Brampton fire truck wrapped for Black History Month

March 27, 2023

Representation matters, particularly when it comes to groups that are on the sidelines or feel marginalized.

Last year, City of Brampton Fire/Life Safety Education Officer Michelle John made an interesting proposal to her union.

Passionate about Black history, she suggested a design wrap on a Brampton fire truck during Black History Month.

“I have seen trucks wrapped during National Breast Cancer and Movember month,” she said. “Brampton is one of the most diverse cities in Canada and the Black population is the second largest in the city.”

While researching the contributions of Blacks to firefighting, John made some amazing discoveries.

Molly Williams was the first female firefighter in the United States in 1818, Garrett Morgan invented the safety hood smoke protection device that was patented in 1912 and Joseph Winters created the fire escape ladder.

In 1878, George Reid -- a member of Chicago’s first African-American engine company -- was stacking hay on the third floor of the firehouse when the alarm sounded.

He reacted by sliding to the first floor down a pole that had been temporarily lashed in place to allow for hoisting hay bales.

Reid reached the ground before those on the second floor who were using the spiral staircase, which at the time was utilized in firehouses to keep the horses from climbing upstairs.

The next week, his command officer convinced his superiors that a permanent pole should be installed to allow firefighters to move quickly to the ground floor.

‘Why not feature these trailblazers on our trucks for Black History Month’? was John’s first thought.

After sharing her plan with Ryan Agard who in 2011 became Brampton’s first Black Fire Captain and getting his approval, she approached her superiors a year ago with the idea.

Last November, the city came up with money to wrap a truck.

When John’s Division Chief (Ravjot Chhatwal died suddenly last week) asked what design should be on the truck, she reminded him that the Fire Department had put out tweets of individuals who have made significant contributions to firefighting.

“We are still using ladders, poles and masks and there are female firefighters,” she told him. “We need to show the community that theses inventions are still used today in the work our people do. He agreed, sent it up the command chain and it was approved.”

The truck, wrapped with the design of the trailblazers, was on display last month.

“Visibility is key for the meaningful recognition of the contributions of the Black community,” said John. “The dedicated fire truck serves as a reminder of those contributions and the many others as we commit to further learning and education about the Black trailblazers who paved the way for so many.”

Fire Chief Bill Boyes said the city is committed to celebrating the contributions of the Black community.

“This is one small way in which we are doing just that,” he pointed out. “The truck serves as a stepping stone towards learning more about the people who helped shape the international fire service and their incredibly diverse backgrounds.”

There was also a Martin Luther King Jr. quote, ‘Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better’ on the dedicated truck.

“The fire truck serves as a learning opportunity for all of us,” said Rowena Santos, the Chair of Community Services and Regional Councillor for Wards 1 and 5. “It makes you pause and think about the resilience of the Black community and the contributions to our day-to-day lives that we may not know or recognize. On the road, it has created teachable moments, spurred incredible dialogue and conversation and helped us honour those who got us to where we are today.”

Michelle John with firefighters Drew Robinson, Matt Webster & Jay Woodford (Photo by Ron Fanfair)

John was Brampton Fire & Emergency Services first female employee.

Since migrating from Trinidad & Tobago with her mother in 1978, she has resided in Canada’s ninth largest city.

After completing high school at J.A Turner Secondary and Sheridan College’s Legal Office Administration program, she worked in a law firm across the street from Fire Station 206 at 7880 Hurontario St.

“All I knew at the time was that firefighters responded to fires,” said John who was the recipient of the Premier’s Award for Community Service in 2021. “I thought that was all they do.”

Leaving the law firm after six years, she applied to the City of Brampton for an administrative role and was assigned temporarily to Fire Station 201 at 8 Rutherford Rd. S. in June 1996.

“My first question was, ‘To do what’?” John recalled. “After meeting with the then Deputy Fire Chief who put me at ease, I started the administrative assistant job thinking I was just going to be there for four weeks. However, the person I was filling in for retired and I applied for her position and got it.”

In 2006, she did fire safety and protection courses at Seneca College with the aim of becoming a Fire Prevention Officer. She also pursued a program at the Ontario Fire College required to become a Fire/Life Safety Education Officer.

In the role, John created a fire safety education program used by Kahoot that the Ontario Fire Marshall Office recognizes.

“I like to tell people I fight fires through education,” the mother of three children and Acting Co-ordinator for her division said.

Brampton does not have any Black female firefighters.