HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-08-24, Page 9Ladner hopes to brin
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 2017. PAGE 9.
college program to ESTC
A new era
Ryan Ladner was introduced as the new chief of the Fire Department of North Huron and the
principal of the Emergency Services Training Centre back in March and now, with six months
under his belt, he's hoping to land some big-time programs at the centre that will help the
centre to realize its full potential. Ladner is seen here in March being introduced at a North
Huron Council meeting. From left: Reeve Neil Vincent, then -Chief Administrative Officer
Sharon Chambers, Ladner and former Chief David Sparling. (File photo)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Fire Department of North Huron
(FDNH) Chief Ryan Ladner has
brought some very specific and
applicable experience to his first six
months as head of the fire
department and principal of the
Emergency Services Training
Centre.
Ladner was appointed to the
position in March after North Huron
Township Council, staff and a
consulting firm conducted an
exhaustive search for former FDNH
Chief David Sparling, who left the
position and now works at his family
business Blyth Cowbell Brewing
Company.
With nine years in the military,
which included time as a teacher,
and 15 years experience in
firefighting, including leading
training at the Mississauga Fire
Department, Ladner had the
experience in instruction that North
Huron wanted.
"I've done both firefighting and
training," Ladner said. "My last
three or four years in Mississauga I
spent time training as well as being
on the fire trucks."
Ladner originally studied at
Lansing College for firefighting but
transfered to Humber College to
finish his diploma. He then was
hired onto the Erin Fire Department
before being hired by the
Mississauga Fire Department.
Ladner said North Huron offered a
unique opportunity to ply his two
experiences and bring success to the
ESTC.
"I saw a huge opportunity with the
ESTC," he said. "With my
background in training and program
design, I felt I could make a
difference. I had a lot of success
training at Humber College and saw
the ESTC needed some new work
and new blood and thought I could
bring that."
Ladner hit the ground running,
starting with an in-depth analysis of
an operational review of the ESTC.
Within a few months, Ladner
brought forward one of the most
significant changes he plans for the
ESTC — hiring an individual whose
primary position will be to recruit
business for the ESTC.
Fitting right in
Since coming to North Huron in March, Chief Ryan Ladner,
right, has immersed himself in the community, including
helping with former firefighter Doug Scrimgeour's program
to send used fire equipment to Mexico. From left: John
Uptegrove, Scrimgeour, Ladner. (Photo submitted)
"Most of the significant changes
have been with the ESTC," he said.
"The fire department is a really
competent group of people and I let
them do their own thing. I haven't
had to interfere with them because
they know what they're doing.
"With the ESTC, we replaced the
fire prevention officer with a part-
time officer and are hiring someone
to be the principal of the ESTC as
well as deputy -chief," he said.
"Their main job will be to recruit
business to the ESTC. A candidate
has been selected and will be
announced at a later date."
Ladner said he sees a lot of
opportunity at the ESTC, and he
wants to make sure someone is in
place to capitalize on those
opportunities.
"The ESTC has the potential to be
a huge revenue generator for the
township," he said. "It's state of the
art and has lots of room, we just have
to bring the people there to fill the
classrooms"
Ladner said bringing more people
in is a goal being actively pursued
with time already set aside to meet
with a private company for a marine
firefighting program and hopes of
making the ESTC a location that
offers firefighter certification.
"Our number one goal at the
ESTC is to bring the career college
program there," he said. "What that
means is a four-month boot camp
where people come to be certified as
firefighters. That's a huge revenue -
generating opportunity."
He said the program is a Monday -
to -Friday program running eight
hours a day for that four-month
period, which will result in a
significant increase in the number of
people visiting the village of Blyth.
Ladner said there is an
approximate eight-month wait to
clear the program with the
government and said, currently, the
training calendar is open right now.
"I'm hoping we can get a 50 per
cent increase in the amount of
training in the first 12 months, and
then, if the career college program
gets going, we will be in a good
place," he said. "If we can fill that
career program, we will be making
money in a few years."
Aside from helping the ESTC to
recognize its potential, Ladner said
the biggest challenges he has run
into is getting to know the people in
the area.
"I'm from a small town, just like
Blyth and Wingham," he said,
explaining he is from Hillsburgh in
the Town of Erin. "It can take awhile
to get to know everyone. I have 42
volunteer firefighters to get on a
first -name basis with."
He said, beyond getting to know
the firefighters, another challenge is
getting used to work withing them.
"It can be hard when a new chief
comes in," he said. "No one knows
what is expected. I could be
drastically different from the
previous chief and no one knows
what's around the corner. It makes
for an interesting dynamic."
Get information
on Huron County attractions
on Stops Along The Way
online at
www. northhuron.on.ca
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