The first female firefighter has officially started with Owen Sound Fire and Emergency Services.
Bethany Pilkington is one of two full-time firefighters recently added to the city’s fire department roster, along with Owen Sound resident Kevin Aleinik.
“I am pleased with the high caliber of firefighter applicants we received during the recruitment process” said Fire Chief Phil Eagleson. “The city is fortunate to have Beth and Kevin join us as we work towards diversifying our staff and modernizing our fire department.”
Pilkington recently served as a part of the Orangeville Fire Service team and, prior to that, was a volunteer firefighter with the North Perth Fire Department, where she was also the first female working at the Listowel station.
“The hiring of these two firefighters returns our staffing level to 26, which historically, the Owen Sound Fire Department has always had 26 firefighters, and that’s our full compliment” added Eagleson.
Pilkington is originally from Blackburn, England, and moved to Orangeville with her family in 2010. She graduated from Conestoga College’s pre-service firefighter program in 2018, leading to her joining the North Perth Fire Department’s volunteer service.
In addition to her firefighting experience, Pilkington has also been a paramedic with Dufferin Paramedic Services since 2021.
