Queen's University recieves the Ontario Fire Marshal's Public Safety Council's Fire Safety Award. Pictured from left to right are Ontario Fire Marshal Ted Wieclawek; Chauncey Kennedy and Seymone Armstrong accepting on behalf of Queen’s Residence Life Department; Fire Chief Rhéaume Chaput and Ted Posadowski, Kingston Fire and Rescue Services; and Daniel Langlois, Chair, Fire Safety Awards Standing Committee.

Queen's University's residence life team received a Fire Safety Award from the Ontario Fire Marshal's Public Safety Council at a ceremony held recently in Toronto.

While prevously recording between 30 and 50 malicious fire alarms annually, in 2011 the Department of Residence Life worked closely with Kingston Fire & Rescue to provide training to residence staff, establish appropriate penalties for misuse of fire alarms, and to undertake a comprehensive educational program, including posters and a video that is mandatory viewing for all first-year students.

The educational program proved effective, with Kingston Fire & Rescue responding to just two malicious alarm calls in Kingston residences the following year.

The Fire Safety Award recognizes organizations and individuals who have advanced fire protection and prevention in Ontario.