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Ontario Firefighters’ Memorial arrives at Fendley Park in Orangeville

November 12, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Joshua Drakes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Local firefighters and politicians met with provincial leaders in Fendley Park on Nov. 6 to celebrate the arrival of the new Ontario Firefighters’ Memorial.

Following the closure of the Gravenhurst-based Ontario Fire College, the fate of the Ontario Firefighters’ Memorial was put into question. With the land no longer being used to train new and upcoming firefighters, the question remained — what happens to the memorial? Should it remain where it stood, or should it find a new home?

That home is now Fendley Park in Orangeville, where the idea first began with the legacy of local firefighter Dan Little.

Orangeville Mayor Lisa Raeburn said the town is proud to have the memorial on Orangeville soil.

“Having the Ontario Firefighters’ Memorial find its permanent home in Orangeville is an incredible honour for our community,” she said. “What makes it even more meaningful is the connection to the late Dan Little, a former Orangeville firefighter who was instrumental in creating this memorial. I’m proud that Orangeville has been entrusted with helping to ensure the sacrifices of fallen firefighters are never forgotten.”

The push for the memorial to come to Orangeville began with the Little family directly, who expressed interest in seeing it come home after then Solicitor General Sylvia Jones approached the family to ask if they had any input on the fate of the monument.

Jones said that the memorial will pay tribute to Dan Little’s legacy.

“This memorial stands thanks to long-serving Orangeville volunteer firefighter Dan Little, who not only spearheaded the idea but also worked tirelessly to fundraise,” Jones said. “I am honoured to see this memorial in its new home in Orangeville, in such a prominent place in our community.”

Former fire chief and deputy mayor Andy Macintosh, who knew Dan Little, said that he’s also happy to see the memorial coming home to Orangeville in honour of the community legacy that helped build it.
“I felt really good for the Little family because obviously it’s been a dream of theirs to have something this close to them, and I’m just excited that it’s going to be there,” he said.

“Gravenhurst was quite a distance for a lot of people to come from the city and even our area. It’s still a heck of a drive. It’s almost two hours. When it first got put up there, everybody went. But then over the years, with life taking precedence, it was just that people didn’t go there that often. So I’m hoping that this will revitalize that by having it here.”

Macintosh was one of the few in Orangeville who originally knew it was coming, and was involved in the process as deputy mayor.

“At the time, it was only myself and the mayor that actually knew about it, and we all kind of worked behind the scenes to get it here,” he said. “It’s taken a long time, but finally it’s here.”

The excitement was also felt by current serving members of the Orangeville Fire Department.

Chief John Snider said that completion of the memorial in Orangeville feels akin to a homecoming, and that the service and town will treasure it for generations to come.

“It’s a really great feeling,” he said. “It really feels like we brought it home. It was in a great place in Gravenhurst, but with this story of Dan Little being a volunteer fireman, it was just fantastic to bring it back to Orangeville, and we’re going to celebrate it here forever.”

A full, grand opening celebration is planned for next spring, with firefighters and dignitaries from across the province expected to mark the official opening of the new home for Ontario’s Firefighter Memorial.

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