The County of Grande Prairie and the Town of Sexsmith will soon welcome a new District Fire Chief.
Dale Widsten has been brought in to fill the newly created position, where he will manage the Sexsmith Fire Department’s administration and operation section. He will also provide support to the County’s three other fire stations in Bezanson, Teepee Creek, and La Glace.
A new fire hall was recently built in the town. County CAO Bill Rogan says the position was created to help take some of the pressure off of other growing departments.
“What we’ve seen is as our services grow. We need a little more help at the top end in positions with the administration and training of our volunteer groups… This position is going to help both communities address that training and administration piece in particular.”
Widsten is the current Fire Chief of the Charlie Lake Fire Department, near Fort St. John, BC. He is also a member of the Fire Chiefs’ Association of British Columbia, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, the British Columbia Fire Training Officers Association and the International Society of Fire Service Instructors.
“He has extensive experience in rural operations and has that previous experience as a chief in a rural department,” Rogan says. “We think that experience and background is important to the new role in Sexsmith.”
“His leadership qualities, community-mindedness and commitment to fire services will be very instrumental in bringing this hall to a higher level of service, benefiting both Sexsmith and County residents,” adds Sexsmith CAO Rachel
Wueschner.
Widsten will take over the role on August 7th.
