A Parksville fire fighter has been selected from more than 400 departments in the province as Trainer of the Year.
Captain Mike Davidson of the Parksville Volunteer Fire Department was given the award after being nominated by his peers at the B.C. Fire Training Officers Conference hosted in Parksville last month.
B.C. Fire Training Officers Association president Dean Colthorp described the accolade as "prestigious" and said Davidson is "a good recipient of the award."
"He has a huge amount of enthusiasm and passion," Colthorp said about Davidson. "He really takes individual fire fighters under his wing and gives them not only guidance but also teaches them how to be a better fire fighter."
Davidson said he has been with the department since 2001.
"I've always been interested in (fire fighter) training," he said. "I love teaching — I tell my students they'll never forget their recruit class."
Davidson said he was "totally humbled" by the award, which he said took him by complete surprise.
The Trainer of the Year award has been given out for more than two decades to various deserving individual fire fighters. In 2010 PVFD's Marc Norris received the award.
Davidson said the PVFD is a great institution.
"Two years ago we had five of our volunteer members accepted by full-time career departments," he explained. "That's substantial — and a testament to the training Parksville does."
Davidson said he sees tremendous potential in many Parksville fire fighters and encourages anybody interested to come out.