Response to Social Media & Canoe Podcast (September 16, 2026) Regarding Minden Fire Department

For Immediate Release
Minden, Ontario
September 16, 2026
3:30 PM
Release # 26-85

Subject: Response to Social Media & Canoe Podcast (September 16, 2026) Regarding Minden Fire Department

The following is a response statement from Mayor Bob Carter and Cynthia Fletcher, Chief Administrative Officer to the recent Social Media items and Canoe Podcast regarding the Township of Minden Hills Fire Department.

It is policy that the Township refrain from discussing employment and personnel matters in public. However, current partisan efforts trigger us to provide context and correct the many inaccuracies distributed via social media and on a local radio podcast. We also have an obligation to quash the partisan efforts to unfairly disparage the Minden Fire Department, the Township, staff and our Council. 

The Minden Fire Department invests significant resources in ongoing training to support community safety. The Township and the Fire Department place high priority on public and community safety. 

In addition, the Township takes workplace matters seriously and follows the requirements of the Collective Agreement, Ontario Human Rights Code, Occupational Health and Safety Act and Township policies. This is not only the right thing to do but it is the law. 

In 2025 and following allegations of harassment, we conducted formal workplace investigations conducted by an impartial third party. From the onset, confidentiality for those who participated was stressed and agreed to by the parties involved. Without strict confidentiality, there is risk employees will not bring these matters forward or participate in the process.

From the social media postings and podcasts, it is clear that those responsible for the postings are unhappy with the outcomes from that process. In assessing outcomes and consequences, numerous factors are considered, including accountability, potential for change and advice from legal counsel. 

The information that is now circulating publicly via social media is more than a year old and follows a serious breach of confidentiality. The information comprises a few lines from a confidential report of over 100 pages. Recommendations from the report have been implemented and many positive changes have occurred over the past year.

The podcast offered the perspective of former employees who have a different philosophy on firefighting than is prescribed by the Ontario Fire Marshall’s office (OFM). Much of what was conveyed has been reviewed. 

Suffice to say that the motivation of the persons disseminating these allegations on the eve of a municipal election, questions whether there are legitimate concerns about the Fire Department given the timing. 

We are saddened that the integrity of our staff, our Fire Department, our Council and our Township are being attacked by innuendo, partial, and untimely information for partisan purposes.

Sincerely,

Bob Carter, Mayor & Cynthia Fletcher, Chief Administrative Officer