Gary Laframboise Oakville Fire Department 1144 South Service Road West Oakville, ON. L6L

______Fax: 905-356- President: 1583 [email protected] Gary Laframboise Oakville Fire Department 1144 South Service Road West Oakville, ON. L6L 5T7 Tel.: 905-815-2008, ext 2008 January 25, 2017 Fax: 905-815-2023 [email protected] Montessori Operators Vice President:

Vince Giovannini Subject: Use of Live Fire Candles within Montessori Schools Thorold Fire & Emergency Services 16 Towpath Street Thorold, ON. L2V2P6 Based on concerns received, we have completed a review of the use of live fire candles used Tel: 905-227-6412, ext 25 Fax: 905-680-6698 as part of the Montessori school’s curriculum. This notice provides information related to [email protected] decisions made by the Ontario Municipal Fire Prevention Officers Association in relation to the Secretary: use of live fire candles.

Lindsay Matthews Georgian Bay Fire Department After attending several Montessori schools it was found that traditional application of the 99 Lone Pine Road Port Severn, ON. L0K 1S0 Montessori school curriculum uses live fire candles. Three activities were reviewed, which Tel: 705-538-2765 include: Fax: 705-538-1328 [email protected]

Treasurer: 1. Candle snuffing for the purposes of motor skill development (Activity of the Very First Day), 2. Candle snuffing for the purposes of regaining children’s focus, and Karin Roskam Mississauga Fire and Emergency 3. Candle snuffing for the purposes of birthday celebrations. Services 300 City Centre Drive Mississauga, ON. L5B 3C1 During our review it was found that not all of the schools follow the traditional application of the Tel.: 905-615-3200, ext. 5487 Fax: 905-896-5498 Montessori curriculum when it comes to the use of live fire as a medium. Most schools visited [email protected] have adopted creative alternatives to using live fire candles, whilst achieving the same activity Directors: objectives and maintaining the same spirit of the Montessori curriculum.

Delbert Blakney Kingston Fire & Rescue The use of live fire candles is not permitted in any other school/daycare, without the pre- 500 O’Connor Drive Kingston, ON. K7P1N3 approval of the local Municipal Fire Department’s Chief Fire Official. This is to ensure the Tel: 613-548-4001 ext. 5124 Fax: 613-389-1226 safety of building occupants by preventing potential accidental fire’s and personal injuries. [email protected] Although we have a deep respect for the preservation of traditions, the Ontario Municipal Fire Scott Hardwick Prevention Officers Association does not endorse the use of the live fire candles as part of Brantford Fire Department 60 Clarence Street, PO Box 61 standard curriculum practices. Brantford, ON. N3T 5M3 Tel.: 519-752-0540, ext. 244 Fax: 519-752-7083 We are asking that you cease the practices of using live fire in your classroom settings and [email protected] review alternative methods. We are hoping that this notice will be sufficient in motivating you to John Lee Windsor Fire & Rescue Services pursue the implementation of alternative methods to using live fire candles. 815 Goyeau Street Windsor, ON. N9A 1H7 Tel: 519-253-3016 ext. 275 We thank you in advance for your continued support in fire safety. If you have any questions Fax: 519-258-1126 or wish to discuss further, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned. [email protected]

Gwen Lewis Ottawa Fire Services 101 Centrepointe Drive, 3rd Floor Ottawa, ON. K2G 5K7 Tel: 613-580-2424 ext. 29458 Respectfully Yours, Fax: 613-580-9613 [email protected] Giovannini, Vince CFEI, CMM III Denise Rose London Fire Department Vice President, OMFPOA 400 Horton Street East, 3rd Floor London, ON. N6B 1L7 Tel: 519-661-2500 ext. 2482 Fax: 519-661-8419 [email protected]

Ben Trendle Niagara Falls Fire Department 5809 Morrison Street Niagara Falls, ON. L2E2E8 Tel: 905-356-1321 ext. 2211