2026 AGM Agenda

2026 AGM Agenda

2026 AGM Agenda

 

Tuesday, November 17, 2026 - Health & Safety Day

Time

Presentation

Presenter(s)

Location

6:30am - 7:00pm

Registration

Mezzanine Foyer

7:00am - 8:00am

Health & Safety Day Breakfast

BRASA

8:00am - 8:15am

Opening Remarks

Great Falls Ballroom
8:15am - 9:15am Section 21 Committee Update:
The Ontario Fire Services Health & Safety Advisory (Section 21) Committee Co-chairs will provide an update on behalf of the Section 21 committee that will include information on guidance note status (including new and revised guidance notes), regulation changes, and government advocacy, WSIB data and enforcement.
This update will provide Chief Officers, Company Officers, Health & Safety Committee members and health & safety professionals with key information about fire service health and safety programs and initiatives and highlight areas of specific focus.

Rob Grimwood, Management Co-chair

Dan Worrall, Labour Co-chair

David Winter, Provincial Specialist – Industrial Health & Safety Program

 Great Falls Ballroom
9:15am - 10:30am The Science Behind the Gear: Implications for Fire Service Leaders What does current research tell us about firefighter protection, and what does it mean for fire service leaders? This presentation connects laboratory and field research to decisions about PPE selection, training, cleaning, and exposure reduction. Topics will include wildland respiratory protection, protection against vapors and particulates, lithium-ion battery fire contamination and cleaning, and PFAS exposure and gear performance trade-offs.

The presentation will explore what the evidence supports, where uncertainties remain, and how chiefs and deputy chiefs from departments of all sizes can use these findings to balance exposure reduction, protective performance, and operational demands.		 Dr. R. Bryan Ormond, Director | Milliken Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC)
Associate Professor | Textile Engineering, Chemistry & Science (TECS)
Wilson College of Textiles
NC State University
Raleigh, NC, USA		 Great Falls Ballroom

10:30am - 10:45am

Coffee Break

Great Falls Ballroom Foyer

10:45am - 12:15pm

MLITSD Update:  Ministry updates on enforcement and designated substances.

Katie Ward, Inspector and 
Amana Juric, Occupational Hygienist

Great Falls Ballroom

12:15pm - 1:30pm

Lunch

BRASA

1:30pm - 2:30pm

Fire Station Security - Ajax and Wellesley Fire:
The Fire Chiefs of the Town of Ajax and the Township of Wellesley will present on recent Fire Station security issues encountered and lessons learned.  This shall include shorts presentations, a panel discussion, and question and answer period for attendees.

Fire Chief Aaron Burridge, Town of Ajax

Fire Chief Paul Redman, Township of Wellesley

Great Falls Ballroom
2:30pm - 3:30pm Traffic Safety & Control:
Over the past couple of years there have been several occurrences of fire apparatus and firefighters being struck by vehicles while operating at roadway incidents. This session explores the risks of working around moving traffic and the legislation/standards that guide it, including Book 7 and Section 21 Guidance Notes.
The panel discussion will examine how four different fire departments, from four different areas of the province (GTA, Northern Ontario, Eastern 401 corridor and Niagara Region) and from four different department types (career, composite and volunteer) manage their traffic safety and control programs. Panelists will share information on their department's programs, including what training they provide, what their guidelines/procedures say, how they utilize Book 7, what equipment they utilize, and in general, what measures they take to reduce this risk.

Acting Fire Chief Bill Blake, Lincoln Fire Rescue Service

Fire Chief Rob Grimwood, Greater Sudbury Fire Services

Fire Chief Kent Readman, Loyalist Township Emergency Services

Fire Chief Andrew Zvanitajs
Vaughan Fire and Rescue Services 

 Great Falls Ballroom

3:30pm - 3:45pm

Coffee Break

Great Falls Ballroom Foyer3
3:45pm - 4:30pm Hearing Protection:  Beyond the Siren: A Fire Chief’s Guide to Building a Compliant Hearing Protection Program
Firefighters are routinely exposed to high-decibel environments—from apparatus sirens and pump operations to power tools and emergency response communications. Under Ontario’s Noise Regulation (O. Reg. 381/15) and Fire Service Guidance Note 4-10, fire departments are required to implement measures that protect personnel from hazardous sound levels.
Designed specifically for fire service leadership, this 30-minute session provides practical guidance for establishing a legally compliant and operationally effective hearing protection program. Attendees will review applicable noise standards, employer obligations, noise monitoring strategies, and how to apply the hierarchy of controls—from apparatus engineering to specialized Hearing Protection Devices (HPDs) that preserve critical fireground communication. Fire chiefs will leave equipped with actionable takeaways to build a defensible and compliant hearing protection program for their departments.		 Neil McDermott, M.Sc., CRSP, CIH
Occupational Hygienist & Health and Safety Consultant
Public Services Health & Safety Association (PSHSA)		 Great Falls Ballroom

4:30pm - 6:30pm

Cocktail Reception

Great Falls Ballroom Foyer

 

Wednesday, November 18, 2026 - Committee Meetings and Round Tables + Communicator Track

Time

Meeting / Round Table

Location

7:00am - 5:00pm

Registration

Great Falls Ballroom Foyer, Level E

7:30am - 8:30am

Breakfast

BRASA

8:30am - 10:00am

Fire Prevention & Public Education Advisory Committee Meeting - Committee Members Only

Angel Falls Room
8:30am - 10:00am Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Committee Meeting - Open Meeting for any OAFC Members Lake Huron Room
8:30am - 10:00am Urban Advisory Committee Meeting - Committee Members Only Lake Simcoe Room
8:30am - 10:00am Health & Safety Advisory Committee Meeting - Committee Members Only Victoria Falls Room
8:30am - 10:00am Industry Committee Meeting - Committee Members Only Lake Erie Room

10:00am - 10:30am

Coffee Break

Great Falls Ballroom Foyer

10:30am - 12:00pm

Training & Education Advisory Committee Meeting - Committee Members Only

Victoria Falls Room
10:30am - 12:00pm Communications Committee Meeting - Committee Members Only Lake Huron Room
10:30am - 12:00pm Rural-Suburban Advisory Committee Meeting - Committee Members Only Angel Falls Room
10:30am - 12:00pm Large Urban Committee Meeting - Committee Members Only Lake Erie Room
10:30am - 12:00pm Events, Awards & Membership Committee Meeting - Committee Members Only Lake Simcoe Room

12:00pm - 1:00pm

Lunch

BRASA

12:00pm - 1:00pm

Zone Leaders Lunch Meeting

Terrace
1:00pm - 2:45pm Round Table 1 Angel Falls Room
1:00pm - 2:45pm Round Table 2 Niagara Falls Room
1:00pm - 2:45pm Round Table 3 Victoria Falls Room
1:00pm - 2:45pm Round Table 4 Lake Huron Room
1:00pm - 2:45pm Round Table 5 Lake Michigan Room
1:00pm - 2:45pm Round Table 6 Lake Erie Room
1:00pm - 2:45pm Round Table 7 Lake Simcoe Room

2:45pm - 3:00pm

Coffee Break

Great Falls Ballroom Foyer

3:00pm - 5:00pm

Round Tables Continue

 

5:00pm - 7:00pm

Cocktail Reception

Great Falls Ballroom Foyer

 

Thursday, November 19, 2026 - AGM Day 1

Time

Presentation

 Presenter(s)

Location

6:30am - 1:00pm

Registration

Great Falls Ballroom Foyer

7:00am - 8:00am

Breakfast

BRASA

8:00am - 8:15am

Opening Remarks

Great Falls Ballroom

8:15am - 8:45am

OFM Update

 Jon Pegg, Fire Marshal of Ontario
and the Executive Team

Great Falls Ballroom
8:45am - 9:30am The Fiscal Landscape:  How does fire department management ensure regulatory compliance and the safe provision of services in today’s fiscal climate of constraint and competing municipal interests? Tara Baker, CAO and former Chief Financial Officer, City of Guelph Great Falls Ballroom
9:30am - 10:15am

Ministry of Emergency Preparedness & Response: The majority of Ontario’s CEMCs are in the fire service. The Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response will provide an overview of ongoing work to modernize Ontario’s emergency management framework. We will explain how the changes will support emergency managers and first responders, and will update chief fire officers on considerations for municipal emergency planning, including updates to legislation and the expansion of Ontario Corps.

The Hon. Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response

Matt Pegg, Commissioner of Emergency Management and Deputy Minister		 Great Falls Ballroom

10:15am - 10:30am

Coffee Break

Great Falls Ballroom Foyer

10:30am - 11:30am

Drones:  Starting a drone program or interested in how drones can be utilized by fire departments? Designed around use studies by fire departments across North America, this presentation will open your eyes to the different opportunities for drone use including drones as a first responder (DFR).

 Jason LaFond,
Customer Success Manager, Skydio

Great Falls Ballroom
11:30am - 12:15pm Wildfire Risk in Ontario:  Status, trends, and practical tools and guidance to help reduce risk at the home and community levels. Dr. Anabela Bonada Great Falls Ballroom

12:15pm - 1:15pm

Lunch

BRASA

1:15pm - 2:45pm

OAFC Business Meeting
*Free to attend for all OAFC Members*

 OAFC Board of Directors

Great Falls Ballroom

2:45pm - 3:00pm

Coffee Break

Great Falls Ballroom Foyer

3:00pm - 4:00pm

OAFC Business Meeting
*Free to attend for all OAFC Members*

 OAFC Board of Directors Great Falls Ballroom
4:00pm - 4:30pm OAFC Annual Awards
** Dress uniform is not required **
Sponsored by A.J. Stone		 Great Falls Ballroom

4:30pm - 5:30pm

Awards Reception sponsored by: A.J. Stone

Great Falls Ballroom Foyer
5:30pm - 8:00pm Trade Show Reception - Chiefs Lounge NFCC
 

Friday, November 20, 2026 - AGM Day 2

Time

Presentation

Presenter(s)

Location

7:30am - 11:00am

Registration

Great Falls Ballroom Foyer

8:00am - 9:00am

Breakfast

BRASA

9:00am - 10:00am

Supply Ontario:   Process and benefits of the province's group procurement program.

 Speaker(s) to be confirmed.

Great Falls Ballroom
10:00am - 10:15am Coffee Break Great Falls Ballroom Foyer

10:15am - 11:15am

Shift Makers:   Using his life as a case study to humanize his experience of someone different than the norm and sharing examples of situations where people stood up to be shift makers. Brock then teaches simple ways that we can all create shifts so everyone can be themselves and to help make your department the best it can be.

Brock McGillis

Great Falls Ballroom

11:15am -12:00pm

Lithium Ion Batteries & Pending O/Reg Updates:
This panel will provide insights into the broader work and development that is ongoing across many levels including the OFM Technical Advisory Group, the CAFC and IAFC, and the current development of codes and standards nationally.

Fire Chief Brian McBain, Russell Fire Department

Deputy Chief (Retired) Larry Cocco, Toronto Fire Services

Deputy Fire Marshal Bryan Burbidge, OFM

Great Falls Ballroom

12:00pm

Lunch

NFCC

11:00am - 4:00pm

Trade Show

NFCC
4:30pm - 7:00pm Memorial Service & Reception
** Dress Uniform and Caps **		 Great Falls Ballroom
 

Saturday, November 21, 2026

Time

 

Location

9:45am - 1:30pm

Registration

NFCC

10:00am - 2:00pm

Trade Show

NFCC

EVENT ENDS - SAFE TRAVELS HOME