After 32-plus years in the fire service, Thunder Bay Fire Chief Greg Hankkio is saying goodbye to public service.
City staff unveiled the news during Monday night’s city council meeting, with Hankkio confirming that his last day on the job will be Jan. 31, 2024.
Hankkio indicated that there wasn’t just one moment when he decided it was time to go, adding that there is never really a suitable time to make the choice.
“It's been a wonderful career, I have enjoyed serving [the] citizens of Thunder Bay and working with an amazing group of people, not only within the fire service but within the [municipal government],” Hankkio said in an interview on Tuesday.
Hankkio served as acting chief of Thunder Bay Fire Rescue starting in October 2019, succeeding John Hay. He was appointed permanently to the role in November 2020.
Hankkio started his career as a firefighter in 1991, and was appointed deputy fire chief in 2007 when he was in his late thirties.
“Moving from a firefighter to the deputy fire chief was a steep learning curve, and I really relied on a lot of the people that I worked with that were quite frankly senior to me at the time," Hankkio noted. "[I] leaned on them for a lot of advice and guidance, [I also talked to] my supervisors as well outside of the fire service. I could name so many different names of people that have supported me over the course of my career [but there are] too many to mention.
"It's just a matter of reaching out to people and looking for advice and guidance and they were always willing to give it. So, I appreciate all the support I've received over the years."
Hankkio is looking forward to spending more time with his family and catching up on hobbies outside of his profession.
The next fire chief will be selected through a hiring process led by the city’s GM of infrastructure and operations Kerri Marshall.