recipients include: Jeff Meijs (2018), Ken Gibb (2019), Jeff Caldwell (2020), Robert Nagle (2021), Chris Airey (2022), Philip Montgomery (2023), Martin Maurice (2024).