Oakville Fire recognized for its commitment to accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion

The Oakville Fire Department (OFD) has been recognized with two prestigious awards, highlighting the department’s dedication to providing enriching programs for all ages and abilities and supporting the Town’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility in the fire service. 

Ontario Association of Fire Educators’ Program of the Year Award

The Oakville Fire Department was named as the recipient of the 2025 Ontario Association of Fire Educators’ (OAFE) Program of the Year Award for the Monarch House Autism Acceptance Month Fire Safety Program. This award honours an Ontario fire department that has demonstrated remarkable creativity and effectiveness in developing a new program, or modernizing an existing one, to engage and benefit their community. 

The Monarch House Autism Acceptance Month Fire Safety Program was a collaboration between OFD and Monarch House, offering free fire safety education to neurodivergent individuals and their families. Participants learned about fire prevention, detection, and escape in an environment tailored specifically for needs of neurodivergent individuals. This included tactile/sensory stations, lots of visuals, diagrams and demonstrations, structured and unstructured activities and more. 

Fire Service Women Ontario’s Diversity and Inclusion Award 

The Oakville Fire Department was also selected as the recipient for the Fire Service Women Ontario’s 2025 Diversity and Inclusion Award for their annual Blaze Fire Academy. This award celebrates leadership and commitment to finding innovative and effective ways to promote the benefits of a diverse fire service. 

Blaze Fire Academy is a fire services leadership program for youth aged 15 to 18, and is run in partnership with the City of Burlington, and the towns of Milton and Halton Hills. The OFD has run camps exclusively for young women and camps for all genders and is exploring offering camps for Indigenous Youth and new Canadians. The camps present a unique opportunity for young people to learn what it’s like to have a career in the fire services. The annual program includes information and experiences related to fire prevention and public education, training, fire investigation, fire code enforcement, and communications. 

Learn more about Oakville Fire’s fire prevention, fire safety, and public education initiatives on the Oakville Fire website. 

Quote

“Congratulations to Oakville Fire on these awards, and for their continued efforts to make Oakville a safer, more diverse and inclusive Town for all. They’re not just accolades; they are proof of what diversity and inclusion look like in action!” 
– Mayor Burton

“I am incredibly proud of the awards our team received. These honours are more than recognition, they are a reflection of our commitment to building a fire service culture where diversity and inclusion are not just values, but visible in every action, every achievement, and every team member who steps up to lead."
– Oakville Fire Chief Paul Boissonneault