Three volunteer firefighters recently fired have been reinstated.
Timmins CAO Dave Landers said District Chief Kris Ouellette, District Chief Daniel Savard, and District Deputy Chief Maurice Lagace have been returned to their positions.
“We’re working to repair any broken relationships and make sure that the volunteers have a good voice, and make decisions about how we’re managing going forward,” said Landers.
News of the staffing changes broke last month after Connaught District Chief Ouellette was fired.
In response, the volunteers at the fire station resigned, but later agreed to return to work and respond to emergencies.
Thanksgiving Monday, residents and volunteer firefighters from across the city got together for an emotional meeting in Hoyle.
One of the items coming out of the meeting, is for the city to meet with the volunteer fire stations.
Landers said he and Mayor Steve Black have met with all but one of the halls to date. He hopes the final meeting will take place soon.
“The goal with having those meetings is to do a number of things to ensure that the concerns of the volunteers are being heard within the city, to make sure that the volunteers are well aware of the support from council and administration for the good work that they do, and to try to, where there are some problems, to try to open up lines of communication and mend fences wherever necessary,” he said.
He believes the meetings have been productive.
"I’ve received quite a few follow-up messages from individuals at the halls appreciating the chance to get together and to have an open house format where they can raise various issues that are happening,” he said.
