On Thursday, November 27th, it was an honour to stand before the Central York Fire Services family as Chair of the Joint Council Committee to open the 2025 Recognition Night. Before any medals, promotions, or partnership awards were presented, I wanted to reflect on what these acknowledgements truly represent.

Because the heart of the evening was never the list of accomplishments. It was the leadership, service, and character behind them.

For decades, CYFS members have built a culture grounded in courage, discipline, teamwork, and humility. Each person recognized that night demonstrated what it means to show up for others, often on their hardest day. Promotions reflected years of training, testing, mentoring, and earning the trust of colleagues. Medals and bars acknowledged decades of good conduct and dedicated service. Community partnerships highlighted the essential role of collaboration in strengthening safety across Aurora and Newmarket. And new hires marked the beginning of meaningful careers defined by commitment.

All of these symbols, medals, bars, promotions, partnerships, reminded us that leadership is practiced long before it is recognized.

I also shared a moment that captured the heart of that message.

CYFS Fire Fighter Chris with Embers (Girl Guides of Canada) earning their Connect and Question Badge.

As many know, I was once a Girl Guide and remain a proud volunteer with Girl Guides of Canada. Each year, Station 4-5 welcomes the seven and eight year old Embers earning their Connect and Question badge. This year, seventeen of them visited the station, full of excitement and curiosity. Their biggest question was:

“What do all the medals and bars mean?”
Their interpretations were touching.
One Ember said, “That one means they’re brave.”
Another said, “That one means they learned something really hard.”
Another whispered, “The special ones mean they’re heroes because heroes save people.”
And one small voice said something that stayed with me:
“I think that one means they never gave up.”

Out of the mouths of children came the purest understanding of what service truly is.

These honours meant members showed up when needed most.
They meant hours of training no one ever sees.
They meant standing steady when others feel unsteady.
They meant helping strangers on their hardest days.
They meant leading with integrity.
They meant never giving up on their crew, their community or their calling.

That is what these young Embers saw when they walked into the station, leadership in action. That is what our community partners saw through their collaborations with CYFS, a culture of excellence that strengthens our entire region.

And on November 27th, that is what we celebrated, not just achievements but the people behind them.

To every new hire, newly promoted officer, medal recipient, long serving member and community partner recognized that evening, thank you. Your work inspires the next generation. You show young people what courage looks like. You shape how our community understands service. And you model the leadership that defines Central York Fire Services.

Congratulations once again to all our 2025 honourees. It was a privilege to celebrate with you.

With gratitude,

Kelly Broome
Councillor Ward 6 Newmarket
Chair CYFS Joint Committee Council

2025 CYFS Recognition Night Honourees

New Hires – Welcoming New Members to CYFS

Deputy Fire Chief Lorianne Zwicker – Joined CYFS January 6, 2025 as Deputy Fire Chief, Community Risk
and Education.
Captain Duane Kettlewell – Joined July 7, 2025 as Training Officer leading HazMat qualification
David Mosquera – Joined November 17, 2025 as Administrative Assistant, Training Division
Firefighter Brienne Nelson – Probationary firefighter, graduated June 26, 2025
Firefighter Fatemeh Hajjari – Probationary firefighter, graduated June 26, 2025
Firefighter Nicole Bruce – Probationary firefighter, graduated June 26, 2025

Promotions – Advancing Leadership in the Service

Dan Waters – Promoted from Platoon Chief to Deputy Chief of Operations
Michael Petrova – Promoted from Captain to Platoon Chief, D Platoon
Phil Henrich – Promoted from Firefighter to Captain, Crew 7A
Adriano Cassullo – Promoted from Firefighter to Captain, Crew 5D
Federal Exemplary Service Medal – 20 Years

Recognizing good conduct and distinguished service.

Acting Captain James O’Dell
Administrative Assistant Andrea Ball
Captain Tim Tustin (unable to attend)
Acting Captain David Boucher (unable to attend)
Acting Captain Justin Cooper (unable to attend)
Firefighter Colin Graham (unable to attend)
Firefighter Brian Millar (unable to attend)

Provincial Long Service Medal – 25 Years

Awarded for 25 years of dedicated service.

Acting Platoon Chief Michael Joy
Acting Platoon Chief Jeff Rempel
Captain Corey Huigenbos
Captain William Buckindale
Acting Captain Brant Dealy
Firefighter Matthew McKendry
Captain Simon Day (unable to attend)

Federal Exemplary Service Bar + Provincial Long Service Bar – 30 Years

Deputy Chief Daniel Waters
Captain Paul Horton
Captain Jason Shepstone
Firefighter Jonathan Healy
Acting Platoon Chief Alexander Patrick (unable to attend)
Acting Platoon Chief Thomas Hunter (unable to attend)
Firefighter Allen Cook (unable to attend)
Provincial Long Service Bar – 35 Years
Platoon Chief William Lorimer

King Charles III Coronation Medal - Recognizing leadership, public service and community impact.

Fire Chief Rocco Volpe

Canadian Coronation Emblem - Recognizing contribution to community and service to Canadians.

Deputy Fire Chief Dan Waters

Jim Allen Award Recipient – Excellence in Training and Education Recognizing exceptional dedication to training and the advancement of CYFS.

Firefighter Marty Maurice

Community Partner Awards – Strengthening Community Safety Honouring organizations whose partnership strengthens CYFS training, prevention and public safety.

Cedar Beach Resort – Ice and surface water rescue training support
Carcone’s Auto Recycling – Longstanding support for auto-extrication training
Call2Recycle – Battery recycling partnership and national PSA collaboration
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation – Donation of life-saving equipment
Milwaukee Tool – Partnership in launching the new electric fire investigation van

Celebrating the People Behind the Medals at Central York Fire Services