Thursday May 2 - Presentation and Speaker Information

 

OFM Update 

Presentation summary coming soon.

Presenter: Jon Pegg, Ontario Fire Marshal

Jon Pegg joined the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management in July 2018 as Chief, Emergency Management and in February 2019 was appointed Ontario’s Fire Marshal.

Prior to working at the OFM, Jon worked for the Town of Innisfil, where he was Fire Chief and Community Emergency Management Coordinator. His career in fire services has spanned more than 26 years, starting as a volunteer firefighter in Keswick with the Georgina Fire Department. He later worked as a Fire Captain at Richmond Hill Fire Services, Fire Chief and Community Emergency Management Co-ordinator of the Town of Innisfil, and Deputy Fire Chief at Georgina Fire Services.

Jon has a degree in Leadership and Administration from Dalhousie University and a Masters in Municipal Leadership from Schulich School of Business, as well as leadership diplomas and certificates from Mohawk College and Seneca College. He is a recipient of the Excellence in Leadership and Health Safety Award from the Town of Innisfil, and in 2018 received a Fire Service Exemplary Service Award from the Province of Ontario.

 

Administrative Monetary Penalties 

This presentation will cover:

• Legislated requirements to implement a system of Non-Parking Administrative Penalties.  
• Appeals process including Screenings and Hearings.  
• Strengths and limitations of Non-Parking AMPS.
• The ticketing cycle.
• Resources required.

Presenter: Paul Chudoba, Manager of Bylaw Enforcement, City of St. Catharines

Paul Chudoba has performed various leadership roles in by-law enforcement services from small towns to larger municipalities in the Province of Ontario.  These include the City of Barrie, the City of Brampton, the Town of Fort Erie, and the City of St. Catharines.  Paul is currently part of the instructional team of the Municipal Law Enforcement Officers Association (MLEOA), and teaches various components of the Part I Foundations program.  In addition to a specialized BA Honours in Criminal Justice and Public Policy, Paul holds various designations in the municipal sector including Accredited Municipal Professional (AMP) and Diploma in Municipal Administration (Dipl. M.A.) from the AMCTO, and is a Certified Property Standards Officer with the Ontario Association of Property Standards Officers (OAPSO).  Paul acts as a resource for various municipalities on numerous municipal by-law enforcement matters such as obtaining and executing search warrants, emergency orders for property standards by-law matters, and implementing non-parking administrative monetary penalty systems. 

 

Keynote - Emerging issues in firefighter health and science

The fire service is enjoying a research renaissance with more than three quarters of the published research on health and wellness being done in just the past 15 years.  Foundational evidence focused on topics such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and mental health has been published in recent years further elucidating the biopsychosocial risks of the job. New areas of research are also evolving including topics such as the health of women firefighters, reproductive and child health outcomes for both men and women, and the role of equity and inclusion as health issues, and best practice approaches for managing these risks.  This presentation will provide an overview of the state of the science as well as next steps, future directions, and suggested actions for improving the health of firefighters.  

Presenter: Dr. Sara Jahnke

Dr. Sara Jahnke is the Director and a Senior Scientist with the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research within NDRI-USA, Inc. With over a decade of research experience on firefighters, she has been the Principal Investigator on several national studies as well as dozens of studies as a co-investigator.  Her work has focused on a range of health concerns including the health of women firefighters, behavioral health, risk of injury, cancer, cardiovascular risk factors, and substance use with funding from FEMA, the National Institutes of Health and other foundations. 

 

The Relationship Between Firefighting and Cancer: Current Challenges and Opportunities for Change 

We have become aware in recent years that firefighters have an alarmingly higher incidence of cancer than the public.  The elevated risk appears to be linked to repetitive exposure to toxic compounds encountered in many facets of the occupation.  From structural firefighting to wildland firefighting, to search and rescue, we are chronically exposed to compounds that are inhaled or absorbed through the skin.  Newer technology in our personal protective equipment is designed to keep us safe, but does it?  There are reports that bunker gear itself may contain chemicals that are unsafe.  With the materials in today’s structures, automobiles, etc., fires are burning hotter and faster, and we are exposed to unprecedented numbers and levels of dangerous chemicals.  While the current challenges are significant, there are many opportunities for improving the safety of our firefighters.  Teams from the fire service, occupational health and safety, PPE manufacturers, and many more are working together to characterize exposure risks and develop tools to limit the number of firefighters getting sick.  Bill c-224 brought forward by MP Sherry Romanado provides a framework for the prevention of cancer and the protection of firefighters.  This is a giant step forward in the fight against cancer in the fire service and will help develop essential interventions such as robust cancer screening and monitoring programs for firefighters. This presentation will outline what we know about routes of exposure to hazardous chemicals when conducting firefighting activities, what some of our current challenges are, and potential strategies to help keep our firefighters safer. 

Presenter: Fire Chief Jim Petrik, Guelph Eramosa Fire Department

Fire Chief Jim Petrik leads a translational cancer research program at the University of Guelph where he is the Tier I Canada Research Chair and a Fellow in the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. Jim has published more than 100 papers on the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of advanced stage cancers and have given more than 50 invited talks around the world.

Jim has also been in the volunteer fire service for the past 26 years and has held positions such as firefighter, captain, training officer, deputy fire chief and has been the Fire Chief for the Guelph Eramosa Fire Department for the past 5 years. Jim is a member of the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs Cancer Committee and the CAFC Science and Technology Committee.

 

OAFC Update and Business Meeting

The OAFC business meeting will include a robust OAFC update which will include a detailed government relations update and discussion, an update from the OAFC’s committees and working groups and discussions regarding member services and future OAFC events. In addition, there will be an update on the Candidate Testing Service, an update from the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs and an opportunity to vote on member resolutions.

Presenter: OAFC President Deputy Chief Rob Grimwood

Rob Grimwood is a Deputy Chief with the City of Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services where he oversees the Professional Development & Accreditation and Communications Divisions, along with serving as the Management Co-Chair for the Joint Health & Safety Committee.

Formerly Rob was the Deputy Chief of Training, Safety, & Special Operations for the City of Vaughan Fire & Rescue Service and the Fire Chief in the City of Dryden, Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Haldimand County. He has also served as a Firefighter with the City of Toronto.

He worked as a Paramedic for 20 years and spent nine years as the Paramedic Chief in Haldimand County.

He has been a member of the fire service for the past 27 years, the last 15 of which have been in various senior leadership positions. He is the President of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC), Management Co-chair of the Ontario Fire Services Section 21 Committee and an instructor for Dalhousie University’s Fire Service Management Program. 

 

 Don't forget to use #OAFC2024 when posting on social media.
The official hashtag of OAFC Conference and Trade Show!