10/18/2026
This week we honour Tom Littlechild, who is marking more than four decades in fire and rescue service. Over that time, Tom has protected communities, trained the next generation of firefighters, and spent his career working to make fire services stronger and fairer for First Nations across the country.
Tom's leadership roles have included serving as Fire Chief for the fire department in Maskwacis, and as Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Services with Siksika Health Services, where he has been for the last 25 years. During this time, Tom also served as the First Nation Liaison Officer with Alberta's Office of the Fire Commissioner.
Tom is one of only a few First Nation Safety Codes Officers in the fire discipline to hold the highest level of accreditation available. He has also led within the wider fire community, serving as President of both the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada, and the Alberta chapter of the Fire Investigation Association. In 2014, Tom was awarded the prestigious Governor General’s Medal for Fire Services Exemplary Service.
Some of Tom's proudest work can be seen in the people he has mentored. Former students and casual firefighters from Siksika have gone on to serve as firefighters, officers, inspectors, and investigators across Alberta, including one who became Fire Chief of Medicine Hat. Tom has served on many provincial and federal boards, speaking up for better fire services and funding so First Nations can build their own emergency response capacity.
For more than 40 years, Tom has answered the call, for his community and for countless others. We thank him for his dedication, his leadership, and the example he sets for everyone who follows in his footsteps. Tom is pictured here with Fire Commissioner, Phil Rowe, who presented Tom with his 40-year gold bar earlier this week.
Siksika, please join us in congratulating Tom on this incredible achievement!
