Stacey Barnes has been honoured as Hay River's Firefighter of the Year.
The award was presented at the annual Firefighters' Ball on Dec. 2 at the Ptarmigan Inn.
Barnes was unaware she was going to receive the honour until her name was called.
"I was very surprised," she said. "It's an honour to get it, but I was very surprised."
The Firefighter of the Year is selected in a vote among the members of the Hay River Fire Department.
Barnes has been on the department since April 2016.
"My husband has been on it for six years and I just felt now that our kids are a little bit older and that I was wanting to help out in the community, as well, and that would be a good place to start," she said.
The 37-year-old Barnes admitted it's sometimes a "juggling act" to find time for her family, her job as council administrator with the Town of Hay River, and the fire department.
Like all members of the Hay River Fire Department, she serves as both a firefighter and with the ambulance service.
In January and February, she will be taking an emergency medical response course.
Her husband, Junior Barnes, is a captain in the fire department and was also once named Firefighter of the Year.
In announcing the Firefighter of the Year on Dec. 2, Fire Chief Ross Potter explained the award is given to a single recipient who has best exemplified the standards of excellence and service to the community.
"This year's recipient has shown exemplary service to the department, has participated in almost every function the department has taken on that they were available for and had the most votes for this award by the members of the department," he said.
Potter also noted that Barnes put in 435 documented hours of volunteer service to the department, not including hours studying for certifications.
Also at the Firefighters' Ball, the Inspirational Student Award was presented to Firefighter Alexander Luckham.
The new award is from the School of Community Government, which is part of the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Luckham was honoured for his commitment to lifelong learning efforts and for assisting others in their learning activities, not just with the Hay River Fire Department but with other fire departments.
Deputy Fire Chief Trent Atwell also received the Government of Canada's Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal.
The medal, created in 1985, honours members of recognized Canadian fire services who have completed 20 years of service, 10 years of which have been in the performance of duties involving potential risks.