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Roundup: Fire chiefs on the move

Fire chiefs across Canada have been moving into new roles.

In Ontario, The City of Oshawa and Oshawa Fire Services appointed Stephen Barkwell as the city’s new fire chief. Barkwell began his career as a firefighter with Oshawa Fire Services in 1999 and was promoted through the ranks. He was recently the city’s deputy fire chief, overseeing community risk and reduction, and professional development.

Fire Chief Stephen Barkwell. Photo credit: City of Oshawa

Barkwell has more than 20 years of experience, including emergency work and training for several firefighting disciplines. He also has extensive experience at the provincial level with legislation, health and safety, human rights and labour relations. Barkwell replaced retired Fire Chief Derrick Clark.

Also in Ontario, the City of Guelph has welcomed Brian Arnold as its new fire chief and general manager of Guelph Fire Services. Arnold began his career in 1993 as a firefighter in Toronto and has since honed his leadership skills with roles in London, Woodstock, Sarnia, and most recently serving as fire chief with the Cambridge Fire Department. He has more than 30 years of experience and is an active board member of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.

Over in British Columbia, the Penticton Fire Department has chosen Mike Larsson to be its new fire chief. Larsson joined the Pitt Meadows Fire Department as a volunteer in 2003, then moved into a full-time firefighter role in 2010. He became that department’s fire chief in 2018 and saw the expansion of the department that allows for 24/7 response coverage. Larsson has more than 20 years of experience and will begin his new role in Penticton in September.

Back in Ontario at the deputy level, the City of Belleville has appointed Jim Young as the city’s new deputy fire chief. Young has more than 30 years of experience, having served as a volunteer firefighter, career firefighter, captain and most recently as a chief training officer. He has also been an instructor at the Ontario Fire College since 2005 and has provided firefighter skills training to a vast majority of Belleville’s firefighters at the local Regional Training Centre. Deputy Chief Young will oversee fire prevention, strategic projects and take on a lead role in transitioning Belleville out of the fire dispatch business over the coming year.