Penticton’s Alida Erickson has been awarded the province’s lifetime achievement award for her volunteer work as Penticton’s Emergency Support Services director. She retired in May.
Five public safety lifeline volunteers are being recognized for their exceptional contributions to emergency and disaster response throughout the province but it is Erickson who received the biggest recognition.
Erickson recently retired as the city of Penticton’s Emergency Support Services (ESS) director.
She has been a volunteer with ESS since 2007. Over her 14-year career, she has invested thousands of hours into the community and region, responding to people impacted by house fires, floods, wildfires and disasters.
“Alida has been called away from birthday parties and important family events in order to support our community. We thank her for her service and the positive example she has set by ensuring Penticton is a safe community,” said Mayor John Vassilaki on her retirement. She was instrumental in organizing evacuations for the Christie Mountain fire.
“Public safety lifeline volunteers are the backbone of emergency response, and I can’t express enough gratitude for the dedication our volunteers have,” said Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth. “This year, we’re congratulating a few of these volunteers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to give back to their communities and use their skills to enhance public safety in British Columbia.”
This year’s award winners are:
• Emergency Support Services: Ralph Laidlaw, Port Coquitlam
• Search and Rescue: Trent Blair, Prince George
• Radio Communications: Barry Glickman, Campbell River
• Road Rescue: Stefan Lettrari, Kaslo
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Alida Erickson, Penticton
Public safety lifeline volunteers demonstrate a selfless commitment to the safety of B.C. families and communities during emergencies. There are more than 13,000 public safety lifeline volunteers in British Columbia.
READ MORE: When there is an emergency in Penticton, Alida Erickson is there
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