Congratulations to Ryan Bezanson of Hilden, Nova Scotia, for being awarded our $1,500 Jim Hayter Memorial Scholarship this year. Metalfab presents this award annually in memory of the late Fire Chief and Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Association (CVFSA) charter member Jim Hayter, who was highly active in his community, not only through fire service but in additional roles, such as Deputy Mayor. We know Jim’s commitment to building community and his dedicated servant’s heart would be made proud by the community-oriented public servant we’ve selected to take the 2025 award home.
Ryan is a highly deserving candidate for this year’s scholarship. He has been a member of the Hilden Fire Brigade in Hilden, Nova Scotia, since January 2025. As a recent volunteer, Ryan demonstrates strong community involvement and meets Metalfab’s criteria for an active volunteer firefighter. Here are some key reasons why we at Metalfab have decided to support Ryan in his upcoming education.
Ryan’s biggest childhood dream was to be a firefighter. He grew up watching his father serve as captain at the Brookfield Fire Department, as well as his grandfather, who had served at the Rawdon Fire Department. He writes, “Having the opportunity to watch my dad run out the door to go save a stranger really opened my eyes [to] how important community involvement is.”
Ryan was involved in several extracurricular activities, including playing football with the Truro Minor Football Association (TMFA), which demonstrates his enthusiasm for being a committed community member. He began playing at the age of nine and has received numerous awards.
After starting high school, Ryan returned to TMFA to begin coaching. He wrote that “it was the very least I could do to give back to the program and make a lasting impact on kids who [were] standing where I once stood.”
Ryan was also part of his high school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Literature higher-level course, where his service project involved creating, planning, and organizing a youth football camp for children aged six and seven. He made a connection between the TMFA and his service project, hoping it would introduce kids to the sport and encourage them to participate in it.
Close to a year later, the president of the TMFA asked Ryan to return and run some football sessions for Colchester Multisport, a program for kids in primary grades one, two, and three. A new sport is introduced to the kids in the program every two weeks. Leading the football sessions for the Colchester Multisport program, Ryan said this endeavour aligned with his International Baccalaureate high school requirements, which aimed to motivate students to step outside their comfort zones.
Ryan wrote, “People who can make a positive impact wherever they go, even if it is just small things; over time, those actions can make a huge impact on the community and those around them.”
From a very young age, Ryan wanted to be a role model, whether as a player on the football team or a coach. Even in school, Ryan always wanted to be the best version of himself and aspired to be a reliable person that everyone could lean on when needed.
“Being involved within the community has always been a part of who I am and always will stick with me for the rest of my life, purely because of the people I have met, along with all the memories I [have] made and continue to make.”
What’s Next For Ryan?
Ryan will be starting his university career in September 2025 at the University of New Brunswick’s Fredericton campus. He will be studying for his bachelor of science in forestry, while he plans to continue playing football and learning about wildfire prevention and wildlife conservation. Growing up, he spent a lot of time outside camping and playing sports, so now he wants to turn his outdoor passion into a career.
“I felt like I fulfilled my goal to an extent when I joined the fire service because, to me, being a firefighter embodies all the qualities I have just mentioned, as well as courage, comradery, and resilience. That being said, as much as I would like to think that my goals have been met, I will always keep pushing myself to consistently better myself,” Ryan wrote.
Here at Metalfab, we’re grateful we have the opportunity to support Ryan’s academic journey, and we wish him the best of luck throughout his future endeavours.
As an active member of the community, Metalfab continually seeks new ways to get involved. Creating the Jim Hayter Memorial Scholarship was one way to give back while recognizing the passionate years of service and friendship that Jim Hayter gave to so many in the fire service.
