East Gwillimbury, ON, October 5, 2026 — Brian Johns, candidate for Mayor of East Gwillimbury, today announced a commitment to the modernization and expansion of the Town's current fire and emergency services, including sustained investment in staffing, facilities, and equipment as the community grows.
"When you call for help, response time is everything," said Johns. "East Gwillimbury is growing fast and our communities are spread out. Our fire and emergency services have to be elevated now and grow with us. This isn't a place to cut corners."
Johns committed to supporting the incremental hiring of 6 full-time fire suppression staff - each year - for the upcoming term of Council, working toward an initial target of 52 full-time fire suppression staff. This, along with ensuring ongoing professional development and specialized training for all personnel continues.
On infrastructure, Johns committed to building a new fire hall in Sharon to reduce response times across the Town's dispersed communities, and to continuing capital improvements at existing fire halls to support and expand operational efficiency. He also committed to maintaining modern fire apparatus, vehicles, and equipment.
Johns committed to maintaining collective employment agreements to support staffing stability and morale, and said the Town's approach to growing its fire services should be deliberate and sustainable. He committed to an annual review and a multi-year investment plan that expands staffing and facilities in step with population growth and risk assessment, rather than in reaction to it.
"Our firefighters do a demanding job and they do it well," said Johns. "My commitment is to make sure they have the people, the equipment, and the facilities they need now to keep our community safe as it grows."
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