South Frontenac Township has announced the appointment of Del Blakney as the new Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief for South Frontenac Fire and Rescue, effective January 8, 2024.
Mayor Ron Vandewal commented on the appointment, stating, “Del is a strong leader who is well-respected within the fire services community in the region and in the province. His deep knowledge, experience, and success at developing effective working relationships with multiple stakeholders will continue to make South Frontenac Fire and Rescue a leader in fire services.”
Del Blakney brings over 30 years of experience from his tenure with Kingston Fire and Rescue and has served as a volunteer firefighter with South Frontenac Fire and Rescue for the last five years. His qualifications include a Fire Prevention Officer Diploma from the Ontario Fire College, along with certifications as a Company Officer, Training Officer, Firefighter, Public Information Officer, Public Educator, and Fire Investigator. Blakney’s expertise extends to the Ontario Building Code, fire prevention, training, suppression techniques, hazardous material response, and rescue operations. Additionally, he possesses significant management experience in both the private and public sectors.
At the provincial level, Blakney has been active as a Director for the Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officers Association for four years. His role involved collaboration with the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management, Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, Health Canada, and over 230-member Fire Departments across Ontario to assess and guide fire protection services in the province.
Louise Fragnito, Chief Administrative Officer, noted the competitive selection process: “We had several excellent internal and external candidates but were very lucky to have someone like Del with his vast expertise and knowledge within our own organization to become our new Fire Chief. I think it speaks to the talent of the people we have here in South Frontenac.”
Photo: Del Blakney
