A well-known Williams Lake resident has received high honours from B.C.’s Attorney General.
Safer communities co-ordinator Dave Dickson was presented with the 2013 Emergency Social Services Volunteer of the Year by Attorney General and Minister of Justice Suzanne Anton last week.
Insp. Warren Brown of the Williams Lake RCMP detachment says the award is another significant accomplishment for Dickson.
“His work ethic and commitment to the community is second to none,” Brown said Tuesday.
“He truly makes our community and our organization a better place.”
Speaking at the presentation in Victoria, Carol McClintock, Emergency Management BC’s Acting Executive Director of Mitigation, said Dickson first volunteered with Emergency Social Services in Williams Lake in 2002.
“Dave quickly became a valued member of the team, playing an instrumental role in rebuilding it into a strong presence in the Cariboo Region,” McClintock said.
“Dave’s skills were put to the test in the summer of 2004 when he took on the role of Reception Centre Manager during the Lonesome Lake fire evacuations.
“Having spent a career with the RCMP, he easily demonstrated the strong leadership and interpersonal skills required of the function.”
Fellow volunteers are quick to point out Dickson’s attributes including his availability to volunteer despite full time work commitments.
Although he was required to travel extensively throughout the province and work very long hours, he was always only a phone call away and it was not uncommon for him to drive 11 hours to return home to fulfill his volunteer ESS role — and he would often choose the least desirable shift so that others could get the rest they needed.
Dickson joined the North Mobile Support Team in 2005, eventually becoming its director in 2007.
As Mobile Support Team director, he led a response to the Tumbler Ridge interface fire evacuation to Chetwynd where he was instrumental in ensuring the evacuees’ needs were met.
“Dave’s work in support of his community extends beyond his commitment to Emergency Social Services,” McClintock said.
He has volunteered with Canadian Red Cross, served as chair and co-chair of Williams Lake Community Policing for 13 years, is past president of Williams Lake Rotary and spent time as the Transportation Committee Chair for the 2001-2002 BC Winter Games.
With files from Emergency Management BC