The City of Waterloo has appointed Sandy van Solm as its new fire chief, making her the first woman to lead Waterloo Fire Rescue. City council recognized the retirement of outgoing fire chief Richard Hepditch and appointed van Solm to the position. Van Solm has served as a deputy chief with Waterloo Fire Rescue since 2020 and has more than 25 years of experience in public safety, according to the city. Her previous experience includes emergency management work with teh Region of Waterloo and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, as well as emergency management and fire services with Amsterdam-Amstelland Fire Services. Van Solm hold a PhD from the University of Waterloo’s School of Public Health and Health Systems. “Chief van Solm is a respected leader in emergency response planning and education, with a particular interest in improving the emergency response for vulnerable populations during emergencies and disasters,” a statement from the city read in part. Hepditch is retiring after more than 31 years with the city, including more than 12 years as fire chief.
