2025 CFAA Above & Beyond Technician Awards Recap

Nazia Hyre CFAA Manager of Membership, Marketing & Events

Celebrating the Technicians Who Go Further, Aim Higher, and Lead the Way

Canadian Fire Alarm Association Registered Fire Alarm Technicians show up with one shared purpose: protecting lives and property through dedication, expertise, and professionalism. But some technicians take that commitment even further. They mentor others, solve complex compliance challenges, volunteer their time, and continuously invest in their own growth, all while raising the bar for the entire industry. It is those individuals who are celebrated through the CFAA Above & Beyond Technician Awards.

The National Technician Committee is driven to strengthen unity among technicians and support professional growth nationwide. The committee aims to enhance access to training resources, improve communication, and foster long-term career development. In 2023, that vision led to the creation of a brand-new recognition program, the Above & Beyond Awards. The response was immediate and enthusiastic.

A Growing Legacy of Recognition

The Above & Beyond Awards began in 2023 with 25 technician nominations from across Canada. Eight outstanding technicians were honoured in this inaugural year, marking an inspiring launch for the program.

In 2024, the program continued to gain momentum, recognizing 9 exceptional technicians whose dedication and professionalism stood out among their peers.

Now, 2025 marked year three of the CFAA Above & Beyond Technician Awards. The long-term vision remains clear: to recognize one or more technicians in every CFAA Chapter and ensure excellence is celebrated from coast to coast.

Once again, this year, the judges had the task of selecting winners from a pool of nominees. Ultimately, 9 deserving technicians from across Canada were recognized. They demonstrated exceptional dedication to safety, a strong commitment to ongoing education, full compliance with fire codes and standards, and professionalism that reflects the highest ideals of the CFAA Code of Ethics.

What Does “Above & Beyond” Really Mean?

To be considered for this award, all nominees were required to meet foundational criteria, which include:

  • Being a CFAA Registered Fire Alarm Technician in good standing *hint, check your Registration Card to know when your registration will expire and earn enough CE credits in time!
  • Demonstrating exemplary job performance
  • Consistently upholding the CFAA Code of Ethics.

The CFAA Code of Ethics reflects the values that define the profession and includes a commitment to:

  1. Be dedicated to the safety of the public from fire, in all aspects of their fire alarm work.
  2. Adhere to all applicable fire alarm codes, standards, and by-laws in all areas of fire protection including design, manufacture, application, installation, verification, maintenance servicing and promotion of fire alarm systems
  3. Only perform fire alarm services and/or render opinions for which they have qualification and experience
  4. Be honest and truthful in all dealings
  5. Behave in a manner that upholds the principles and integrity of the Canadian Fire Alarm Association
  6. Support the education of industry participants concerning advances in Life Safety and Fire Alarm
  7. Promote the Goals and Objectives of the Canadian Fire Alarm Association, and both refrain from and discourage others from the misuse of its name and logo
  8. Participate in lifelong learning regarding the practice of their profession.

Hold on! Meeting the criteria is just the beginning.

What Set the Winners Apart?

In addition to the core requirements, the judges looked closely at how nominees demonstrated true “above and beyond” qualities in their everyday work and professional involvement.

Successful nominees stood out by demonstrating how they:

  • Performed actions that represent going the extra mile
  • Applied Codes and Standards creatively to resolve compliance challenges
  • Volunteered their time with industry associations, committees, or community initiatives
  • Provided mentorship, training, and technical support to CFAA trainees and fellow technicians
  • Completed additional training courses in addition to their CFAA Fire Alarm Technician Registration qualifications

These technicians excel at their work and elevate those around them.

Meet the 2025 CFAA Above & Beyond Award Winners

Are you ready to meet this year’s lineup?

The following technicians are the 2025 CFAA Above & Beyond Award recipients, recognized for exceptional fire protection and life safety contributions. Each received an award and a $1,500 prize.

Please tune in to the CFAA Technicians Podcast. Tim Renaud will present exclusive personal interviews with all the 2025 winners. Listen on Apple Music, Spotify, and CFAA’s LinkedIn page.

2025 Award Recipients by Region

British Columbia

Michael Robinsmith – B.C. Chapter President, Carson Henning - Winner

Alberta

Mark Wilson – Alberta Chapter President, Ashley Shaver Flahr - Winner

Alberta

Cooper Klassen – Fire Service Manager, Francis Thibeault - Winner, Mark Wilson – Alberta Chapter President

Manitoba

Ryan Janz – Winner, Derrick Bertrand – Manitoba Chapter President

Manitoba

Bobby Coombs – Winner, Derrick Bertrand - Manitoba Chapter President

Eastern Ontario

Adam Cooper - Fire service supervisor, Darren Jukes - Winner, Rob Clark - Eastern Ontario Chapter President

Eastern Ontario

Wilfried Tixador - Winner, Rob Clark – Eastern Ontario Chapter President.

Atlantic Region

Karen Chafe - VP Atlantic Chapter, Robert Blundon – Winner

Quebec

Jean-Philippe Turmel – Winner, Francis Bergeron – Quebec Chapter President

Congratulations to all the winners. Your work, leadership, and commitment inspire technicians nationwide!

The Power of Sharing Your Story

One message the Committee wants to emphasize is simple but important: great work can only be recognized if it is shared.

Across Canada, countless technicians are quietly making a difference every day. Unfortunately, the Committee cannot recognize what it doesn’t know about.

  • Employers: If you have technicians who consistently exceed expectations, please nominate them.
  • Technicians: You are both welcomed and encouraged to nominate yourself or your colleagues.

The 2026 Above & Beyond Awards are already on the horizon, and the Committee will be enhancing the application process to make it even more effective and meaningful.

Insider Advice from the Judges: How to Build a Strong Application

Looking to submit a standout application this year? The judges shared several key tips to help future nominees shine.

A strong application will:

  • Answer every question completely (leaving sections blank can significantly impact scoring)
  • Provide clear, detailed examples of accomplishments, awards, and leadership roles.
  • If you received recognition, explain why
  • If you exceeded typical technician duties, describe the situation and your actions.

When describing going above and beyond:

  • Think about what a “typical” technician role involves.
  • Identify what you did that exceeded expectations.
  • Tell the story clearly, remember, the judges weren’t there!

For technical excellence:

  • Describe specific situations where you applied Codes and Standards to solve compliance issues.
  • Explain the problem, your role, and how your solution made a difference.

For volunteerism and industry involvement:

  • List committees, associations, or community organizations
  • Explain your role, what you learned, and the impact you made

For mentorship and support:

  • Share examples of training, guidance, or technical support you’ve provided
  • Again, this is not the time to be modest.

Finally:

  • Use the “additional information” section to truly shine.
  • Include testimonials if you have any.
  • If others consistently recognize your work, encourage them to submit a nomination form.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 CFAA Above & Beyond Technician Awards celebrate passion, professionalism, and purpose, not just achievement.

Congratulations to the 2025 winners! Your dedication to fire protection and life safety makes communities safer and strengthens the industry.

To every technician reading this: be inspired. Keep learning. Keep mentoring. Keep pushing beyond expectations. Fire protection isn’t just a career, it’s a calling, and it shows in the work you do every day.

We look forward to seeing and celebrating even more incredible stories in 2026. An email blast will alert you when we open the nomination process. Until then, mentally start preparing your application. We can’t wait to read your entries.

Wishing you a happy start to the new year; it’s time to level up!

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