On Saturday, May 31, 2025, the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands staff and Council members, Leeds Fire Service staff and volunteers, and local dignitaries officially opened the new Fire Station 2, located at 3306 County Rd. 32, Seeley's Bay.
This event celebrated a commitment to the community, a significant milestone for the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, and it was possible due to the vision and collaboration of all involved in the project.
MP Barrett and MPP Clark commended the Township and all involved for their dedication to the project to have the best facilities and fire service volunteers to support the community.
Mayor Corinna Smith-Gatcke spoke about the pride and humility she felt for such a major achievement. She thanked JCB Construction Canada, all subcontractors, and Idea Inc. for the thoughtful and functional design and the Sly Family for selling of the land for this ideal location. She thanked staff, including David Holliday and Fire Chief Mike Prior, for their leadership and dedication to the project every step of the way.
The Mayor stated, "This is a significant and proud milestone for TLTI. As TLTI continues to grow, so too must our infrastructure. This new fire station has been built to serve residents now and for decades to come. It is an investment in our future."
Fire Chief, Mike Prior spoke about the excitement of being in a state-of-the-art building. The building is made for the future, and has state-of-the-art designs, including clean rooms, essential to help prevent cancer, which is a real risk for firefighters. Everything has a purpose in the building, which includes the potential for future needs. Fire Chief Prior thanked the Mayor and Council for their support and commitment to Fire Services in the Community. He also thanked the current volunteers for their dedication and the anticipation of more recruits in the future.
Council member, Monique Antoine Hartley, gave a history of the Seeley's Bay Fire Station, and Councillor Angela Kelman spoke about the new Fire Station and how it reflects our current strategic plan of being a future-oriented, sustainable, innovative, and progressive municipality.
Speeches were followed by the Ceremonial Flag raising of the Canadian flag, the Ontario Flag and the Leeds Fire Department flag and the cutting of the ceremonial fire hose with the jaws of life. Tours of the Fire Station to community members concluded the event.