Providing more seamless service delivery to Whitby residents

The Town of Whitby is pleased to announce that Mike Hickey has been appointed Whitby’s new Fire Chief. Chief Hickey’s appointment came into effect following a Special Council Meeting held last night.

Chief Hickey brings 24 years of experience with the Whitby Fire Department to this new position. He started as a volunteer firefighter with the Town in May 1998 and was hired as a full-time firefighter in May of 2000. He progressed and excelled through the ranks from Captain to Acting Platoon Chief to Training Officer, arriving in his role as Deputy Fire Chief in March 2021. Over the past year, Hickey served as Acting Fire Chief for several months. His career also includes16 years in senior positions as a member of the Whitby Professional Fire Fighter’s Association. Hickey will take over the role from outgoing Fire Chief Dave Speed, who recently accepted the position of Clarington Fire Chief after serving with the Town for more than a decade. 

In addition, the Community Services Department will be expanded to include the Town’s Operations Division, previously led by Chief Speed. This will bring the majority of Whitby’s resident facing services under one department, providing more seamless service delivery to the community. These services range from recreational programming to parks planning and maintenance, to roads maintenance, to storm water management, and more. The expanded Community Services Department will be led by current Commissioner John Romano.

Romano has been with the Town for more than 30 years, having started his career with the municipality in 1989 as a part-time staff member. Since then, John has held positions of growing responsibility across numerous divisions, leading teams in Operations, Facilities, and Community Services, with his most recent role as Commissioner of Community Services.

“On behalf of Town Council, I want to congratulate both Mike and John in their new and expanded roles. We are fortunate to have such strong leaders here at the Town. I would also like to thank Dave Speed for his leadership and dedication over the past ten years as Whitby’s Fire Chief and wish him well in our neighbouring municipality of Clarington.”

-        Elizabeth Roy, Mayor, Town of Whitby

“I have great confidence in both Mike and John. Each brings with them strong leadership and decades of experience working with the Town of Whitby. I know that they will continue to lead their teams in providing exceptional service to our residents. I would also like to thank Dave Speed for his impeccable guidance and leadership over the last 10-years. His passion, knowledge, and commitment to the Town and our residents was always on display and I wish him well in his new role.”

-        Matt Gaskell, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Whitby

For media inquiries, please contact:

Erin Mikaluk, Manager, Communications and Creative Services, Town of Whitby
Phone: 289.314.6913
Email: mikaluke@whitby.ca