News Release
Whistler, BC (May 27, 2025) – The Town of Salisbury, NB has received national recognition from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) for its Net-Zero Ready Salisbury Fire Rescue Station. The municipality was presented with the 2026 CAMA Environmental Leadership & Sustainability Award, in the Under 20,000 Population Category, during an awards ceremony held at CAMA’s national conference in Whistler, BC.
“CAMA is pleased to recognize Salisbury for the municipal excellence demonstrated by their new fire rescue station,” said Brenda Orchard, CAMA President, CAMA Representative for Ontario, and Chief Administrative Officer for Lennox and Addington County, ON. “The project demonstrates that even small municipalities can successfully deliver complex, sustainability focused capital projects when supported by strong governance, clear communication, and evidence-based decision making.”
“This Facility ensures that our Town, our volunteer members, and our residents are served by space, equipment, and gear that reflects the needs of a modern firefighting service, even in a rural community that is dependent on volunteers” said Robert Campbell, Mayor of the Town of Salisbury. “The Salisbury Fire Rescue Station shows that these critical municipal operations can be advanced while also meeting ambitious environmental targets, beautifying the Town’s Main Street, and showcasing both environmental and financial sustainability.”
The Town opened the new station in 2025. It is a net-zero ready facility that addresses the current and future fire and rescue needs for the town, while reducing Salisbury’s environmental impact. The approximately 15,000 square foot facility replaces the out-dated / under-sized original home of SFR built in the 1970’s. It is an environmentally sustainable building that beautifies the Town’s Main Street and serves a critical function for Salisbury residents.
The Station utilizes renewable energy, collects and stores water for fire suppression, providing ten times more on-site water than at the current building and specific construction methods, including ICF and a geothermal system, to reduce energy consumption by over 40% compared to standard building construction, reducing energy costs by 56%.
As the Town grows, so does call volume. With a 16% annual increase in calls in 2025, the operational effectiveness and safety of the Town’s volunteers was also top-of-mind. The building, designed and constructed to serve as the home of SFR for the next 75 years, will also support a ground-mounted solar array being installed in Spring 2026. This is expected to power nearly 80% of the building.
It also has a flex-office, permitting those who can work remotely from the SFR to provide additional daytime coverage, when nearly 40% of calls occur. The project demonstrates a forward-thinking Town that, despite its size, recognizes the importance of setting an example in both volunteer department operations and environmental innovation.
“The Awards committee was amazed by the ingenuity being demonstrated by communities from across the country when it comes to programs, projects and services being offered at the local level,” said Tracy Thomas, Awards Chair and CAMA Board Representative for NWT, YT and Nunavut. “Congratulations to the winners and all those who took the time to enter a submission.”
A total of 41 submissions were received for this year’s awards program. To find out more about each award, and to see a video outlining each project, visit www.camacam.ca/awards and look for the award recipients’ link.
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Media Contacts:
- CAMA: Wayne Knorr, APR, FCPRS, CAMA Communications, 506-474-3389, wayneknorr61@gmail.com
- Salisbury, NB: Austin Henderson, Chief Administrative Officer, 506-372-3230, austinhenderson@salisburynb.ca
About CAMA’S Environmental Leadership and Sustainability Award
The Environmental Leadership and Sustainability Award recognizes the dedication to environmental and sustainability excellence in projects that meet the needs of the present without compromising the future. This may include stand-out projects or initiatives or apply to the improvement of corporate processes that demonstrate real benefits to the environment. Sustainability may refer to both environmental considerations and wider sustainability impacts on people, resources, and communities.
About CAMA
The Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) is a national, non-profit association open to all Chief Administrative Officers / City Managers and any person employed in a senior management position that reports directly to a CAO. With a membership of over 900 senior municipal employees from all parts of Canada, CAMA collectively represents more than 85% of the nation’s population. www.camacam.ca
About Salisbury
The Town of Salisbury is a Municipality of approximately 8,000 people in Southeastern New Brunswick. Spanning over 330 square kilometre, the Town borders the City of Moncton, Town of Riverview, and Community of Three Rivers, having been formed in 2023 through the Government of New Brunswick’s Local Governance Reform Process. The Salisbury Fire Rescue Department is the Town’s volunteer Fire Service, comprised of 30 members who dedicate thousands of hours of training and call response, including along one of the busiest TransCanada Highway intersection stretches in the Province of New Brunswick.
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Wayne Knorr, APR, FCPRS, MCPRS
CAMA Communications
wayne.knorr61@gmail.com
506-474-3389