By Staff Reporter
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, extended her country’s gratitude towards the South African firefighters from Working on Fire, recognizing their invaluable assistance in combating wildfires across Canada since 2015.
The acknowledgment took place at a reception held at the Canadian High Commissioner’s residence, Wednesday, 21 August 2024.
This visit to South Africa formed part of her trip to Africa where she already met with government officials in the Ivory Coast and in Pretoria and Johannesburg, including South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola.
Minister Joly’s engagement in South Africa offered the opportunity to highlight the Canadian – South African shared commitments to democracy, security, and prosperity, and to pay tribute to the 30th anniversary of the end of apartheid in South Africa, the Canadian Foreign Affairs stated in a media release before her visit to Africa.
The Expanded Public Works Programme, Working on Fire programme has successfully deployed some 1,750 firefighters and management to assist Canada in their wildfire firefighting efforts, since 2015. These deployments took place in 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023 and currently in 2024.
In 2023, a historic deployment of 861 firefighters and management from Working on Fire went to Canada to assist with wildfires in what has been described as one of their worst wildfire seasons on record.
In recognition of this extraordinary support, the Government of Canada extended a special note of thanks to the South African firefighting teams.
Speaking at the handing over of this recognition note to Working on Fire, Minister Joly, extended heartfelt gratitude to the South African firefighters who played a crucial role during last summer’s historic wildfires in Canada.
Reflecting on the challenging period, Minister Joly noted, “Last summer, Canadians were under a lot of stress as we battled historic wildfires that created a lot of anxiety, particularly for communities that had to be displaced, including many indigenous groups. The smoke and smell was affecting the entire territory of Canada, reaching as far as New York City in the USA.
“We needed help and help came from people here in the south who were going through their own winter season in reference to the 861 firefighters and management from Working on Fire who went to assist in Canada in 2023.
“We were amazed by the work that the firefighters from South Africa did. They caught our imagination and we loved their dancing and it just brought a bit of joy during difficult moments.
“So today we’ve brought you a special note from the government of Canada to say thank you and I know I’m talking on behalf of 41 million Canadians.”
Joly said that the government of Canada was grateful for the invaluable help received from the South African firefighters.
Trevor Abrahams, Managing Director of Working on Fire South Africa, said that the recognition award highlights the success of their six deployments to Canada during some of that country’s most challenging wildfire seasons.
“This award not only celebrates our firefighters’ dedication but also underscores the achievements of South Africa’s most successful Expanded Public Works Programme.
“We are also delighted to be recognised by Minister Joly. Seven firefighters who have been on previous deployments to Canada were in attendance and had an opportunity to interact with Minister Joly. As we speak, we still have 216 firefighters and management deployed in Canada in the province of Alberta, and they are scheduled to return back to South Africa on the 2 September 2024.
“Our firefighters in Canada received high praise from the fire authorities at Alberta Wildfire as well as from the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) for their fitness, discipline, work ethic and enthusiasm they brought to the fireline.
“The deployment of Working on Fire firefighters to Canada is part of the Canada – South Africa Bi-lateral Agreement, which amongst other makes provision for support and cooperation on environmental matters, and the exchange and provision of firefighting personnel to help each other during major wildfires,” said Abrahams.
