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AFCA Announces New President, Chief Drayton Bussiere

by | Apr 3, 2026 | Announcements, General News, Uncategorized

Announcing the New AFCA President

Drayton Bussiere Elected as AFCA President

We are thrilled to introduce Drayton Bussiere Fire Chief, Deputy Director of Emergency Management, County of Red Deer as the newly elected President of the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association, marking a new era of leadership and innovation.

Drayton started his career as a paid-on-call firefighter in 2004 and moved into a full time Chief Officer role in 2015. He currently serves as the Fire Chief and Deputy Director of Emergency Management for Red Deer County. As a member of the AFCA, Drayton has served as Region 5 – Alternate Director, Director at Large: Rural Membership, and is currently 1st Vice President. He’s a current member of the Core Competencies Committee, has previously chaired the AFCA’s Recruitment and Retention Committee, and also currently represents the AFCA on the Provincial Fire Liaison Committee. Personally, Drayton lives in Red Deer with his Wife and their three teenage children.

AFCA Presidential Election Outcome

The voting for the AFCA President position concluded March 19th at noon, with a thorough review conducted by our appointed scrutineers. We are delighted to announce that Chief Drayton Bussiere has been elected as the new President of the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association. This decision reflects the collective voice of our members and underscores our commitment to strong leadership.

Drayton Bussiere will assume his role immediately, starting his two-year term on March 19, 2026. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Drayton and express our gratitude to all members who participated in this vital election process. Your involvement is crucial to the governance and future direction of our association.

"I am honored and excited to serve as the President of the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association. I look forward to working with all members to advance our mission and strengthen our community."

AFCA 1st Vice President Nominee Chief, Trevor Brice

by | Mar 12, 2026 | Uncategorized

Dear AFCA Members,

I am writing to respectfully request your support and vote as a candidate for 1st Vice President of the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association through the electronic election process. I have been engaged with the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association since 2014 and currently serve as a member of the Executive and the Board of Directors, in my roles as Secretary Treasurer and Urban Director. These roles have provided me with a strong understanding of the Association’s governance, financial stewardship, and the diverse needs of Alberta’s fire services.

I joined the fire service in 1983 in the United Kingdom and served in multiple Fire & Rescue Services over a 25year career, progressing from firefighter to senior leadership roles. After moving to Canada, I served in senior leadership positions in Saskatchewan and Alberta, including Chief Fire Administrator and Deputy Fire Commissioner for the Government of Alberta. I later served as a Fire Chief in Saskatchewan and, since 2020, I have served as Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Management for the Town of Okotoks.

Across over 40 years of service, I have worked within large urban career departments, combination departments, and volunteer/paid-on-call environments. This breadth of experience has given me an appreciation for the common challenges facing all departments—training, readiness, recruitment and retention, sustainability, and firefighter safety—while also understanding the distinct pressures experienced across different service models.

I have pursued ongoing professional development throughout my career, including an Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master in Leadership (MAL). I hold professional designations including Executive Chief Fire Officer (ECFO) (CAFC),
Chief Fire Officer (CPSE) and Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP), I am also a Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers (FIFireE).

  • If elected 1st Vice President, my priorities will be clear and practical:
    Strong advocacy and credible government relations for Alberta’s fire services;
  • Leadership development, succession, mentoring and protection for chief officers across all service models; and
  • Firefighter safety, wellness, and operational readiness, guided by the principle that everyone goes home.

I am Married to Melanie and lives in Okotoks with our Two Boxer dogs. A grand dad with a blended family of 6 children and 7 grandchildren.

I would be honored to earn your vote and to serve the membership as 1st Vice President with professionalism, integrity, and collaboration. Regardless of the outcome, I remain committed to supporting the AFCA and working collaboratively in whatever capacity best serves
Alberta’s fire service leadership.

Thank you for your consideration and for participating in the election.

Respectfully,

Trevor Brice
Fire Chief & Director of Emergency Management
Town of Okotoks

AFCA 1st Vice President Nominee Chief David Mohl

by | Mar 12, 2026 | Uncategorized

I began my volunteer firefighting career in 1990 with the Hanna Fire Department. After serving as a Lieutenant and Deputy Chief for 8 years I took on the role of volunteer Fire Chief in 2004. I currently serve as Fire Chief, Director of Emergency

Management, and Development Officer for the Town of Hanna. I have been a member of the AFCA for 22 years and have been a Board member for over 6 years. During this time I have served in numerous positions on the Board including as the Director for Region 6 for 4.5 years, Acting 2 nd Vice President for part of 1 year and as the Rural Director at Large for the past 2 years. I am currently Co-Chairing the AFCA Conference and AFCA Government & Stakeholders Relations Committees. I was also appointed to the Provincial Governments newly created Provincial Fire Liaison Committee representing the South East under

15000 population of the Province. Having served my entire career in the Hanna Fire Department that also protects a large rural area in Albertas Special Areas has given me a very good perspective of the fire service in small urban and rural areas. My time spent as Director of Region 6 that includes the City of Calgary and many other large urban departments surrounding the Calgary area allowed me to foster a very good understanding of the unique issues that these departments are facing. I feel that I can represent the entire fire service in Alberta and that I have something to offer as the 1st Vice President of the AFCA.

My hobbies are hunting, snowmobiling and off-road riding my side by side. As many of you know I have a passion for politics and have been involved in several provincial and federal political parties over the years. Recently Kris & I have sold

our trucking companies and are considering ourselves to be semi-retired. This newfound free time is going to allow me to dedicate more of my time to AFCA which one of the reasons that I have decided to run for a position on the executive. 

Please vote David Mohl for 1 st Vice President.

Second Call For Nominations for AFCA President

by | Mar 10, 2026 | Announcements, General News

AFCA Members,

Today marks the second call for nominations for the position of AFCA President.

As communicated yesterday during the first call for nominations, one nomination was received. Drayton Bussiere was nominated by Marcel Maure and seconded by Brad Milton, and Drayton has confirmed his acceptance of the nomination.

In accordance with the election process, nominations remain open and any additional nominations may be submitted to the Executive Director by email to [email protected]

Nominations must include the name of the nominator and seconder, and the nominee must provide written confirmation accepting the nomination along with a brief biography and statement to be shared with the membership.

Further updates will be provided to the membership as the nomination process progresses.

Thank you for your continued participation in the AFCA election process.

Call for Nominations for President

by | Mar 9, 2026 | Announcements, General News

Dear AFCA Members,

Today marks the first call for nominations for President.

In accordance with the AFCA Bylaws, the Association will begin the electronic election process for the position of President. The President serves a two-year term and plays a key leadership role in guiding the direction and governance of the Association.

Nomination Process

Nominations must be submitted by email to the Executive Director.

The nomination email must include:

  • The name of the nominee
  • The nominator, copied on the email
  • If applicable, the seconder, also copied on the email

Once a nomination is received, the nominee must submit a follow-up email confirming that they accept the nomination. This email should also include a brief communication that can be shared with members, including:

  • A short biography
  • A brief statement outlining what they would bring to the Association in the role of President (experience on the Board, professional development, leadership experience, etc.)

Eligibility

To be eligible to run for President:

  • The nominee must have served a minimum of two years on the AFCA Board at any point in time.
  • Regional Directors or Alternate Regional Directors are not eligible to stand for election as President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, or Secretary-Treasurer while holding that office. However, they may take a leave from their Director position in order to run for election as an Officer.
  • If successful in the election, the individual must resign as Regional Director. If unsuccessful, they may resume their Director role.

Election Timeline

The election process will follow the sequential officer election requirements outlined in the Bylaws.

  • First Call for Nominations (President): Monday, March 9
  • Nomination Period: Three calls for nominations (1st call March 9th, 2nd call March 10th, 3rd call March 11) each 24 hours apart
  • Voting Window (if required): 5 days following confirmation of nominees
  • Voting will be conducted electronically using SurveyMonkey, with settings enabled to ensure a secret ballot in accordance with the AFCA Bylaws.
  • Results will be verified by three Life Member Scrutineers overseeing the election process.

Role of the President

The President is responsible for the leadership and overall direction of the Association. Responsibilities include:

  1. Presiding at all business meetings of the Association;
  2. Supervising and directing the affairs of the Association;
  3. Acting as a signing authority and approving expenditures of the Association;
  4. Appointing members to Standing and Ad Hoc committees;
  5. Representing and acting as spokesperson for the Association to outside agencies and interests;
  6. Performing other duties assigned by the Board from time to time; and
  7. Carrying out responsibilities outlined in the AFCA Bylaws.

Members interested in submitting a nomination are encouraged to do so within the nomination window. Further details regarding voting will be circulated should an election be required.

Sincerely,
Lisa MacLean