Canadian IAFF Members Keep Olympians Safe

From Left: Guelph, ON Local 467 member Brandon Tavares, Hamilton, ON Local 288 member Rick Fuller, Halifax, NS Local 268 member Paul Edwards, Hamilton, ON Local 288 member Mike Gould, and New Westminster, BC Local 256 member Robert MacDonald.

March 8, 2010 – As the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games were taking place in Vancouver, Canada, several IAFF members were among those providing protection for the athletes and spectators. The effort, dubbed Operation PODIUM, was led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

Guelph, ON Local 467 fire fighter Brandon Tavares, Hamilton, ON Local 288 fire fighters Rick Fuller and Mike Gould, Halifax, NS Local 268 fire fighter Paul Edwards and Westminster, BC Local 256 fire fighter Robert MacDonald are also members of the Canadian Naval Reserve. Their positions within the reserve made them eligible to participate in the operation.

Their duties largely consisted of providing maritime surveillance, port security and diver operations. “There was a lot of preparation and effort that went into this operation,” says Edwards. “I don’t think any of us would have traded this experience.”