Main Track Presentation Information

Friday Main Track Information

Bunker Gear Inspections, Cleaning and Maintenance for Small Fire Departments Panel

This panel brings together three chief fire officers from different department scopes to discuss practical, cost-effective approaches to bunker gear inspection, cleaning, and maintenance specifically tailored for small fire departments. Panelists will cover NFPA standards, common challenges in maintaining compliant gear, strategies for extending gear life, and options for outsourcing versus in-house care. Attendees will gain actionable guidance on improving firefighter safety, meeting regulatory requirements, and implementing a sustainable gear-maintenance program—regardless of department size or budget.

Presenters:

Fire Chief Frank Loeffen, West Nipissing

Experienced Director of Emergency Services with a demonstrated history working in government administration. Graduate of the Humber College Fire Service Executive Management program and Diploma in Municipal Administration with Honours through AMCTO.

Over 34 years of progressive experience in emergency services and 21 years as Fire Chief, the safety and promotion of members is priority through education and training.

Has extensive qualifications and training and keen propensity for lifelong learning. Skilled in Incident Command, Public Safety, Emergency Management, Fire Management, and Health & Safety.

Fire Chief Will Bateman, Nipissing

Deputy Fire Chief Mark Corner, Markstay-Warren

In 2014, Mark joined the volunteer fire service, quickly earning the respect of his peers through professionalism, commitment, and skill. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2018, and his continued leadership and dedication led to his recent appointment as Deputy Fire Chief. In this role, he strives to promote the core values of the fire service and foster a culture of teamwork, integrity, and continuous improvement.

Throughout his fire service career, Mark has served as a Fire Prevention Officer and an active member of the department’s training team. His involvement has contributed to developing programs that not only exceed minimum standards but also position the department as a leader in training other fire services through learning contracts.

Outside his duties at the fire hall, Mark is employed by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Skills Development as a Health and Safety Inspector, where he applies his deep understanding of regulations, risk management, and workplace safety to protect workers and support safer communities.

Moderator: Steve Dionne, AJ Stone

steve Steve Dionne is a seasoned Sales Representative and Product Expert with six years of experience at AJ Stone, where he specializes in providing fire service organizations with trusted equipment solutions and industry-leading product knowledge. Known for his hands-on expertise and customer-focused approach, Steve supports departments across Northern Ontario by helping them identify the right tools and technologies to keep their crews safe and effective.

In addition to his sales and product background, Steve serves as a Volunteer Fire Captain with Greater Sudbury Fire Services. With years of operational experience, he brings real-world insight into fireground needs, training, and emergency response—perspectives that enhance his ability to recommend equipment that performs when it matters most. His dual roles create a unique blend of practical firefighting leadership and technical equipment proficiency, making him a trusted resource within both the fire service and emergency product sectors.

Mandatory Certification – Options to help you plan for July 2026

With the first compliance deadline for mandatory certification coming up in July 2026, the Office of the Fire Marshal continues to support departments in achieving certification. This presentation will feature the OFMs Training and Certification Division who will provide you with a refresher on the many training models that exist, timelines for certification testing and provide an update on current training disciplines being developed. A great opportunity to ask questions and continue developing a plan for your department.

Presenter: Office of the Fire Marshal

Keynote - Performance and Wellbeing: A Leadership Mantra

Why are you here? This seems somewhat philosophical but really, why are you a leader in the fire service if not to ensure the performance and wellbeing of your team. Yes, you are managing an organization, but your primary focus must remain on this and the majority of your direction and decision making can and should be based on whether it serves the performance and wellbeing of your people. It is time to reflect and ensure this is and remains your leadership mantra.

We all know the most important resource in any department is its people, but do they remain your priority? Does their performance and wellbeing guide your strategy and decision making or have budgets, policy and politics taken precedence. Let’s go back to why you are here and examine how to best care for this valuable resource. Motivation, productivity, excellence, discipline, trust, morale, customer service and more are best addressed by going back to the core question of “Does this have a positive impact on the performance and wellbeing of my people?”

Presenter: Deputy Chief Scott Wilkinson, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service

scott Scott Wilkinson is a 34-year veteran of the fire and paramedic service and currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Fire Rescue Operations & Training for the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service. Scott previously served as the Assistant Chief, Community Risk Reduction and prior to that as the Project Manager for Training and Safety Equipment. Scott is a Primary Care Paramedic and formerly managed the WFPS officer and chief officer development programs.

He is the former Peer Support Coordinator for the WFPS and continues to work with the department’s behavioural health and wellness programs.

Scott serves on the NFPA Fire Officer Professional Qualifications Technical Committee and is the developer of numerous departmental programs including RPAS and PPE Maintenance and co-developed the WFPS Diversity Equity Fire Training Program (DEFT).

He serves on various committees for the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) including Human Factors, Leadership and Mental Health and is the chairperson of the RPAS/Robotics Committee. Scott holds the CAFC Executive Chief Fire Officer (ECFO) credential and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Manitoba.

OAFC Driver Certification Program

Presentation summary coming soon.

Presenters:

Fire Chief Jeremy Alldred-Hughes, Lake of Bays

jah With 16 years of experience in the fire service, Jeremy brings a unique blend of operational expertise and leadership to his role. His extensive background in transportation spans ice road trucking, driver training, local hauling, and serving as the District Manager for a school bus division in Muskoka. When these two passions intersected, Jeremy became a key contributor to the driver certification program—serving as a lead instructor and playing an integral role in its development.

Fire Chief Gary Monahan, Huntsville

gary With 35 years of dedicated service in the fire industry, Gary Monahan has built a distinguished career rooted in leadership, training, and operational excellence.

Beginning work with the MTO Driver Certification Program in 2000, he went on to serve as an MTO Signing Authority for 15 years. His expertise contributed to major provincial training improvements, including assisting in the rewrite of the D Curriculum in 2016 and leading the development of the Fleet Signing Authority Course for the Ontario Fire College in 2018.

As an instructor for the OAFC Fleet Driver Course, he continues to strengthen driver training standards across the province. His collaboration with both the OAFC and MTO was instrumental in securing approval for the Driver Certification Program to be delivered through the OAFC, further enhancing accessibility and consistency in fire service driver training.

Round Tables

Operational, planning, and management professionals from fire departments across the province are invited to come together for an engaging discussion on current and emerging issues within the fire service. Modeled after the Metro Fire Planners Conference, this interactive forum provides an open environment for participants to share leading practices, explore solutions to common challenges, and exchange innovative ideas that have proven successful in their own departments.

Participants will have the opportunity to discuss both local and provincial concerns, highlight best practices, and reflect on lessons learned with peers from like-minded fire services.

Saturday Main Track Information

NFPA Standards Panel

Presentation summary coming soon.

Presenters: To be announced

Respiratory Protection Programs

In Ontario, fire departments are required to implement a comprehensive Respiratory Protection Program (RPP) to safeguard firefighters from airborne hazards such as smoke, toxic gases, and particulates encountered during fire suppression, overhaul, and investigation activities. This program is governed by several key regulations and standards, including Ontario Regulation 833 (O. Reg. 833) under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Ontario Regulation 490/09 (Designated Substances), and various Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines

This presentation will review applicable legislation, components of a written respiratory protection program, respirator selection, training, fit testing, maintenance, air quality and decontamination

Presenters: Tim Metcalfe

tim Tim Metcalfe has over 41 years experience working as and in support of first responders in Ontario. He has worked for all three emergency services and as a health and safety professional for the last 25 years. Tim is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP), Company Officer Diploma, Training Officer Diploma and Advanced CBRNE from the Canadian Counter Terrorism Technical Centre-DRDC.

OAFC Update

Join representatives from the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs for an informative update on current initiatives, advocacy efforts, and key priorities impacting fire services across the province. This session will highlight recent accomplishments, emerging legislative and regulatory developments, strategic projects underway, and upcoming opportunities for member engagement. Attendees will gain insight into the OAFC’s ongoing work to support fire departments, strengthen leadership across the sector, and advance public and firefighter safety in Ontario.

Presenter: OAFC Board of Director Representative

Keynote - Creating High Performing Teams: Utilizing laughter to create connection, belonging, and productivity

The highest-performing teams in the country understand that real success comes from harnessing the collective strengths of every team member. What many leaders overlook, however, is that the secret ingredient to unlocking this potential is often laughter. Levity isn’t just a perk — it’s a powerful tool for connection, collaboration, and trust.

Kate Davis has partnered with hundreds of top-tier companies, delivering a keynote that is not only hilarious but packed with actionable insights. Through her unique blend of comedy and research-based strategy, Kate doesn’t just talk about the power of humor — she shows it in action, engaging audiences with real-time demonstrations that are as entertaining as they are enlightening.

Many leaders walk into Kate’s sessions believing they need to be the strongest or most authoritative voice in the room. But the truth is, the most effective leaders are the ones who are relatable, emotionally intelligent, and present. In an era of rapid digital transformation and increasing workplace disconnection, those who can create authentic human moments — through humor and humility — are the ones who lead high-performing, connected teams.

Attendees will learn:

How to de-risk humor and understand when and how to use it appropriately
The key to building trust while honoring professional boundaries
The four types of humor — and how to steer clear of the ones that backfire
Ways to use humor to connect, even without telling a single joke

Audiences will leave this keynote energized, equipped, and inspired — with practical tools to build stronger teams, foster deeper connections, and create a culture where productivity and belonging thrive, all through the simple yet profound act of bringing more laughter into the workplace.

Presenter: Kate Davis

kate Speaker, comedian and host Kate Davis is a twelve-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee and star of her own CTV comedy special who transforms workplace stress into team resilience through the proven health-building power of laughter. With three published books and performances alongside Lewis Black and Seth Meyers, Kate Davis combines professional comedy credentials with practical stress management techniques that leave audiences energized and equipped with real tools for sustaining motivation.

Current Challenges in the Fire Service Panel

Join a panel of Fire Chiefs as they examine the most pressing challenges facing today’s fire service. From recruitment and retention to training demands, funding pressures, community risk reduction, and evolving operational expectations, this session explores the realities departments are navigating across the province. Panelists will share firsthand perspectives, discuss emerging trends, and offer practical strategies their departments are using to adapt and succeed. Attendees will gain valuable insights and actionable ideas to help address the issues shaping the modern fire service.