A volunteer fire chief from Behchoko received a medal from the Governor General in Ottawa last week.
Rene Camsell was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers in recognition of over three decades of service in the community.
The medal 'recognizes the remarkable volunteer achievements of Canadians from across the country in a wide range of fields' according to the Governor General's website.
“I became a fireman about 35 years ago, somewhere in there,” said Camsell.
Camsell said he was playing baseball with Leon Lafferty one day when there was a fire call.
“They told me to join, so I joined the fire department,” he said.
Camsell worked as a volunteer firefighter for years before becoming the fire chief about ten years ago. He is also the captain of the search and rescue team.
The RCMP Behchoko Detachment often calls upon his team in the event of an overdue hunter, stranded traveller or missing person.
When Camsell first got the call from Governor General Julie Payette two years ago, he thought it was a prank.
“Yeah right,” he said when Payette told him it was the real thing.
Governor General Payette informed him that in two weeks time he would receive a letter about the award.
“Next thing you know, two weeks came and then my daughter checked the mail,” said Camsell.
The letter from Ottawa said he had been awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers for his work as a search and rescue captain and volunteer firefighter.
“And I said holy smokes,” said Camsell.
Camsell and his wife Elizabeth Apples flew down to Ottawa for the awards ceremony on March 26. When they arrived at Rideau Hall he was shocked by the number of people at the ceremony.
“There was a red carpet and I told my wife that can’t be for us,” Camsell said.
The other award winners were announced row by row and eventually, they called his name.
“So I got up, walked to the Governor General, I bow to her, turn around and as soon as I turned around I said holy smokes. There’s a lot of people,” he said.
Camsell said he was honoured to receive recognition for his work over the years.
“I was so excited regarding that medal, I was so happy,” he said.
Camsell oversees two crews, one in Behchoko and one in Edzo and after all these years, he's come to see them as a second family.
“I tell them you guys are just like my brothers and sisters. I’ve been with you guys for about 35 years,” he said.
The communities are currently looking for new recruits to join the crew of volunteer firefighters, he said.
“It’s hard work, you’re on call 24/7 but [join] if you want to serve your own community and work as a family,” said Camsell.