ATHABASCA — There’s a new face filling in temporarily as the fire services coordinator for Athabasca County.
Brad Straty, from the County of Two Hills, started Aug. 1 filling in for Sheldon Schoepp who started in February 2020 when Steve Hamilton retired.
“I come from a community called Myrnam, we're about twenty minutes south of St. Paul,” Straty said in an Aug. 11 interview.
It was while still in high school he started his career in Alberta’s fire services.
“I’ve been a volunteer firefighter since 1986, so my Grade 12 year, and an EMT since 1989,” he said. “I let my registration go in 2017. In 2005, I was appointed to the deputy chief position for the County of Two Hills. In 2009, I was appointed to the chief position for the county and spent 13 years with them as a regional chief.”
After his time in the County of Two Hills, Straty took the opportunity to work in southern Alberta until December of 2021, extending his experience to other areas in the province.
“When this (position) came up, it was a six-month term," he said. “I thought, ‘Well, there's an opportunity, even as a term position, to see a different area, different county and kind of put some new ideas, or different ideas, to the county.’”
While Straty hopes this position becomes long term, given the current timeline he is commuting between Athabasca and Myrnam to be with his family on weekends.
“I like Athabasca, I like the people. Last night (Aug. 10) was the first night I met the department chiefs for the county chiefs meeting,” he said. “The chiefs here at the departments that I've met so far, are really using foresight thinking, there’s a lot of new equipment, good equipment. The people I've met are all open to discussion and different ideas.”
While at times new faces can bring apprehension, he felt the group of chiefs make a good team.
“I'm not here to change anything. I'm here to be the resources that help,” Straty said. “I want to set them up for success and keep working with them that way.”
What he's looking forward to most within this new position is meeting new people and having the opportunity to experience a new county.
“I spent ten years sitting on the board of directors with the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association, so I’m very in tune to trying to keep departments up to date on technology and new training ideas in the fire code,” said Straty.
“If I can put another ten years here, that would put me at close to wanting to retire at that point. That would give me well over forty years in the fire service and I think that it would be time to buy a good fishing rod after that.”
Straty not only has hopes of helping to keep the departments on their line of success, he too wants to join them in their community event participation.
“I think that those values that our departments have, or the things that they do within their communities, helps them in so many ways,” he said. “One of the things I've always believed is that if you've got a strong fire department, you've got a strong community. The fire departments are doing those things for their communities, they’re keeping their communities strong. I think, in turn, that helps them get members back into the department.”
At the core of his position, he is here to supply all of the support he can for the volunteer chiefs.
“Right now, we're doing (an assessment) on where maybe some of our weaknesses are and where our strengths are, and it's going to give us that map to move forward from,” said Straty.
“As the volunteer chief you put in a lot of time, but they've all got their own jobs, their own business to do so. This position that helps with administration and doing the legwork for procurement and everything. To me, that is what this position is about, helping those chiefs get what they need to keep their departments going.”
