CSN Is Honored To Receive A Challenge Coin

Community Safety Net has received our share of awards, including a Summit International Award for creative excellence and a Mom’s Choice award, but today we’d like to thank Fire Chief and President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Ken Stuebing for a very personal and very prestigious honour:

Chief Stuebing has given our N

ational Director Corey Desjarlais a copy of his personal Challenge Coin.

But what does this signify?

What is a Challenge Coin anyway?

 

A challenge coin is a way for Fire Fighters and Chiefs to honour each other’s achievements.

A tradition that report

edly dates back to World War 1 when a wealthy aviation officer had bronze medallions made with the flying squadron’s insignia engraved on them.

The officer handed them out to his aircrew and some time later, one of the aviators was shot down over Germany and captured.

The aviator escaped to France,

but the French believed he was a spy and sentenced him to execution.

It is said that he proved his identity by using the medallion and was saved from execution and sent back to his unit.

It’s said that the “challenge” part came from soldiers drinking at a bar when one would slam his coin on the table and anyone who didn’t have theirs on them would end up buying drinks.

Following this, a tradition of creating a challenge coin was developed with military personnel in active combat but has spread to other fraternal organizations such as emergency services as many military folks became fire fighters or police officers after their service.

One side of the coin features the IAFC logo to honour his appointment as president. The first Canadian president since 1983 and one of only 9 Canadian presidents since their founding in 1873. It also features the names of Chief Stuebing’s family – his wife Pamela and his sons Justin and Brandon.

 

It’s common practice to award several copies of the coin, that way the receiver can share his honour with those he deems worthy. Most (including this one) have the values of the individual and/or the organization engraved on them.

In this case, the values of the Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency and the values of its leader, Chief Ken Stuebing are one and the same, engraved on the opposite side of the coin.

By giving a copy of his coin to us, he is stating that Corey and CSN uphold and live those values – Safety, Pride, Integrity, Respect, Innovation and Teamwork – S.P.I.R.I.T.

This is high praise from a man who we know walks the walk, we are honoured beyond words and will continue to do everything we can to uphold these values.