Bet you didn’t see this coming, did you? Well, the truth is, neither did I.
That said, it’s true. As of today, I’m officially stepping back into the role of Winnipeg FIR Chief (ZWG1).
To give you the short story, I was approached by VATCAN’s leadership and asked whether I felt Winnipeg could use my help after a period of stagnation. Training has slowed down, controlling has fallen off as of late, and, well, I’ve got a bit of a track record for helping reverse that. So, I said yes, with one condition: my goal would not just be to help Winnipeg get back on its feet, but to mentor the FIR’s staff and help prepare them to lead when things are more stable. I’m not trying to be a lifetime Chief. So, me taking this role on is not intended to be a long-term return. Right now, the plan is for me to be here for a few months while we work on getting things back in order, rebuilding activity, and putting the FIR back on stronger footing.
So, now that I’m “here,” let’s chat.
A lot has happened in the years since I last served as Chief. We’ve had plenty of new staff, decisions that sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t, and a number of areas that now need attention. There is no point pretending Winnipeg isn’t in dire need of a reset.
What matters is actually doing it.
Now, for those of you who somehow don’t know me, hi! I’m Nate. VATCAN’s Communications and Events director, but more importantly, a longtime Winnipeg FIR man. From a student years ago to a Chief Instructor and former Chief, I know this place. More importantly, I know what I’m getting myself back into. There is a lot of work ahead, but the Winnipeg FIR has great people, and so much potential. I see it, and I know you do too. We just need to get the momentum going again.
I want to thank the FIR Chiefs that have held the seat since I last did, Dylan and Kathryn – who both now can say they’ve been in charge of Canada’s best FIR. They also both know how much work it takes behind the scenes to keep it that way.
So, with that in mind, for the next little while, I’m back in the hot seat.
Let’s get to work.
