Red Deer fire chief receives national honour from his peers

“Perhaps to me, the most humbling experience is to be included in the names of some of my most well respected colleagues in this industry,” he said Tuesday. “For me then to be chosen as the 2020 Career Fire Chief of the Year – again humbled, honoured and absolute disbelief to some degree.”

McMullen says he’s been blown away by the amount of people who’ve reached out to congratulate him on his win.

“As Manager/Chief of Red Deer Emergency Services, Ken exemplifies leadership excellence every day, not only to his own department, but to the entire City of Red Deer organization and the community,” said Paul Goranson, General Manager of Utilities and Protective Services, in a release. “He leads by example, whether on duty or off, and is dedicated to the mental health of his staff and others, leading many initiatives related to this important issue.”

A focus on first responders’ mental health is an area McMullen is particularly proud of.

“Before I came to Red Deer, I was working on a number of initiatives both federally and provincially to look at programs, policies, and research that ensure firefighters mental health and well-being is addressed at a consistent level,” he explained. “The amount of stressors that our individuals face every single day is really not known or appreciated by the general public. I’m not here to tell any sort of sob story, but the fact is, the sights, the smells, the sounds that first responders deal with every single day are what most people would never even dream of or ever want to encounter.”

McMullen says theories that suggest first responders eventually become immune to it, are just not the case.

“There has to be programs in place. There has to be ways in which our first responders can address the impacts of our psychological well-being in our professions. So I’m proud of the work that’s been done internally and supported by outside agencies, psychologists and wonderful doctors in our communities that have helped us address some of our internal needs in the field of first responder’s mental health.”

City of Red Deer officials say McMullen also works to influence positive change provincially, nationally and internationally through his work with the Integrated Emergency Services Chiefs across Alberta, his role as the Vice President with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, and as the Canadian Division Director with the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

As a member of Canada Task Force 2, McMullen is often called upon in natural disasters, including the Slave Lake Fire in 2010, the Calgary and High River Floods in 2013, and as the Task Force Commander during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016.

“The depth of experience I’ve gained from all of my involvement with Canada Task Force 2 and the leadership in that organization, looking back, have played a significant part in what got me here today and furthermore, what likely got me to being recognized like I was this past evening.”

Over the past few months, City officials say McMullen has, and continues to play a lead role in working within The City of Red Deer’s emergency operations to help guide the pandemic response and recovery operations.

“Good leaders surround themselves with a great team,” concludes McMullen. “I’ve been so lucky with this team here. The leadership that is brought around me, both from a corporate perspective as well as internally with the chief officers we have here, really allow me to shine a light that is often deflected by the work done by individuals, not necessarily always done by me.”

by Troy Gillard and Sheldon Spackman

Red Deer fire chief receives national honour from his peers

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