The City of Port Colborne is pleased to announce the appointment of Stan Double as the City’s full-time Fire Chief. In addition, the City is happy to welcome Mark Middleton as the new Deputy Fire Chief.
The City first welcomed Chief Stan Double in an interim capacity in mid-December 2024. His leadership and impact have been so overwhelmingly positive, that Council has decided to appoint him to the full-time position. Chief Double brings over three decades of dedicated service with the Hamilton Fire Department, where he began his career in 1990. Rising through the ranks from Firefighter to Captain and District Chief, he most recently served as Platoon Chief, demonstrating exceptional leadership and expertise in fire service operations. Chief Double’s accomplishments have been recognized at the highest levels, including being awarded the prestigious International Association of Fire Fighters 2024 Leadership Award. The City looks forward to his continued leadership in enhancing fire services and public safety in Port Colborne.
Joining him in leadership, Deputy Fire Chief Mark Middleton brings an extensive background in fire service, spanning 36 years. His career began with the City of Stoney Creek, where he served for 12 years, including four years as a part-time employee with the composite department. Following the 2000 amalgamation, he continued with the City of Hamilton for 24 years, most recently holding the rank of Platoon Chief for the last eight years.
Throughout his career, Deputy Chief Middleton has been deeply involved in training and development, working with his home department, independent instructional contractors, and the Ontario Fire College. His areas of expertise include recruit training, confined space and high-angle rope rescue, officer development, incident management/command, and incident safety. His extensive knowledge and experience will be invaluable in strengthening fire operations and training within the Port Colborne Fire Department.
The City of Port Colborne is confident that Chief Double and Deputy Chief Middleton will bring outstanding leadership, experience, and dedication to their new roles, further enhancing emergency services for the community.