Windsor loses dedicated chief

Founded in 1881, the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department has had two great fire chiefs, who together served for over half of the stations life span: Walter B. Stephens and Frederick A. Fox. Both have now passed on, but their influence on modern fire service is a tribute to both the Windsor Fire Department and the community it worked to protect.

“We’ve been blessed with exceptional fire chiefs for the last half century,” says Windsor Mayor Paul Beazley. “They’ve been as good as they come in any professional fire department.”

Beazley says Fox left his mark though his professionalism and leadership. His recent death is an enormous loss, not only for the department, but also for the entire community.

“I have no doubt his memory will carry on; he’s brought this Department to a level of service that we can be proud of.”

Former Mayor Anna Allen worked with Fox for more than 30 years. As well as being a wonderful individual, she says Fox was a remarkable figure. “He worked so hard and his dedication to the profession was exemplary. He was the leader that moved this department to the fire service age this town needed to move forward.”

Allen says she regrets a new fire station could not be built before Fox’s death. “It would have been nice to have that and for him to work in the new station; it was something he was passionately involved with.”

MLA Chuck Porter knew Fox personally for most of his life. Both Porter and his father served with Fox as volunteer fire fighters with the

As MLA and former town councillor, Porter regularly worked with Fox around service funding and had recently passed a resolution in the House of Assembly recognizing Fox for his 38 years of service. “He devoted his life to the fire service, both provincially and national,” Porter says.

On a local level, Porter says Fox’s commitment was unequivocal. “Fred cared a lot about his community and he loved that department. He taught a lot of the younger folks about what it is to be a good leader. He was a patient man you could talk to and he was a friend; he’ll be sadly missed.”