by Scott Hayes
Victor Fernandez has made a positive influence on the work and lives of thousands of people through his charity, Canadian Aid for Fire Services Abroad (CAFSA). Now, he has been officially recognized as a person of great influence by the federal government and two major ethnic organizations.
The Hispanic Canadian Congress and the Canadian Hispanic Business Alliance presented Fernandez with an award as part of its ninth annual 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadians program.
“These awards motivate our growing community to achieve greatness despite individual difficulties,” explained Mauricio Ospina, director of the Canadian Hispanic Business Alliance.
“This program helps recognizes that with hard work, dedication and study, one can achieve great things in life. The awards also serve to highlight our achievements at the mainstream level not only locally but also internationally – and in different fields.”
Fernandez is the Chilean-born firefighter who created CAFSA as a way of taking decommissioned firefighting equipment in Canada and getting it into the hands of firefighters in other countries that otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it.
In the 16 years of this large-scale humanitarian operation, he has sent countless helmets, boots, hoses, radio and other electronic gear, and even a dozen or so fire trucks. The value of all these goods is several million dollars and so many lives that the gifts are priceless.
Fernandez also travels to the recipients’ countries and offers training where needed. He said that he feels extremely proud and humble to be recognized by his peers from across the country.
“They even call me a hero!” he exclaimed, adding how important it is to spread his message of philanthropy, especially for the benefit of emergency responders around the world.
It’s a great pat on the back, he said.
“It's always welcome; it gives you more energy to continue… and reassure you that you are doing something right for Canada and the world.”
For his tireless efforts, he has been given keys to the cities of San Pablo, Guatemala and Azogues, Ecuador. Ecuador's fire department also awarded him with the Cross of Fire, the first time that honour was given to a non-Ecuadorian. There have been numerous other accolades bestowed upon him by community organizations around the world and in Canada from civic to provincial to federal levels of government.
Here, he was recently named one of two co-winners of the Community Information and Volunteer Centre’s Citizen of the Year. He has also been a member of the United Nations Fire Rescue Development Program for almost a decade. He also spent 33 years as a member of the St. Albert Fire Department.
The awards were presented by Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Coteau along with former Ontario premier and current chair of the Pan-Am Games David Peterson on July 15 as part of the international games in Toronto. Ospina accepted the award on Fernandez’s behalf as he was unable to attend the ceremony.
Joining Fernandez as co-winners of this year’s awards were mathematician Dr. Alejandro Adem, journalists Isabel Inclan and Jennifer Ditchburn, artist and singer Laura Fernandez (no relation), entrepreneur Javier Aizersztein and author Dr. Martha Batiz, among others.
