An Owen Sound school teacher has received the Safety Award from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council.
Linda Breen has taught within the Bluewater District School Board for about 23 years, and is currently at Bayview Public School.
She says the Fire Safety Award came as a big surprise to her, as she didn’t even know she’d been nominated until she won it.
Owen Sound Fire Prevention Inspector Greg Nicol nominated Breen for her efforts to teach fire safety to her elementary students.
Breen’s students and classes consistently win prizes from the Fire Department for being engaged in fire safety activities and initiatives.
Breen says it’s an important issue for her, because a number of years ago, she lost a Grade 4 student to a house fire.
She says his family did not have working smoke alarms upstairs, and the windows had been painted shut.
This is why Breen says she makes sure to discuss fire safety with her class each year, and get them to go home and make a safe escape plan with their parents.
Breen received the award last Wednesday at a ceremony in Toronto.
