Canadian Security announces 2022 Community Leader Award winner

Canadian Security is pleased to announce the winner of this year’s Community Leader Award, Keith (Melo) Melo, emergency management program coordinator at George Brown College.

For almost 17 years, Melo has been the academic program coordinator/professor at the School of Emergency Management at George Brown College in Toronto. With just over 11 years of experience at Seneca College, he also facilitates three different programs where he inspires his learners to reach for the stars.

He holds a Master’s degree in Disaster and Emergency Management and a Law & Security Administration diploma. He has completed his designation with Emergency Management Ontario as a community emergency management coordinator,  is a provincial instructor and is certified as a professional in critical infrastructure protection.

Melo has been recognized and awarded the Gwen M. Boniface Award by the Commissionaire of the Ontario Provincial Police. York University has also awarded him the Ambassador Award in Disaster and Emergency Management. He has served as the vice-president of the Ontario Volunteer Emergency Response Team, which responds to local and international disasters.

He currently sits on a number of advisory committees that include the Toronto Port Authority – Toronto Marine Emergency Response where he executes training and exercises, Emergency Management Ontario where he provides input on current provincial courses in Ontario and he sits on Public Safety Canada – Emergency Management Branch as an advisor.

He was recognized by the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety Canada for his contribution to national security. Melo is currently the manager of security and life safety at Cadillac Fairview and is one of the co-authors of Introduction to Emergency Management in Canada.

About Canadian Security Honours:

Canadian Security first launched its awards program honouring lifetime achievers, community leaders and emerging professionals in 2018 to help celebrate the magazine’s 40th anniversary. The program, known today as Canadian Security Honours, is now an ongoing recognition program under the Canadian Security umbrella. Canadian Security will host a virtual awards program on Oct. 6 to acknowledge this year’s winners as well as the 2022 Security Director of the Year, our longest-running award program (16 years and counting), which recognizes senior security leaders across Canada. For more information on how you can attend CS Honours on Oct. 6, please visit www.canadiansecuritymag.com/virtual-events.