Major Rick Shirran

Director of Emergency Disaster Services

Areas of Expertise
National and International Disaster Response
Qualified trainer for The Salvation Army national disaster program
Communications - SATERN – Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network
Qualified provider of emotional and spiritual care as it relates to disasters

Bio and Experience
Since July 2007 Major Rick Shirran has been the Territorial Emergency Disaster Services Director for The Salvation Army in Canada and Bermuda.

Before entering Toronto’s Salvation Army College for Officer Training in 1981, Major Shirran served 12 years in the Canadian navy, first as radio operator and then as a communications technician. He served as crew on four different naval destroyers.

Following his graduation from officer training in 1983, and for 24 years, Major Shirran was pastor of various Salvation Army congregations. During this time his passion for emergency disaster relief led him to expand his knowledge of emergency response.

He is a qualified trainer for The Salvation Army national disaster training program. He has completed credit courses with the international critical incident stress foundation, William and Catherine Booth College and has completed the provincial emergency management course from Manitoba.

Major Shirran is currently a member of several emergency disaster services committees and working groups within The Salvation Army, Public Health Agency of Canada, Public Safety Canada, Canadian Council of Churches and Canadian Police Research Centre.

Authority on Homelessness
17-year veteran of working with the homeless community in Canada

Authority and regular speaker and writer on issues of poverty, homelessness and addiction

Featured in The Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Star and in the National Film Board documentary, Salvation

Today’s issues
“Salvation Army response teams are highly trained and well-organized to work alongside first responders, municipal authorities and other NGOs in providing services not only to the responders, but to the community at large affected by the event.”

Proponent of community capacity development – a hand up not a hand out
“I’ve learned the hard way over time that if all we ever ask someone is ‘What do you need?’ that person will think of themselves as needy. This often creates an attitude of entitlement and codependence, which is ultimately a deep form of oppression and injustice. When we ask, ‘What can you give?’ the person begins to remember they have value and have the capacity to contribute to society.”

Other significant roles
Major Shirran has been involved in many disasters over the years. He played a significant role in the following:

June 1998 - Incident Commander when a tornado touched down in Norwich, Ontario
Sept 2001- Red Zone Co-ordinator at Ground Zero
Sept 2003 – Member of an emergency response team stationed in Bermuda following Hurricane Fabian
June 2005 - The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda’s crisis support team representative to flooding in Calgary and Drumheller, AB
Summer 2008 – Organized the Canadian Salvation Army response to Hurricanes Gustov and Ike

Why is The Salvation Army involved in emergency disaster services?
“Emergency disaster services are part of The Salvation Army’s mandate and ministry. The Salvation Army’s unique, international, quasi-military structure enables us to move quickly into action. Like no other civilian body, we can mobilise officer-personnel, resources, volunteers and financial support from the public at large, and bring them to where the need is.

Major Rick Shirran is available for media interviews, speaking engagements and other appearances. To contact Major Rick Shirran, please call or email Andrew Burditt with The Salvation Army at (416) 422-6208 or Andrew_Burditt@can.salvationarmy.org.