Fire History: 

Welland Fire and Emergency Services
Personnel History

This is dedicated to all our departed
Firefighting brothers 

 

Prepared by Kevin L. Ellis  February 16, 1999

Welland Fire Chiefs  

Charles F. Staff	1921-1931
J.C. MacMillan	1932-1938
Isaac H. Lampman	1938-1949
James Wardle	1949-1949
Cecil L. Upper	1950-1973
Joseph Blazetich	1973-1976
Edgar Wilson	1976-1980
Roland Bouchard	1980-1993
John Labenski	1994-1996
Paul Olah	1996-2006
Denys Prevost	2006-Present

W.P.F.F.A. Past Presidents  

M.  PATRICK  1952 - 1961- LOCAL 1140 (FORMERLY CROWLAND)
 

W.P.F.F.A. Past Secretaries  

C. UPPER	1947 - 1948
H. WYLDE	1948 - 1953
S. INFANTINO	1953 - 1960
H. READ	1960 - 1962
F. COLLINS	1962 - 1966
G. BARKER	1966 - 1971
J. BOUCHARD	1971 - 1973
R. FINLAY	1973 - 1974
N. HOMINUK	1974 -1975
J. BOUCHARD	1975 - 1976
W. DeMILLE	1976 - 1985
Y. LANDRY	1985 - 1990
G. RODRIGUE	1990 - 1997
K. ELLIS	1997 -1999
G. RODRIGUE	1999 -2000
P.VOYNOVICH	2000 - 2006
A. ECKHART	2006 - present

Memorial Monuments

In 1928  on each decoration day, the Volunteers started a practice of placing flowers on the graves of  Fire Fighters in the local cemeteries which evolved into planting geraniums on the graves. This practice was  then replaced by placing a single hanging flower stand in each cemetery. On Decoration Day a fresh basket of flowers was hung from this stand and attached was the names of all deceased Fire Fighters.

In 1966, the Welland United Volunteer Fire fighters Committee voted to replace the flower stands with a more permanent Memorial to all Volunteer and Career Fire Fighters. These Marble Markers can be seen in most local cemeteries located close to the flag poles and  are a perpetual memorial to all the fire Fighters that are buried there. These Marble Monuments were placed in the following Cemeteries:

Holy Cross - Woodlawn - Smith St.- Doans Ridge - Fonthill and Pleasantview.
 

Honorary Members 

Feb. 2, 1949	Owen Tufts was sworn in as an honorary member of the Association.  Stan Dean was also an honorary member and his date is unknown
Oct. 30, 1978	Frank "Jazzy" Bruno sworn in as an honorary member of the Association.  Fee Villella of Volunteer Company #1 also sworn in.

Fire Department Secretaries 

July 1980 to July 1983	Betsy Arnott was hired as a part-time secretary for the Welland Fire Dept.
June 13, 1983 to present	Debra Lavictoire was hired to replace Betsy, who was retiring.  On October 16, 1990 Debra’s hours were increased to full-time.  Debra is still employed with the Welland Fire Department.
October 4, 2004 to present	Paula Albano was hired to provide part-time Clerical support to the Fire Prevention Bureau.  On April 3, 2006, Paula accepted the full time position of Administrative Assistant-Fire Prevention.

Birth Of The Association 

Sept. 24, 1926	Provincial Federation of Ontario Fire Fighters  (P.F.O.F.F.) Branch 30.
Sept. 24, 1936	International Association of Fire Fighters  (I.A.F.F) Local 481
Nov. 6, 1979	Canadian Association of Fire Fighters  (C.A.F.F.). This Association was joined under the membership of   I.A.F.F Local 481.  The I.A.F.F. constitution did not allow us to join the C.A.F.F. so we resigned.  We joined the O.P.F.F.A. under the C.A.F.F. in 1983.
Sept. 22, 1983	Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association   (O.P.F.F.A.)
Sept.  1997	International Association of Fire Fighters  (I.A.F.F) Local 481

Dates Of Department Interest For The Welland Fire 

1920 Dec. 17	Central Fire Hall - Station #1 on Division Street was officially opened.
1921	Charles F. Stapff was hired as Chief (1st paid Chief).
1926	The Welland Fire Department paid personnel consisted of  7 Fire Fighters:  L.L Brown  I.H. Lampman  J.F. Cutler  J.O. McDonald  J.H. Sykes J.  Wardel  J.C. MacMillian Plus one Chief: C.F. Stapff They were all members of the Provincial Federation of Ontario Fire Fighters  (P.F.O.F.F.) Branch 30.
1932	J.C. MacMillian was hired as the 2nd paid Fire Chief for the Department.
1938 Aug. 4	Isaac Herman Lampman was made Chief of the Department and J. Wardel was appointed Deputy Chief.
1939 Oct.15	A motion by M. Wardle and seconded by J. McDonald that this local go on record stating that any member who joins His Majesties Forces retain his seniority on his return to civilian life.  This was carried.
1943	The Welland Fire Department  fire fighter personnel was increased by 2, bring the total to 10 fire fighters and 1 Chief.
1944 May 19 Oct 19	A carnival was organized by Firefighters and held on Mrs. Martins grounds. Three gallons of gas were given to members who sold dance tickets and also put posters up at various locations around town.
1945 Jan. 7	$10.00 donation to the Canadian Legion Cigarette Fund to be sent overseas.
1946 Nov. 15	4th Annual Fireman’s Ball held featuring Jimmy Mirando’s Orchestra.  Cost $ 1.00 per couple.
1947 Dec.23	Members voted  in favour to purchase goalie pads, sticks and other hockey equipment.  Paid Dr. Snelling’s bill for treatment of hockey injuries.  An arrangement was made with the Welland Arena:  2 fire fighters would work two shifts per week in exchange for ice time.
1948 Feb. 25	Part-time workers clause was negotiated out of Collective Agreement.
1949 July 13 Jan. 5 Sept  2	The first Welland Fire Fighters Constitution and Bylaws was born. The local voted to purchase 1 dozen hockey sticks. Fire Department hockey team quit the "Slaughter House League".  Also because of a split vote the team was disbanded and it was decided to no longer finance any hockey.
1950 Oct. 4 Dec. 4	Vote successful in keeping out temporary fire fighters from Local 481. Vote successful in accepting 3 temporary fire fighters in Local 481.
1951 Jan.  July 23	Salaries: Captain - $ 3,000; 1st Class Fire Fighter  $  2,800; 2nd Class Fire Fighter $ 2,700; 3rd Class Fire Fighter $ 2,600; Probationary $ 2,500. The Association presented a Bravery Award to George Shook.
1952	The Local requested that the secretary obtain information about Donkey Baseball and Midget Auto Racing.
1953 Dec. 19	The Professional and Volunteer Company #1 fire fighters hosted a Christmas Party of mentally challenged children.
1955 Aug. 3	Ladies given permission to raffle a blanket at Fireman’s Dance.
1956	Members of Local cleaned up Volunteer Company #1’s Hall in exchange for money that would be set aside for next stag.  This was increased to $ 100 per year in 1964.
1957	Secretary/Treasurer voted to receive yearly honorarium of $ 25.
1958	Contract proposal to adopt 40 hour work week with a 2 Platoon system.
1959 Feb. 4 Aug. 6 Sept. 2	A $ 10 cheque sent to Mr. Bill for "Sparky" the Fire Department Dog. A tag was purchased for Sparky. A motion was carried to find a good home for Sparky.
1960	Association voted to give A & Z group and B & Y group (A-1, A-2 Platoon and B-1, B-2 Platoon) each shift given $ 50 for a party.
1961	Letter sent to O.P.F.F. stating Local has complied with the O.P.F.F. resolution (drafted at Kitchener Convention) and has broken away from the Volunteers.
1962   Dec.	Expenses of officers and delegates room rates were increased from $5 to $8 per day and railway transportation was reimbursed. Curling Team given $ 35 to attend Oshawa Bonspiel.
1963 Apr. 3	Local agreed to sell Fire Department "Punching Bag."
1964 July 7	Fire Department held Annual Golf Tournament and raised $ 86..
1965 July 7	Local approached City to express interest in purchasing Kilgour Avenue Fire Hall.
1966 June	The Local approached the City and expressed interest in purchasing the old Kilgour Avenue Fire Hall for their own use.
1967 June 24   Oct. 7	Local sold Buffalo Burgers at Welland Arena for Welland’s Silver Anniversary.  This event continued for many years to come and also was the start of the Welland Rose Festival. Walter Ostenak Band played at the 24th Annual Fire Fighters Dance.
1968	Approached School Board to express interest in purchasing the Lundy School of Crowland located at East Main and Argyle Road.
1969 May	The Local looked at buying 1.5 acres on Oxford Road but chose to purchase lots on Schisler Road for a future Fire Fighters Club and Meeting Hall.
1970 Dec. 28	The Welland Firefighters Association changed its name to the Welland Professional Fire Fighters Association.
1971	The Local decided to purchase engraved rings for twenty-five (25) years of service instead of a watch.
1972 Jan. 22 Feb. 6 Aug. 14 Dec.	The Welland Professional Fire Fighters Club held its first meeting. The Club began drafting its Constitution and Bylaws. The annual Picnic was held at Orchard Park in Long Beach.Some time in the 1960’s a telephone line for the Victorian Order of Nurses was installed at Station #3.  It was the responsibility of On Duty Personnel to answer the telephone and take messages.  With the increasing number of calls and responsibility involved, the firefighters attempted to stop this practice.  After many years of negotiating with the Chief, the members finally refused to answer the V.O.N. telephone at the West Side Fire Hall and shortly thereafter it was disconnected.
1973 Mar. 16	The St. Catharines Fire Department played the Welland Fire Department in a hockey game at the Welland Arena.  To help cover the cost an admission of $2.00 was charged.
1974 Jan	The Executive met with the Fire Chief to discuss the new City By-law outlawing part time work being done by Firefighters on their days off.
1975 April	Association Meeting nights were changed from Wednesday to the first Tuesday of the month as Vol. Co. No. 1 requested the Hall for their meetings.
1976 Jan.	Association members voted to accept the final amended proposals for the 1974 and 1975 Contract.  Noted below is a breakdown of the wage increase:   City Proposed 8%  Association Proposed 20% 01/01/75-10%;01/07/75-5%  01/01/75-12%;01/07/75-4% Mutually agreed settlement as 01/01-11.5%;01/07/75-4% The high increases were the norm for contracts as inflation ran rampant in the ‘70’s.  The Association was also trying to achieve wage parity with other Fire Departments in the Niagara Region.  Around this time the Government had set up the "Inflation Restraint Board" which could be used to appeal such high increases.
1977 July	The Welland Fire Department won the Rose Festival’s Annual Bed Race.
1979 Feb. 6	The Association voted to donate $500 towards the purchase of a "2D" heart machine for the Sick Children’s Hospital in Toronto.
1980 Dec.	The members voted to no longer hold the Fire Fighter’s Annual Dance.
1981	Prior to 1981, when a fire emergency was called in, the telephone rang at all three stations.  It was up to members listening in, to respond to the emergency in their respective areas.  This situation sometimes created confusion.  Large structure fires and multiple alarms, sometimes left the stations empty, with no one to answer further emergency calls.
1982	Sometime during this year is was decided that, for the protection of the City, a Firefighter was to remain in the Dispatch Room at all times.  This duty was shared equally by the "three junior men" on each shift.
1983	D. Nenadovich was hired as the first full time Dispatcher followed by R. Moldowan
1984	T. Nenadovich was the third dispatcher hired.
1985	K.  Ellis was the last dispatcher hired to replace the "3 junior man" dispatch rotation.  From this time on, all new personnel hired started in dispatch.  Then the most senior dispatcher was promoted in rank to a fourth class Firefighter.
1986	During this year all Welland Professional Firefighters, retired and present, had individual photographs taken.  These photographs were assembled in a large framed picture, which is presently hanging at King Street Fire Hall.
1987	The Welland Minor Hockey Association donated a pop vending machine for use at the King Street Fire Station.  Later in that same year the compressor failed and had to be replaced.
1988	The Association donated $250 to the Stelco Strike Fund.  Later in that year the striking employees burned all of their make shift strike shelters.
1989	The Association purchased 4 tickets at $10 each piece for the Welland Jr. Indians Baseball team.  These tickets were purchased annually for many years and were for the members use.

This is not the end of the Welland Fire Department History, it is the information gathered to date.  

SPECIAL THANKS TO MR. AND MRS. JOHN ROSE OF VOLUNTEER COMPANY NO. 1 FOR THE USE OF THEIR RESEARCHED MATERIAL FROM THE HISTORY OF WELLAND VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY NO. 1.

Special thanks also to Mr. Dave Hominuk for his researched material from the "75th Anniversary" of Welland Vol. Fire Co. #2.  

Author's Note:

To the best of my knowledge, all accounts and dates are true and accurate.  While I have taken great time and the utmost care to thoroughly research and record the history of the Welland Fire Department and its Professional Firefighters, some accounts may be in error.  If any member has additional or corrected information, please contact the me so that the historical accounts may be kept accurate and true.