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Canadian fire chiefs are on the move

Oct. 23, 2023, Canada – Several fire chiefs are on the move across the country.

In Ontario, Stratford appointed Neil Anderson as the new fire chief and director of emergency services. He served as the city’s deputy chief since March 2017 and acting chief since July. Anderson brings 30 years of experience in the Canadian Armed Forces, having served as fire chief at the base in Comox, B.C.

Brent Cain has been named the new Deputy Fire Chief in the County of Brant. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the fire service, having started his career in 1995 as a volunteer firefighter.

The City of Belleville has appointed Mark Shannon as its new deputy fire chief. He has been the acting deputy chief since August and has more than 30 years of fire fighting experience. Before joining Belleville Fire and Emergency Services as a career firefighter, Shannon was a volunteer firefighter in Tyendinaga Township. He was promoted to suppression captain in 2019.

Shane Watson has been appointed to fire chief in Huron-Kinloss. He brings 10 years of experience in the fire service as a volunteer firefighter. Watson has also been a fire prevention officer and community emergency management coordinator.

James Marshall is the new fire chief for Lambton Shores. He has extensive experience in emergency services, having served in multiple communities including Perth East and West Perth as a deputy station chief and fire prevention-investigation officer. He has also worked for fire services in London, Morris-Turnberry and Meaford.

The City of Oshawa has welcomed Mike Barlow as its new deputy fire chief. He began his career as a firefighter in 2007 and was promoted through the ranks. He most recently held the role of acting captain. Barlow won the Durham A.M. Kiwanis Firefighter of the Year award in 2018 for helping to organize and bring the Canadian FireFit Championships to Oshawa. He is expected to oversee the professional development and suppression divisions.

In the Northwest Territories, Brian Larman is the new fire chief of the Inuvik Fire Department. He spent 13 years with the department as a volunteer firefighter.

The Town of Diamond Valley in Alberta welcomed TJ Moore as its new fire chief. He has worked in emergency services for 18 years in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

In British Columbia, the City of Pitt Meadows Fire and Rescue Service will now be led by Stephan Drolet, who brings more than 20 years of experience to the role. He began his fire fighting career as a volunteer firefighter for the department. Drolet also has nearly 30 years of experience in municipal, provincial, and national policing.

Esquimalt has appointed Matt Furlot as its new fire chief. He has been with West Vancouver Fire Rescue since 2003 and served as that department’s assistant chief of professional development and training. Furlot is also an experienced training instructor in wildland fire fighting and urban interface structural protection, and he carries an executive chief fire officer designation from the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs.