MANITOUWADGE -- The Township of Manitouwadge announced the hiring of a new fire chief.
Mr. Don Kruger is moving to Manitouwadge with his family from Waubaushene, Ont, where he is currently the fire chief for South Algonquin Township.
Kruger has more than 17 years of experience, having worked in both Tay Township and South Algonquin for their fire service.
His background shows that he has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Laurentian University, having also taught pre-service firefighter training courses at Georgian College, Humber College, and the Southwest Fire Academy for the past six years.
Manitouwadge mayor, John MacEachern, a member of the Hiring Committee stated, “We are very excited to have Don and his family relocate to Manitouwadge and lead our Volunteer Fire Department. Our members are very fortunate to have his education, experience and professional skills available to them in both public education and emergency response.”
When asked his views about the Township’s choice for fire chief, Denis Narbonne, Manitouwadge deputy fire chief commented by saying that, the candidate that the Township’s hiring committee selected, “was one of the better picks between the two that had applied for the position.” He also said that he was out of town when Mr. Kruger was in Manitouwadge three weeks ago for his interview, and therefore he did not have the opportunity to meet him.
He further stated that, “We are happy about the choice that the Committee made as he was the individual that all expressed their preference for.” The Deputy Fire Chief described Mr. Kruger as the Committee’s first interview person. He spoke about moving forward and working with the newly hired fire chief.
Mr. Don Kruger is to begin his role as fire chief in Manitouwadge on Monday, Jan. 17, 2022.
The Township thanked the Town of Marathon for their support over the past three months in allowing Fire Chief Earl Grigg to fill the role of acting fire chief for Manitouwadge; following a transition to retirement of Mr. Owen Cranney who had filled the role of Fire Chief for 25 years.
The Township indicated that Fire Chief Grigg will continue to support the Township of Manitouwadge and Mr. Don Kruger in his role until Jan. 30, 2022.
