Monique Belair has been appointed as the new Fire Chief and Director of Kingston Fire & Rescue (KFR) effective April 11, 2023. This announcement was made by Brad Joyce, the Commissioner of Transportation and Public Works, who expressed his excitement to have Belair on board.
“Following a robust recruitment process, we are thrilled Chief Belair has accepted our offer to join the City of Kingston. Chief Belair brings a strong community perspective and is adept at cultivating collaborative relationships to achieve results,” says Joyce.
Before joining KFR, Belair was the Fire Chief of the Belleville Fire Department. She has also held Deputy Chief positions with Oakville Fire, St. Catherines Fire and Emergency Services, and served as a Regional Operations Manager with the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management. Belair also founded Camp Molly, a program that provides young women aged 15-18 with a unique opportunity to learn what it’s like to have a career in fire services.
“To the residents of Kingston, I am extremely honored to have been selected to lead the Kingston Fire Services as their new Fire Chief and Director,” says Belair. “I look forward to engaging with the community and building strong relationships with members of my department and the larger City organization.”
Belair’s appointment comes at an important time in KFR’s history. In 2022, it became one of only ten fire services in Canada to achieve Certified Fire Accreditation International, a distinction awarded to agencies that meet the prescribed continuous quality improvement process established through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International.
