Orville Thertell’s service will be recognized on a new memorial monument at Fire Hall #1.
On June 6th, Fire Chief Bill Balfour submitted a report requesting Council support for a policy acknowledging Line of Duty Deaths among Fire Department staff that are attributable to their work activities, a policy that aligns with Ontario’s Presumptive Legislation under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.
The report also requested approval for the installation of a Memorial Monument to be located at Fire Hall #1.
The Monument gesture was sparked by the recent passing of dedicated Fire Captain, which has been classified as a line-of-duty death under Ontario’s Presumptive Legislation within the Work-place Safety and Insurance Act. This legislation acknowledges the risk firefighters are exposed to during in their work, which includes becoming infected with a variety of recognized cancers, such as those affecting the lungs, bladder, kidneys, and blood (e.g., leukemia). Eligibility is determined based on years of service. The legislation attempts to provide timely support to firefighters and their families by streamlining the claims process and recognizing the heightened risks associated with firefighting, such as exposure to carcinogens, smoke and hazardous materials.
An application has been submitted by the Fire Chief’s Office to have Captain Orville Thertell honoured at the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation Memorial. With the consent of the captain’s family, his service will also be recognized at the Provincial level at the Firefighters’ Monument in Ottawa in October 2026.
To honour this sacrifice and others, the Fire Chief is requesting the installation of a local Monument to recognize eligible members of the department. The Fire Firefighters’ Association has agreed to sup-port this initiative with the contribution of funds towards this Memorial Monument project.
The report included a sample concept for the monument, but the final design will be developed in consultation with the local Firefighters’ Association, the Fire Chief, and Township Administration. This monument would commemorate the dedication of local firefighters and symbolize the Township’s ongoing commitment to recognizing their service. It will also honour future firefighters who meet the criteria for a line-of-duty death policy. Eligibility includes death while actively performing official duties or as a direct result of injuries or incidents sustained in the line of duty or if their death is attributed to one of the cancers identified as a risk under Ontario’s Presumptive Legislation for firefighters.
This project has been adopted by other municipalities. The Fire Chief will ensure that Fire Department policies are implemented as identified in the Ontario’s Presumptive Legislation within the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act.
The monument is expected to cost $6,000, with half of the funding provided by the Firefighters’ Association and the remainder from the town-ship’s Emergency Equipment Reserve. It will serve as a permanent reminder of the sacrifice of our local fire-fighters who respond without hesitation to help us face some of our most devastating challenges. We thank you all for your service, and are confident in the knowledge that you continue to follow the legacy of your late Captain, Orville Thertell.