Albert Headrick is now on the job as North Battleford's new fire chief.
He started work Aug. 15, and was introduced to North Battleford city council Aug. 19 by Deputy Chief Brian Wilson. The following day, he met with the media at the fire hall.
Headrick's hiring ends a lengthy search for a replacement for former Fire Chief Pat MacIsaac, who left for the Okotoks, Alta. fire department last year.
While the former chief moved west, Headrick is going the opposite direction, coming to the city from Crowsnest Pass, Alta.
There he served as director of community services, a broad executive function overseeing fire and emergency services. It involved liaison with the RCMP and EMS, responsibility for recreational components and the family community support services and other responsibilities.
Prior to that appointment, Headrick served as fire marshal and later deputy chief of public safety and planning and prevention with the City of Regina.
Before that post, he was the fire chief in Yellowknife, N.W.T, and was deputy fire chief with the City of Swift Current.
Before that, Headrick worked in Ontario for several years, serving in the fire marshal's office and other positions.
He grew up on a farm close to Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and remembers days when he would do chores on the farm and have to walk a couple of miles to the highway to catch the bus to go to high school in Sault Ste. Marie.
Headrick has been active in firefighting for some 37 years, but pointed out to reporters that he is not ready to retire, as he started in firefighting at an early age of 19.
He also worked a number of other jobs during those early years, but said he "always had that passion" to give back in the community. Eventually he went into it full time "because I enjoyed it."
Headrick holds numerous qualifications and certifications that he has gained throughout his career, just recently completing an Honors Bachelor of Applied Business in emergency services from Lakeland College last year.
Family reasons motivated Headrick's decision to come to Saskatchewan. His wife Shannon had been going through cancer treatment recently. A move to Saskatchewan puts her in closer proximity to her family in Swift Current to the south.
Being "closer to home is more conducive to the recovery process, I believe," said Headrick.
He has a son in Edmonton, Alta., in the military there, and another son in Swift Current. He also has two daughters who live in Sault Ste. Marie, and 11 grandchildren.
He called it a tough decision to leave Crowsnest Pass, but told reporters "you know what? You've got to make that choice sometimes."
For now, Headrick is familiarizing himself with his new role in North Battleford.
He said he had a chance to meet the firefighters and staff and says he'll have discussions "with every member of the department, full time and part time, with their vision and where they think the department has to go."
Headrick describes himself as a "proactive, results-oriented individual that firmly believes in effective communication and participative type of management style where I get input from staff. I think that's critical to maintain morale, but also take the benefits of the knowledge that you have within and use it to the best of your ability."
