Issue link: http://tourismwpg.uberflip.com/i/848305
B U S I N E S S P L A N • 2 5 CO - CHAIR S B IO C H A D S WAY Z E Senior Fire Fighter, Winnipeg Fire Department Executive Board Member, United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg Chad Swayze grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba and worked for the Canadian Military from 1999 to 2001. In 2001, Chad attended the Manitoba Emergency Services College in Brandon, Manitoba to train as a Firefighter and Paramedic. His career as a Firefighter/Paramedic started with the Brandon Fire Department. In 2004, Chad decided to join the Winnipeg Fire Department, now into his 14th year as a firefighter, he holds the rank of Senior Fire Fighter. Chad was elected as an executive board member of United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg (UFFW) in 2009 where he represents the 1,500 active and retired members of the union. He has just completed a five year term as Chair of the Workplace Safety & Health Committee representing UFFW. Chad is also Chair of the UFFW Charities Committee where his work raises over $200,000 annually. Furthermore, Chad sits on the board of the Never Alone Foundation, ensuring that people going through cancer treatments "never feel alone". Chad is a Muscular Dystrophy Fire Fighter Advisor for Western Canada, where he helped raise over $600,000 locally. In addition to that, Chad is treasurer of the Robin Hood Pole Archery Club in Winnipeg, as well as the Manitoba Pole Archery Association. His love for archery is what got Chad involved with the World Police & Fire Games. Chad has competed in every WPFG since 2007 and won silver in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Fairfax, Virginia. GORD FRIESEN Inspector, Winnipeg Police Service Community Support Division Gord Friesen began his law enforcement career with the Winnipeg Police Service in 1982 and has since that time experienced positions throughout the organization in operations, investigations and administration. He is currently the Commander of the Community Support Division. Gord, a former university volleyball athlete with the University of Winnipeg created a police volleyball team in 1983 with several other officers and enjoyed playing exhibition matches against high school teams throughout Winnipeg. The team was looking for additional challenges and began participating in the North West Police and Fire Games in 1985 and the WPFG in 1987 in both the team and two-person events. He has competed in a total of five WPFG competitions to date. Gord has said "I love the feeling of camaraderie and people you meet participating in the games, where else are you going to find a police officer from Winnipeg hanging out with firefighters from Hawaii and Los Angeles and federal police officers from Holland." Gord continues to stay active as a part-time fitness instructor and avid cyclist, he has recently started competing in endurance cycling events.