From left to right: Michel Potvin, Chief Administrative Officer; Jean-Pierre Cadieux, Councillor; France Patry, Firefighter; Mathieu Carrière, Captain; Stéphane Lalonde, Captain; Yves Laviolette, Mayor; Evelain Carrière, Alfred District Chief; Jean-François Lefebvre, Firefighter; Dominic Côté, Fire Chief; Antoni Viau, Councillor.
Press Release
Plantagenet, October 21, 2026 – The Township of Alfred and Plantagenet officially inaugurated the new Alfred Fire Station last Monday, located at 4916 County Road 17. This modernized facility will better meet the operational needs of the Fire Department and enhance public safety.
The 7,200-square-foot building was acquired by the Township in June 2024 for $1,302,261. In November 2025, following a competitive bidding process, Municipal Council awarded Bircon Canada Ltd. a $2,025,000 renovation contract. Project management was entrusted to Integrated Design Engineering Architecture (IDEA).
The total project cost was initially estimated at $3,327,761 before taxes, with an additional $333,000 authorized as a contingency allowance, bringing the total authorized budget to $3,660,761. The work was ultimately completed at a cost of $3,481,000, representing savings of approximately $180,000 compared to the total authorized budget.
“The replacement of the Alfred Fire Station was one of Municipal Council’s priorities under its 2023–2026 Strategic Plan. We are proud to have brought this project to completion, providing our firefighters with facilities better suited to their needs and helping enhance the safety of the residents of Alfred and Plantagenet,” said Yves Laviolette, Mayor of the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet.
A Solution Tailored to the Township’s Needs
The Township had initially considered purchasing land to build a new fire station. However, preliminary estimates placed the cost of such a construction project at more than $6 million, with a completion timeline spanning several years.
Given the estimated cost and timeline associated with new construction, as well as the fact that the former fire station no longer met the operational needs of the Fire Department, the Township opted to renovate an existing building that could meet the requirements for post-disaster buildings under the Ontario Building Code.
This approach provided a solution tailored to the Fire Department’s needs while ensuring responsible management of public funds and allowing the new facility to become operational sooner.
A Fire Station Tailored to the Fire Department’s Needs
“This modern and safe fire station fully meets the operational and training needs of our team of approximately 20 volunteer firefighters in Alfred. Its strategic location will allow us to better support our emergency response efforts and effectively serve residents throughout the Township,” said Dominic Côté, Fire Chief for the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet.
Shared Use of the Facility
To optimize the use of the building and help manage costs, the Township will lease part of the facility to the United Counties of Prescott and Russell Emergency Services. This 20-year lease agreement will allow the Township to recover a portion of the total project cost, currently estimated at 14% of the overall project cost.
“Prescott and Russell Emergency Services is proud of its partnership with the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet. This new station represents a significant improvement to our facilities, providing our paramedics with a work environment better suited to their needs and enabling them to continue delivering quality services to the community,” said Marc-André Périard, Chief of Emergency Services for the United Counties of Prescott and Russell.
From left to right: Jean-Pierre Cadieux, Councillor; Michel Potvin, Chief Administrative Officer; Antoni Viau, Councillor; Marc Lanthier, Paramedic; Véronique Legault, Deputy Chief; Marc-André Périard, Director of Emergency Services; Yves Laviolette, Mayor; Yan Bellefeuille, Paramedic; Patrick Quesnel, Deputy Chief; Carl Caron, Superintendent.
A Gradual Transition to the New Fire Station
The Alfred Fire Department will gradually transition its operations to the new fire station over the coming weeks. An open house for the public and media is planned for early 2027.
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