Toronto has a new fire chief.
City council approved the appointment of Jim Sales as Fire Chief and GM of Toronto Fire Services during Thursday’s council meeting.
Sales has 27 years experience working within fire services across Canada. He replaces retired Toronto Fire Chief Bill Stewart.
The new chief comes to Toronto from the City of Barrie where he has been the GM of community operations since 2008. Before that he was the commissioner of community and fire services in Markham, the Markham Fire Chief between 2000 and 2001 and the City of Edmonton’s fire chief from 1998 to 2000.
“We are excited to have Jim join the city and are looking forward to working with him,” Mayor Rob Ford stated in a press release.
Sales said he was proud and honoured to have been selected for the job.
“I look forward to supporting the city’s strategic vision and to helping Toronto Fire Services continue its proud tradition and to actively contributing to improve the effectiveness of the services provided to the public,” Sales stated.
Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, the chairman of the city’s community development and recreation committee, said Sales will bring a “fresh perspective” to the city.
“We think that he comes with great experience and he’ll fit in well with our fire department,” Mammoliti said.
Former chief Bill Stewart retired in April after 40 years in as a firefighter including nine years in the top job.
Link to article: Toronto hires Jim Sales for fire chief
By Don Peat ,City Hall Bureau Chief
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