More than 65 representatives from volunteer fire departments across Canada met Aug. 14-15 for the first meeting of the newly created Canadian Volunteer Fire Service Association.

"This is something to give the rank and file firefighter in this country a voice," said Mike Walsh, president of the Volunteer Firefighters Association of British Columbia and catalyst behind the new association, which hopes to represent the more than 80% of Canada's firefighters who are volunteers.

Membership and fund-raising will be the short-term concerns to provide the cvfsa with the financial and political clout to push for changes to emergency services and training across Canada. The increasing workload and expectations placed on today's volunteer firefighters to meet training standards and government regulations have created the need for national recognition and lobbying power, according to the cvfsa.

The group's next meeting is set for the August 2000 Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs convention in Montreal. For more information, contact Mike Walsh at 604-886-7319, fax: 604-886-7312 or .