STONY PLAIN, AB: The Town of Stony Plain is pleased to introduce Chief Jason Nesbitt as the new Fire Chief, bringing a wealth of experience in firefighting and emergency management to the community. Chief Nesbitt’s career in public safety began in 2000 in law enforcement, but his passion for firefighting was ignited in 2005 when he started as a volunteer firefighter with the Peace River Fire Department. Over the past two decades, he has held various roles in fire services across Alberta, including Captain and acting Fire Chief in the Town of Sexsmith, and Deputy Chief of Training and Logistics for the County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service.

During his tenure in Grande Prairie, Chief Nesbitt oversaw multiple fire stations and led emergency response efforts across a vast region. His leadership experience is complemented by his active participation in major emergency deployments throughout Alberta, including the Slave Lake wildfires in 2011, the Fort McMurray fire in 2016, and the Chuckegg Creek wildfire in 2019. Most recently, he was on the front lines of the Dunes West, Peavine Creek, and Kleskun Creek wildfires in 2023 and 2024. In addition, Chief Nesbitt has contributed to the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, providing training across North America as the only Canadian lead instructor for the live fire instructor program credential.

Chief Nesbitt grew up in St. Albert, and his wife Kristen grew up in the Stony Plain area. Together, they have two children, Blake and Hayley, as well as a large extended family with numerous relatives in Stony Plain and area. After twenty years in northern Alberta, when the opportunity came to relocate to Stony Plain, they jumped on it. “The Town of Stony Plain Fire Department is a great organization with an amazing group of highly trained and skilled professional firefighters. I am very proud to be their Chief and to have the opportunity to lead the department into the future,” says Chief Nesbitt.

Mayor William Choy expressed his enthusiasm for Chief Nesbitt’s arrival, saying, “Chief Nesbitt brings a proven track record of excellence in firefighting and emergency management, as well as a deep commitment to our community. We are thrilled to welcome him to Stony Plain and look forward to his leadership in ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents.”

Town Manager Tom Goulden added, “Chief Nesbitt’s extensive experience and dedication to public service make him an invaluable addition to our team. His understanding of both the technical and community aspects of the role will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our emergency response capabilities.”

Chief Nesbitt officially took on his new role in late August and is looking forward to building on the strong foundation already in place at the Stony Plain Fire Department. To learn more about the Stony Plain Fire Department, visit the SPFD webpage.