Lincoln, ON - (May 18, 2022) – The Town of Lincoln and the Town of Grimsby are honoured to be recognized nationally for their Niagara West Fire & Emergency Services pilot project from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA). The Towns were proud to receive first-ever 2022 CAMA Collaboration Award for a partnership between municipalities during a Virtual Awards of Excellence Ceremony held earlier today.
“On behalf of the Council and citizens of Lincoln, Ontario, I would like to extend sincere thanks to the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators for recognizing the innovative partnership we share in the delivery of Fire and Emergency Services with the Town of Grimsby,” said Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton. “We aspire to raise the bar with Grimsby through the challenging task of refining our management and delivery model and broadening our commitment to public safety and fiscal accountability.”
“I have confidence in the success of this project in the longer term, thanks to the collective knowledge and expertise of our administrative team lead by CAOs Harry Schlange in Grimsby and Michael Kirkopoulos in Lincoln,” said Town of Grimsby Mayor Jeff Jordan. “Many thanks to CAMA for recognizing this outstanding model that allows us to work more effectively toward the collective good of both communities.”
“In Lincoln, we are always looking for innovative approaches to our operations and service delivery without compromising customer service or the public safety of residents,” said Michael Kirkopoulos, CAO for the Town of Lincoln. “Both administrative teams in Lincoln and Grimsby recognized from the exploratory phase of this project that it would be a win-win for both municipalities, and I would like to thank both Councils for their full support from day one.”
“The Niagara West Fire & Emergency Services pilot has been a welcome opportunity for Grimsby and Lincoln to work together to share economies of scale while improving service delivery to our residents,” said Harry Schlange, CAO for the Town of Grimsby. “It is a sustainable model that capitalizes on the strengths of both communities that will help preserve the valuable volunteer firefighter model for decades to come. We would also like thank Bill Thomson who helped kick start this initiative while he was Grimsby’s Acting Fire Chief.”
“I am pleased to share that there has been much collaboration and cooperation by the merged departments,” said Niagara West Fire Chief Greg Hudson. “It’s been an honour to act as Fire Chief in the jointly established Fire Department thus far, and to lead this strong and dedicated team focused on safety and well-being of our community.”
The project will be rolled out in two phases. Phase 1 began October 1, 2021, and is expected to continue for approximately 24 months. During this phase, a single fire department has been created and a Joint Advisory Committee consisting of members of Council from both municipalities was established to oversee and provide governance to the service area. A Fire Master Plan will also be carried out through a third party. Pending approval from both municipal Councils, Phase 2 will proceed to full implementation of the partnership.
A working group comprised of team members from both municipalities was created in 2020 to determine if the adoption of a shared fire service would result in a more efficient, effective, and affordable model of emergency service. The working group allowed for increased engagement and cooperation through the pilot’s development and implementation.
About CAMA:
The Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators is a national, non-profit association open to all Chief Administrative Officers / City Managers and any person employed in a senior management position that reports directly to the CAO. CAMA has a membership of approximately 650 City Managers, Chief Administrative Officers and senior appointed officials from all parts of Canada.
For media inquiries, contact:
Liliana Busnello
Manager of Corporate Communications
Town of Lincoln
905-563-2799 ext. 230
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