Police and Fire Games board member resigns as more athletes invited
Thousands of first responders are expected to be in Winnipeg next year for an Olympic-style event, the 2023 World Police and Fire Games.
Now the police officers and firefighters attending will have more competition. The games organization announced Thursday more athletes will be invited to take part, including volunteer firefighters, 911 dispatchers, and lifeguards.
Games COO Mike Edwards says this is being done to be more inclusive and diverse.
“We as the hosts here in Winnipeg are going to get the benefit of having those participants in the games for the first time ever and we couldn't be happier," said Edwards.
Paramedics are also now on the participants’ list.
On the same day the games made this official publicly, one of its high-profile board members who pushed to get the competition for Winnipeg stepped down. Alex Forrest, the former long-time president of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, posted a message on Facebook.
“Brother, sister police and firefighters - sadly, I have to announce that I have resigned my board position from the Winnipeg World Police & Fire Games 2023 Winnipeg,” writes Forrest.
He then appears to caution those thinking of entering the event.
“Before you decide to attend or send a team, direct message me,” writes Forrest.
Forrest declined an interview request by CTV News
He has been at odds with the paramedics’ union in the past, and is a staunch defender of firefighters.
Edwards says he doesn't know why Forrest pulled out.
"I'm not sure, I don't want to speak on Mr. Forrest's behalf, it's not any information that was communicated to us," said Edwards.
Edwards doesn't believe Forrest's Facebook post will cause participants to shy away.
"We don't,” said Edwards. “These games are about bringing people together, about diversity and inclusion."
The games are set to run July 28 to August 6, 2023.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.