Page 6 - Brandon Sun - 2018 Community Leader Awards

6 • COMMUNITY LEADER AWARDS 2018 THE BRANDON SUN • THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2018

» EMERGENCY SERVICE AWARD, SPONSORED BY THE BRANDON SUN

The May 19 downtown Brandon fires offered a solid reminder as to the important role that emergency personnel play. (File)
Cheyne dedicated decades to volunteer firefighting

BY DIANE NELSON interested in issues surrounding the time of the year, and on the weather. He said they don’t attend
cemetery, handy van, and water and too many fires anymore, especially not in the wintertime.
It’s one thing to be nominated for sewer. “There’s not many winter fires – there used to be a lot of
a Community Leader Award by an “Bill assists many individuals with tasks chimney fires, but that’s kind of gone away now, because there’s
individual, but in this case, a single whenever called upon, and is well known less wood fires,” Cheyne said. “And there’s always a few car
nominator, Pam Hainsworth, gave for providing transportation to and from accidents that you need to respond to.”
the nod to Bill Cheyne on behalf of medical appointments for many members Cheyne grew up in Waskada, where he was a Red Seal
The Municipality of Deloraine- of the community,” Hainsworth wrote. mechanic for 10 years. He moved to Deloraine in 1970 to start
Winchester. “We feel that he is worthy of nominating his job at the hospital and has been a fixture in the community
Cheyne, Hainsworth said, has due to his long service, commitment and ever since.
spent his entire adulthood in service to others in need. He joined dedication to public service. He is an unassuming man who And he was frank when talking about the fire department,
the Bren Del Win Fire Department in February of 1975 as a quietly goes about helping out people in need.” but equally as forthcoming about his reason for being involved
fireman. In 1983, when there was a vacancy for Fire Chief, he Indeed, during an interview, Cheyne downplayed his in it. “Pay isn’t really great on the fire department, but you’ve
was elected by his peers to that position, which he occupied contributions, saying if he’s able to help someone, he’s interested got to help the community out,” he said. “And you might not
until 2001. Now, at 75 years of age, Cheyne continues to serve in doing so. “If I can give them a hand, I go ahead,” he said. get any calls for months. And you hope you don’t.”
on the volunteer fire department. “Just try to help out, I guess. Just be there if they need you.” As far as the Community Leader Award is concerned, Cheyne
He also drove an ambulance for many years while working As far as his work with the Fire Department goes, Cheyne was taken aback, but pleasantly so, when he found out he’d
as a maintenance engineer at Deloraine Memorial Hospital. said the area to which it provides service is “at least 24 miles been nominated.
Hainsworth said he was extremely proficient in fixing any of long, one end’s about 16 miles wide and the other end’s about “I didn’t suspect anything,” Cheyne said. “My wife knew
the equipment at that facility and many people sought his 13 miles wide. So there’s quite a few sections of land we have about it but she didn’t tell me.
guidance. to cover.” “I was surprised that they’d even phone me. I’m not much of
In retirement, Cheyne is an avid woodworker and sign-maker, And because several municipalities provide mutual aid to each a public speaker or anything like that. I’d sooner be in the
and was most recently elected to the newly amalgamated other, firefighters could travel as far afield as Boissevain, Melita, background.
Municipality. Hainsworth said he takes a keen interest in all Hartney, and Waskada. “I’m always willing to give somebody a hand if they need it.
matters, and is never afraid to lend a hand. He is especially Of course demands on the fire department depend on the But I don’t expect anything in return.”

City police officer an avid community steward

BY DIANE NELSON

There’s no question it’s an honour when someone you know
– or someone you don’t – nominates you for a Community
Leader Award. Many have described it as overwhelming,
humbling and just plain nice.
But when your boss who goes to the trouble of creating and
submitting a detailed letter nominating you because of what he
or she feels are outstanding qualifications, that’s really a thrill.
“So he’s the guy!” Brandon Police Services Deputy Chief
Randy Lewis said when he found out his nominator was Police
Chief Wayne Balcaen. “Wow! But this is not really my
personality. I certainly don’t need to be acknowledged on a
public level in any way, shape or form. But it’s certainly pleasing
that he thinks highly of what I do.”
According to Balcaen, Lewis joined the Brandon Police
Service in 1994 and has held numerous leadership positions
within the organization.
Lewis has led members of the Police Service on Patrol, in the
Crime Section, Patrol Support Unit, was the department's
firearms instructor, and was a leader of the Tactical Response
Unit for many years.
All of those positions demanded that he shoulder enormous
responsibility, while also accepting the potential risk and
challenges of those jobs. Balcaen said that Lewis recognized
that being in law enforcement can take an emotional, physical
and spiritual toll on officers and other staff members, which is
why he was a proponent of the Brandon Police Service Wellness
Team. The team includes a cross-section of civilian and police Brandon Police Service deputy
staff, as well as the department’s chaplain, and offers support chief Randy Lewis speaks to
for all Police Service employees to try to ensure positive mental, Brandon Sun reporter Jillian
physical and spiritual health. The Wellness Team is ready to go Austin at BPS headquarters on
24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year. Before Victoria Avenue at 10th Street
Lewis championed the cause, the service had never before been in this file photo. (Tim Smith/The
offered. Brandon Sun)
But Lewis doesn’t just excel on the job. A passionate
fisherman, Lewis has turned this pursuit into a way to connect
with the community by ensuring youth have the opportunity to was then Curran Park teaching kids the basics of fishing. Balcaen emphatically. “My wife and my
engage in his favourite sport. About five years ago, he started a said the lessons culminated with the kids having their own rods family, friends, coworkers – they’ve all done a lot.
local chapter of Generation Next Angler (GNA), the focus of and reels, and time spent putting their education to action. “I would say the majority of officers on our force right now
which is teaching kids under 18 years of age the joys of fishing. In addition to fishing, Lewis has volunteered in the community are that way. They don’t just come to work to collect a
Lewis fundraises all year long, including hosting an ice-fishing as a baseball coach, a hockey coach for his three daughters, and paycheque. There are countless members that have other
derby, in order to stage an annual fishing event – this year’s will was a volunteer with Big Brothers and Sisters in the mid 1990s. activities in the community, so I don’t think I’m any different
be held July 14 on Pelican Lake. All kids who enter receive “It is my humble opinion that Randy Lewis epitomizes the than the majority of people who work for (the Police Service).”
prizes and spend the day learning how to fish. Through the requirements for this award,” Balcaen said. Family is a big focus of GNA as well, Lewis said, and the
shared experience, the youngsters are also able to bond with Lewis downplayed the praise, saying that GNA was an definition of what constitutes a family is broad.
their parents or guardians. opportunity for him to do what he loves to do away from his “There’s lots of different family make-ups that we have
“This program, in my opinion, connects kids with nature and day job, which he also adores, and still benefit the community. participating in our events,” he said. “Grandpas, grandmas, a
keeps them focused on life's positives rather than taking the road “Perhaps it keeps some youth who maybe would stray down couple of kids, aunts, uncles, a neighbour – they all help them
that will intersect with Randy's professional life,” Balcaen said. the wrong path and give them some other outlets for their have a positive experience.
Lewis was also involved with “Keepin’ it Reel” in Winnipeg, energies,” he said. “It’s a win-win.” “There’s some top-notch individuals out there. Being in the
where he volunteered his boat and his time for a day on the Red And Lewis is quick to point out he’s not the only one involved company of some of these folks is astounding, and I quite
River, teaching children with disabilities and their families how in the local GNA – numerous volunteers from all walks of life candidly feel that there are much more qualified people who
to fish. During the 2000s, Lewis partnered with Jig and Rig, a have helped out over the years. should have been nominated for this (Community Leader
former local fishing supply outlet, and spent a weekend at what “It takes a lot of people to do the things we’ve done,” he said Award).”