The City of Windsor has named a new fire chief.
Deputy Chief of Operations Stephen Laforet will replace current Chief Bruce Montone, who is not retiring but is being reassigned April 1, 2017.
""There really isn't a day that goes by where I don't talk to him," Laforet say. "So certainly in transitioning to the new role, I look to him for support, and he's 100% supportive of council's decision. I can't say enough to thank him. I don't know I would be as well prepared as I am if it hasn't been for Bruce."
The announcement came today at City Hall by Major Drew Dilkens.
Laforet has been with the Windsor Fire and Rescue Services for 26 years, and Deputy Chief for more than five.
He says he can't wait to get started.
"It's truly an honour. It's where I honed my craft, where I developed as a fire fighter, where I built my professional relationships. So now we move on to the future and we try to maintain all the things that were good in our past, and we change the things that need to be changed."
Laforet says he loves the team in Windsor.
"When you're in an organization and you see yourself grow and develop in it, you feel like you want to give back to the organization. I think I have the skills that I can bring us into the next period of our existence. So I'm certainly proud of the organization, and I want to lead it."
Laforet is a member of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, as well he is a graduate of Dalhousie University's Certificate of Fire Service Leadership and Certificate of Fire Service Administration, Operation Planning Programs.
He's also a husband and father of two.
Laforet says one thing he wants to work after taking the reigns is adding analytics to the workplace to further help the staff and residents.