City appoints Fire & Paramedic Chief

WINNIPEG - April 30, 2007- Annitta L. Stenning, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Winnipeg, today announced that Mr. Jim Brennan has been appointed Fire & Paramedic Chief with the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS). Chief Brennan brings to this position approximately 30 years of experience in emergency services in Winnipeg.

“I am very pleased that Chief Brennan will be leading our Fire Paramedic Service,” said Stenning. “He is an effective leader and a seasoned emergency services officer who is absolutely committed to providing the highest quality emergency services to the citizens of Winnipeg.”

Chief Brennan has worked for the City of Winnipeg in various capacities since 1977, when he began as an Emergency Medical Technician with the Winnipeg Ambulance Service. For a large part of his career he was engaged in training – both firefighters and paramedics – and then assumed the role of WFPS Deputy Chief of Support Services in May 2000. Since December 2006, he has been Acting Fire & Paramedic Chief.

Chief Brennan has over 35 years of experience in service delivery, project implementation and change management in municipal government and education sectors. Among numerous highlights, he ensured the provision of Emergency Medical Services to the 1999 Pan Am Games; led the creation and maintenance of strategic partnerships with the Manitoba Emergency Services College and all levels of government; and oversaw the introduction of Advanced Life Support Paramedics.

WFPS is responsible for providing fire suppression services and fire prevention programs, for handling hazardous materials incidents, and for the evacuation of people when necessary. WFPS is also responsible for pre-hospital emergency paramedical care and transport of sick and injured in Winnipeg. The Service also provides specialized rescue services such as water and trench rescue, extrication for vehicle and industrial accidents, high angle rescue, and is responsible for enforcing the Manitoba Fire Code within the city of Winnipeg.