Tay Township has introduced a new master plan to ensure its fire service is safer, but recruitment and retention for volunteers remains low.
At the recent committee of the whole meeting, township council received a presentation from Bill Lorimer of the Loomex Group on a fire master plan which had roots from a 2024 community risk assessment conducted by that group.
Lorimer told council that five guiding principles steered the project, adhering to three commonly used lines of defence regarding public education, fire code enforcement and fire suppression.
Those five principles included: looking to the best protection for the safety of firefighters and Tay residents; the most cost-effective fire protection services; unnecessary future cost avoidance; and dedication to facts as a guiding principle.
“Overall, the firefighters believe they have a strong and responsive leadership team,” said Lorimer. “We agree with that observation. The leadership team and the fire services are dedicated to their duties and to the community; as such, there is a high morale within the organization.”
However, Lorimer noted that certain challenges were faced by Tay fire department members.
“Tay Township fire department is experiencing types of recruitment and retention challenges that commonly affect fire departments that rely on volunteer personnel. Personnel who hold officer positions have limited opportunities for leadership training, conflict resolution training and professional development.”
The fire master plan presented 28 recommendations for council to consider based on the three lines of defence, all of which were designed to prioritize the safety of residents and firefighters, and all of which were within the capacity to be implemented by the municipality according to Lorimer.
The highest direct fire-related public safety risks identified in the 2024 community risk assessment were fires in residential, assembly, and/or vulnerable occupancies, and remote area rescue.
The fire master plan recommended developing a smoke alarm / carbon monoxide alarm campaign for residences, tied to a change in the Ontario Fire Code that as of January 1, 2026, all homes with a fuel-burning appliance, a fireplace or an attached garage will be required to have a CO alarm installed on every level of the home.
The recommendation to utilize technology to collect data on pre-incident planning was so firefighters could “have information about specific buildings before or while they're at an emergency, so that they can manage the incident safer and more effectively,” said Lorimer.
Other recommendations included: consideration to purchase an off-road vehicle with stretcher unit for remote response; improving hydrant visibility and accessibility; and adding a proactive cancer screening program to the existing wellness program. Lorimer explained: “cancer is quite common within the fire service.”
The presentation was received as information, as Fire Chief Shawn Aymer stated he would bring forth a report in 2026 with comprehensive recommendations. Deputy Mayor Barry Norris did thank Lorimer and his group. “Lots of dollar signs I can see coming forth,” said Norris, “but it is what it is these days in ensuring our residents stay healthy.”
Following the meeting, Mayor Ted Walker told MidlandToday that a 10-year recommendation to upgrade fire facilities including the priority of the Waubaushene and Port McNicoll stations required some time and further information before council could make considerations.
“It’s all for the safety of the residents, and there were a number of recommendations that council will go through,” said Walker. “A lot of them were referencing communication aspects which we're pretty much up on, but certainly there's some areas there that we could improve.
When it noted improvements to buildings and purchasing of vehicles, Walker showed his concern.
“The funds are limited, especially nowadays with a lot of people out there struggling, so we have to be very fiscally responsible as to the timing of those ventures,” Walker said. “But that’s stuff that we’ll look at; we’ll get some advice from our fire chief and move forward with those as is practical.”
The fire master plan presentation from the Loomex Group can be found in the agenda page on the Tay Township website.