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PHOTO BY SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Alex Forrest poses with Govenor General David Johnston and Prime Minister Stephen Harper
after receiving the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal
in Sweden and Finland and, on separate occasions,
to the European Union. Next, Australia extended
an invitation to speak.” Forrest adds, “These
countries are all now moving forward based on
the Manitoba model.”
A recent unscripted event occurred in April 2012
when Forrest, accompanied by his nine-year-old
son, flew to Ottawa’s Rideau Hall to receive one of 60
Queen’s Jubilee medals presented by the Governor
General and the Prime Minister.
But it is in the local arena that Alex engages daily
with City Hall and the Province of Manitoba. Asked to
define his idea of a healthy, productive relationship
between union and government, Forrest says, “It’s
a matter of respect. We all have people we have to
answer to. I have to answer to the firefighters. I have to
do what I can to ensure that firefighters are safe. You
have to be able to stand and say I believe in this, and
I think that resonates in any relationship you have.”
Mayor Katz’s respect is evident.
“Alex is passionate about ensuring
firefighters are represented fairly. I
believe his experience as a lawyer
has been invaluable on issues such as
presumptive disability law, ensuring
that firefighters with a disease or
condition that has been shown to be
a hazard in fire fighting receive proper
compensation and recognition.”
UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA, FACULTY OF LAW robsonhall.ca 104