Thursday Annual General Meeting Information

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OFM Update 

Fire Marshal Jon Pegg will provide an update on important initiatives underway at the OFM.

Presenter: Fire Marshal Jon Pegg

Jon was appointed Ontario’s Fire Marshal in February 2019. Prior to that, he was Chief, Emergency Management for the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management.

Jon’s career in the fire service has spanned more than 27 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 the 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.

 

Keynote - FSRI Fire Dynamics Boot Camp: Overview, Resources, and Implementation

Everyday fire chiefs are tasked with making decisions.  Decisions on the fire ground, decisions on resources, decision on training, and decisions on procuring firefighting equipment.  Fire growth is getting faster, driven by changes in building materials, construction methods, and alternative energy systems. This session for leaders will share research results from FSRI and demonstrate how this knowledge may be implemented to support decision making.  Links to free online learning resources will be provided for fire service leaders to take back to their departments. 

Presenter: Daniel Madrzykowski

Daniel Madrzykowski is the senior director of research for FSRI. He has more than 35 years of experience working to improve firefighting effectiveness and safety through research and instruction in the areas of fire dynamics, ventilation, and suppression. He has a PhD in fire engineering from the University of Canterbury, an MS in fire protection engineering, and a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland.

Dan has been engaged with the fire service to share research results in a way that can be understood and implemented by fire departments in their training.   Dan is a current member of the International Fire Service Training Association Executive Board, and he has served on IFSTA validation committees for multiple editions of Essentials and the third edition of Fire Investigation.  Dan is a member of the NFPA and serves on their committees for Fire Service Training, Structural Fire Fighting, and Fire Investigation. He is a member of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and was a developer of the Understanding and Fighting Basement Fires course.  For more than 30 years, Dan has been conducting research with the US Fire Administration and collaborating with the National Fire Academy in the development of courses.  In addition, Dan has assisted with the development of course materials for the International Association of Fire Fighters, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Arson Investigators, and the National Fire Protection Association.   Dan is also Fellow in the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.  

As a result of Dan’s firefighting research and his expertise in sharing that knowledge, he has been honored with many awards including: the rank of Honorary Battalion Chief with the FDNY, the IAFC President’s Award, the IFSTA Granito Award, the ISFSI Instructor of the Year, and the Citizen Services, Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal.  In 2023, Dan received the Mason Lankford Fire Service Leadership Award from the Congressional Fire Services Institute and the Everett E. Hudiburg Award from IFSTA.

 

Fire Service Grant Opportunities

Ontario’s Fire Services have had more access to grant funding over the past 18 months than ever before in its history, and it is important that Chiefs understand what grants are available and how to access them.

This session will explore what government and non-government grants are available to the fire service and explore the criteria and application processes.

Presenter: Deputy Chief Rob Grimwood, Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services

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 28 years, the last 16 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. 

 

Understanding First Nations Fire Issues with the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council 

The National Indigenous Fire Safety Council (NIFSC) presentation will speak to the following items:

• What is the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council
• Understanding fire safety in Indigenous communities
• The data surrounding higher mortality rates
• Building supportive relationships with First Nation communities
• Next steps with the NIFSC

Presenter: Blaine Wiggins, National Indigenous Fire Safety Council

 

Keynote - The Importance of Teamwork

Toronto Argonauts former coach and player Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons is a man of unquestionable character and spirit. Not only is he renowned for his achievements on the football field, Pinball’s aptitude for motivational speaking is undeniable. His presentations are at once captivating and empowering. He exemplifies the capabilities of teamwork and leadership while demonstrating what it means to beat the odds. Michael’s tireless community involvement and participation in countless charitable causes exemplify the qualities he possesses, which are so rarely found in today’s professional athletes. His presentations are at once captivating and empowering, and clearly demonstrate the capabilities of teamwork. Clemons will share his past experiences to illustrate how people can overcome obstacles and achieve success. Being just 5 feet, 6 inches tall and becoming a football superstar is quite exceptional. In his deeply moving and inspirational talk, he will speak about personal perseverance and the importance of teamwork, which is relevant to any industry.

Presenter: Michael "Pinball" Clemons

 

To Canadians, the name “Pinball” stands for remarkable athletic talent, outstanding sportsmanship and a commitment to the community.

Born and raised in Florida, the William and Mary economics graduate began his career in the CFL in 1989 after a brief stint in the National Football League with Kansas City and Tampa Bay. As a player, Clemons compiled a brilliant CFL career with the Toronto Argonauts; a three-time Grey Cup Champion with 12 all-time team records to his credit, he also  made pro-football record for most career combined yards of 25,396. On September 15, 2000, Pinball hung up his Argo’s jersey after 12 seasons to take the reigns as Head Coach where he then won another Grey Cups in 2004, making him the first Black head coach to reach & win a Grey Cup championship. He subsequently won two more Grey Cups in 2012 and 2017 as Vice Chairman.

Known for a personality that is as electric as his style of play on the field was, Michael redefines the meaning of community involvement and has been recognized by many organizations for his tireless work with charities, schools and other community groups. 

After retiring from the football field, Michael founded The Pinball Clemons Foundation, providing marginalized youth with educational resources and options to integrate into the mainstream of society. In 2021, Michael along with his wife, Diane Lee, was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross in recognition of the outstanding accomplishments and remarkable contributions they made through the Foundation.

Michael’s presentations are at once captivating and empowering. He inspires audiences by demonstrating what it means to beat the odds and encourages listeners to use teamwork to achieve their goals. Mike Clemons’ football career was characterized by incredible perseverance and great skill. At only 5 feet 6 inches and 170 pounds, he won against all odds. He succeeded while others predicted failure and gave more when less would have been satisfactory. “All Heart” is the story of a young man guided by fierce determination.

Michael is an athlete with true character, an incredibly generous spirit and a quiet dignity that shines on and off the field. He tells how his upbringing has shaped him, how his steadfast faith has always guided him and how his commitment to his team and his community is much more than just a professional veneer – but a deeply held feeling of true spirit and belonging.

 

OAFC Annual General 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 OAFC events.

In addition, there will be the presentation of the 2025 OAFC & OFAI budgets, a 2024 OAFC & OFAI financial update, member resolutions, an update on the Candidate Testing Service and an update from the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs.