Port Colborne welcomes new deputy fire chief

Port Colborne Fire & Emergency Services welcomes Mike DeGasperis as the new deputy fire chief starting next week.

DeGasperis will join Port Colborne Fire & Emergency Services team on May 3, after previously working with Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services for more than 10 years. Working closely with fire chief Scott Lawson, DeGasperis’s educational and training background will complement the existing team structure at the City.

“After a tedious recruitment process, we felt Mike was the ideal candidate based on his education, work experience and commitment to the community,” said Scott Lawson, fire chief. “A significant component of this position is educating the community about fire safety and building relationships with key partners. During the recruitment process, it was evident through Mike’s volunteer work, he is passionate about the community and is looking for ways to give back. We think he will be an asset to the City of Port Colborne and look forward to welcoming him to the team next week.”

No stranger to the Niagara community, DeGasperis started as a volunteer Fire Fighter in Thorold in 2006, before becoming a first-class Fire Fighter in Mississauga in 2010. Before this, he was a Primary Care Paramedic with Niagara Region from 2008 to 2010. He holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology from Brock University and spent the last several years as a Training Officer for all disciplines under Special Operations for Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services.

“Niagara is my home and I’m looking forward to being able to work in the same community,” said Mike DeGasperis, incoming deputy fire chief. “Port Colborne is a growing municipality and there is a lot of opportunity here. I’m excited to work with Fire Chief Lawson, the Emergency Services team, and the Port Colborne residents.”

The recruitment process for the deputy fire chief began late February when Scott Lawson accepted the position of fire chief. After almost 20 years at the City of Port Colborne as fire chief, Tom Cartwright accepted a new role as the Director of Community Safety and Enforcement, which initiated the need to hire a deputy fire chief. Port Colborne Fire & Emergency Services is committed to keeping Port Colborne safe. For more information on fire safety and community programming, visit the City’s website.