CVFSA Indigenous Fire Service Award

Indigenous Fire Service Medal

 

The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council, in conjunction with the Canadian Volunteer Fire Service Association have developed the Indigenous, Metis and Inuit Fire Service award in the form of a medal. This has provided a uniformly accepted option for Indigenous, Metis and Inuit communities that wanted to recognize Members who belong to an indigenous fire service and has who provided 10 or more years of service to their communities. Anniversary service bars can be added every 5 years.

CVFSA has agreed to manage the program and provide a single point of business contact for those communities wishing to participate in this national program.

Implementation of the program began on July 14, 2024. This medal ensures that a national standard is maintained as to appearance, presentation and awarding of such a medal.

The CVFSA has created an on-line record of the recipients in a national database for recognition by their peers, their families and members of the public who have an interest in the fire service. The CVFSA will maintain an inventory and supply of the service medals that can be shipped to your community.

 

Eligibility:

Indigenous, Metis and Inuit community leaders and Senior Fire Officials may nominate a fire services member for the Indigenous Fire Service Medal for 1O years of fire service and for each 5 subsequent years of service. Use the “Indigenous, Metis and Inuit Fire Service Award and Bars Application “form to nominate a fire service member for the long service medal or bar. Those medals sponsored by a community must be signed off by a community leader and/or a senior fire official including Fire Chief, Deputy or Assistant Chief. Use this form to nominate a fire services member who has served at least 10 years for a recognized indigenous fire service or medical first responder provider.

How to apply:

Fill in the application form and ensure all boxes are completed. Check the application for details on supporting documents. Send your completed application and supporting documents by Email to: ifsam@cvfsa.ca

   

How long does it take:

Applications should be submitted 8 weeks prior to the award presentation.

In special circumstances, we may be able to fulfill your request earlier than 8 weeks.

 

Cost (per medal):

There is a sponsorship fee of seventy-five dollars Plus shipping.

Information: ifsam@cvfsa.ca

 

Precedence and Wear of Medals and Undress Ribbons:

 

  1. a) Generally, the wear of medals and undress medal ribbon bars shall follow the Order of Precedence published from time-to-time by the Canadian Chancellery of Orders. Medals awarded by a province shall in all cases be worn in lower precedence to medals awarded by the federal government and their order of precedence shall be determined by the date on which they were first established.
  2. b) Medals awarded by the Canadian government and by a Provincial government (deemed to be awarded in right of the monarchy) shall be worn in the correct order of precedence (see a) above) on the left chest of the dress tunic positioned so that the top of the medal ribbon(s) is aligned vertically with the top of the name tag on the right chest and centered on the left chest pocket flap. Where no pocket flap exists, the medals shall be mounted on the left chest, centred between the collar and the sleeve and laying with the top of the medal ribbon(s) centred at 220mm from the shoulder seam.
  3. c) Medals awarded by an Indigenous, Metis and Inuit communities, municipality, a fire service, or other partner entities shall be worn on the right chest, the order of precedence shall be determined according to the time of establishment of each medal. These medals shall be worn centred on the right pocket with the top of the ribbons aligned vertically with the medal ribbon(s) on the left. Where no pocket flap exists, the medal(s) shall be mounted on the right chest, centred between the collar and the sleeve.
  4. d) Those awarded more than one medal, whether issued in right of the monarchy or by another agency, should endeavor to have them appropriately ‘court mounted’ to ensure proper precedence of position and uniform and symmetrical appearance on the tunic. If more than five medals are to be court mounted together, it may be necessary to slightly overlap the medals. The highest precedence medal shall be fully visible.
  5. e) Assembly of the undress ribbon bar(s) shall follow the precedence established above and shall be worn on the dress uniform shirt, station wear shirt, or station wear jacket centred on the appropriate pocket with the bottom edge of the medal bar immediately above the pocket flap seam. Undress ribbon bars or medal miniatures may be worn for formal occasions on a suit jacket, or tuxedo jacket on the left or right chest as appropriate (see b) and c) above).x
  6. f) Undress ribbon bars shall not exceed three ribbons wide: if more than three ribbons are to be worn together, the undress ribbon bar shall be assembled with three ribbons in as many tiers as required with the highest precedence ribbon(s) at the top of the assembly nearest the chest centre or centred on the top row.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

IFSAM APPLICATION FORM – Form for submitting applications for award