Employee of Grandview Kids in Oshawa to Receive Fire Safety Award

TORONTO, June 16, 2014 /CNW/ - Lisa Wilson, Community & Media Relations Coordinator for Grandview Kids, will receive a Fire Safety Award from the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council at a ceremony on June 19, 2014 in Toronto. The annual Fire Safety Awards recognize outstanding contributions to fire protection and prevention in Ontario.

In October 2013, Clarington Fire and Emergency Services worked with Grandview Kids on THINK AHEAD, a program aimed at reducing the threat of fire to families with children and youth with special needs.

Wilson was instrumental in communicating information about THINK AHEAD to families of Grandview Kids to motivate them to participate in the program. As part the program, parents of Grandview Kids can request a home safety visit from the fire department. The visit sees fire crews performing smoke alarm checks and assisting families with home escape planning. In addition, the fire department will collect information that will help to ensure appropriate resources are deployed to the home if a fire occurs.

Last December, Grandview participated in the another fire safety program, the 12 Days of Holiday Safety, to ensure that families of Grandview Kids were aware of the additional fire hazards during the holiday season. In addition, Grandview Kids communicates fire safety information to families through a variety of communications platforms year 'round.

"Grandview Kids serves more than 5,000 children and youth with special needs and their families each year in Durham Region," said Ted Wieclawek, Chair, Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council. "As a result of the success of the THINK AHEAD initiative in Clarington, other fire departments within Durham Region are now participating."

The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council gratefully acknowledges the support of its sponsors in this event: TD Bank Group, Toronto Blue Jays, Union Gas Limited/ A Spectra Energy Company, Technical Standards & Safety Authority - TSSA, Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. Proctor & Gamble Inc., Electrical Safety Authority, CSA Group, The Co-operators Group, Kidde Canada Inc., Roxul Inc. and The Home Depot.

SOURCE: Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council

Carol Gravelle, Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management, [phone] [email protected]