MINDEMOYA—Central Manitoulin council praised and recognized the tremendous efforts of Central Manitoulin Fire Chief John Reid, who received his 30 Year Service Award recently from Ross Nichols of the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office (OFM), at a meeting last week.
“Our safety, security and health committee would like council to congratulate our fire chief, John Reid, on receiving his 30 Year Service Award from Ross Nichols of the Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office,” stated Richard Stephens, mayor of the municipality of Central Manitoulin at a council meeting last week. He read the note from the committee which explained, “Chief Reid went to Sudbury on October 6, 2016 for the presentation of his service medal. Chief Reid was the fire chief of the former Campbell Township prior to amalgamation, and actually has been a firefighter for 31 years. We are proud of Chief Reid and the time and dedication John puts into our Central Manitoulin Fire Department, and we ask that council acknowledge Chief Reid’s milestone accomplishment.”
While Mr. Reid was not present at the meeting, Mayor Stephens and council members recognized Mr. Reid’s efforts by clapping at the end of Mayor Stephens report. “Pass on to John our best wishes and praise for us,” he requested the town deputy clerk.
“Time flies when you’re having fun,” stated Mr. Reid, when contacted by the Recorder last Friday.
“The reason I first got involved in the fire department was just to help out,” Mr. Reid added. He noted that when he started with the Campbell Fire Department, “three of us started at the same time, Derek Stephens and Kevin Lewis.”
“I was the last fire chief in Campbell up to the amalgamation of the municipality in 1989,” Mr. Reid said. He noted he had served as deputy fire chief for Central Manitoulin under Stan Witty (who was the amalgamated municipality’s first fire chief), John McNaughton, and then Brian Smith. Mr. Reid took over as fire chief, “about 12 years ago,” he said.
