It’s official: Caledonia has a new fire and emergency medical services station. Haldimand County Emergency Services’ new facility at 270 Argyle Street North in Caledonia opened its doors and commenced operations on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
Initial planning for the project kicked off 11 years ago, with major design, development, and construction being executed over the last four years.
While the facility was ready to respond to emergencies earlier in the day, a public celebration in the afternoon was held to mark the occasion with over 200 community members. It included a showcase of the station’s emergency response vehicles, guided tours of the station’s amenities, free lunch, and a ribbon cutting ceremony.
“These kinds of moments are historic moments,” said Rick Finnemore, a Fire Protection Advisor with Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management, during his speech at the ceremony. “This is part of the living history of this community and I really appreciate the opportunity – on behalf of the Fire Marshal – to be able to pass on the congratulations that all of you deserve. Not only to the councillors and officers, but also the residents that have all supported this.”
Joining Finnemore in giving a speech was the County’s Community Safety and Wellness General Manager Scott Luey, Member of Provincial Parliament Bobbi Ann Brady, Ward 3 Councillor Dan Lawrence, Haldimand County Emergency Services Fire Chief and Manager of Paramedic Services Jason Gallagher, and Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley.
“Today we come together, not just to cut a ribbon, but to officially open the doors to a state-of-the-art EMS and fire facility that represents our values, our priorities, and our unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of our residents,” remarked Bentley during her speech. She went on to end the ceremony by cutting the ribbon to officially mark the facility’s opening.
The new building combines facilities for both fire and emergency response services. The combined facility is over 15,640 sq. ft. with six drive-through bays for emergency response vehicles. Expanded offices, amenities, storage, sustainability features, and training rooms are also included, as is a display room for an antique fire truck that is visible to those passing by the facility on Argyle Street North.
“The most exciting thing is for the firefighters and the paramedics,” said Gallagher.
He added, “The facilities they were responding out of previously were a little bit small and out of date, so this will allow them to properly respond and serve the community faster and in a more comfortable and accessible way.”
Another key aspect of the new facility is its modular design, allowing it to be easily expanded in the future as the emergency response needs of the community increase. This includes design capabilities that would allow the facility to one day house career firefighters.
“When and if Caledonia Fire goes career, we have the ability to change rooms into what a career department would need … dormitories, weight rooms, that sort of thing,” said Gallagher, noting that the decision would only come with an observed increase in population and call volumes. “We don’t want to overstress our volunteers if they’re getting three or four calls a day … but that would all be something that the Emergency Services Division, working with Council, would decide through data.”
Now that the new Fire and EMS Station is open, the southside station on Kinross Street will remain in service with one fire pumper. The ambulance bay will only be used in case of a major event.