August 3, 2017: Dennis DesRosiers. “His perspective on Automotice Industry”. Ian Fisher will introduce and Ron Mckay will thank our speaker.
Head Table: Our President Linda Bathe, invites, Ian Fisher, Wendy Anderson, Nick Aroutzidis, Walt Bathe, Ellen Balmain and David Bean, to join her at the head table.
This Week: Our guest today was Fire Chief John Paradis who was introduced by Gord Sherwin.
John Paradis Chief of Fire Department Stratford speaking on the fire department present and future. Intro by Gord Sherwin (left)
Chief Paradis talked about the changes to the Fire Department since he took over command just over two years ago.
His first task was to undertake an assessment of the buildings and equipment of the department. The buildings are in good shape and can be adapted for future needs in time. Some of the equipment and vehicles were nearing the end of their useful lives and have been replaced using the City's vehicle depreciation fund (note the change in colour).
He has ensured the Department and all personnel meet the requirements of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act as well as National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.
Future plans are to have the department trained in order to undertake high angle rescue and confined space rescue without the need to call on larger departments.
They successfully located the Department's 1946 La France Fire Truck. They are now out fundraising to restore this vehicle.
Future plans also include establishing a City of Stratford Emergency Services Training Centre. With other emergency services using the facility, he can develop a business plan for it.
Chief Paradis summarized the Department's successes in the past 30 months:
- Replacing old Equipment
- Replacing aging fleet as needed.
- Ensuring all certifications of personnel are up to date.
- Instead of sending all firefighters away for training, he trains the trainer and then they train all other personnel and sell training services to other departments in the area.
- Replaced the motorized rescue boat with an inflatable. The department can actually respond faster with the inflatable.
- Started a lightweight truss program where stickers are attached to newer buildings built with light weight trusses that don't last as long in a fire. Firefights are then warned providing a safer environment during a fire. The program, the first in Canada, has spread to other departments in the area and beyond.
One initiative that Chief Paradis is particularly proud of is getting his firefighters out in the community where they are seen. It has been a successful public relations initiative.
The department is now looking at how they can assist in the United Way campaign.
During Q & A, Chief Paradis confirmed that the fire trucks can control seven traffic lights to help fire trucks navigate intersections safely. He indicated that they always must follow the rules of the road. In the event of a major fire, the duty captain is in command unless he offers command to the deputy.at the scene. The department, in the interests of public safety, will respond to fires on our borders and transfer command to Perth East when they arrive. The department participates in a tiered response agreement with the EMS so that trained personnel are able to respond as fast as possible to emergency calls. Professional Firefighters and Forest Firefighters are completely separate streams of training.
Chief Paradis was thanked by Marcia Matsui.
Scribe: Ron Shaw
Announcements
- Scotch Mist tickets go on sale August 17th. See any member of the committee.
- Fritz said he will hold onto the tickets for One for the Pot at the Huron County Playhouse until next Friday. If you are interested, you need to get a hold of him before then. (I saw this play at the Shaw Festival. It is great).
- Robert Ritz is looking for Dragon Boat participants.
- Stephen Chandler read a letter from a woman we sponsored in Zimbabwe. She graduated and sent her thanks to both Stephen and the club.
- Doug Thomson is heading back to Nicaragua on a medical mission. He thanked the Rotary Club for support and assistance
Norman Briscoe longstanding Rotarian celebrated his 94th birthday recently.
Steven Chandler talking about his and clubs international work in Zimbabwe and a student Alroy who wrote him recent letter thanking him and club for past support and present success.
Library mailbox in front of Rotarian Dan Kane’s home. Thank you Dan and Denise for this library reading project which was written up a couple years ago in the Rotarian.
Draw: Today prize was donated by Rob Ritz and Fritz Steigmeier was the winner.
Guests: Today we welcomed; Colleen Devine, Rodrigo Mohr Hernandez from Mexico our NGE participant, Laura Pogson from the Festival Morning Club
Make-ups: No report
August’s Attendance Committee: Bob Gulliford (I/C), Nick Aroutzidis, Jim Hayes, Mike Gruszcynski, Bryan Lapier, Arlene Pol, Steve Monteith, Dan Scarborough, Josef Frank, Norm Bird.
