ERIN – It appears some town officials are ignoring media inquiries about the recent departure of Erin Fire Chief Jim Sawkins.
Two sources told the Advertiser on July 22 that Sawkins was fired that day.
A town employee, who did not provide their name, told a reporter over the phone on Aug. 1 that Sawkins is no longer employed by the municipality.
The town’s website now lists Scott Bates as interim fire chief.
But repeated attempts by the newspaper’s staff – between July 26 and Aug. 2 – to get comments from Erin Mayor Michael Dehn, chief administrative officer (CAO) Rob Adams and spokesperson Chris Vernon were all ignored.
Reached by phone on Aug. 2, councillor John Brennan repeated several times that he had “no comment.”
Councillor Jamie Cheyne, who also said he did not want to comment on the matter, told the Advertiser he recently received an email noting Sawkins was no longer employed by the town.
“It’s not my purview to hire and fire, nor (to) make any comments,” Cheyne said over the phone on Aug. 2.
Attempts to contact councillors Bridget Ryan and Cathy Aylard were not successful.
A cell phone number previously used to contact Sawkins is no longer in service.
Controversial dismissals
Sawkins was hired in February of 2018 to replace retiring chief Dan Callaghan.
Named Erin’s interim CAO in August of 2023 following the abrupt departure of CAO Nathan Hyde, Sawkins served in that role until Adams was hired this February.
Prior to working for Erin, Sawkins served as fire chief for Inuvik, Northwest Territories.
JIM SAWKINS (Advertiser file photo)
His January 2018 departure from Inuvik was controversial, according to numerous CBC articles, though town officials never offered an official explanation for his departure.
The CBC reported that two Inuvik firefighters resigned in 2017, citing Sawkins’ leadership as the cause.
Sawkins called the situation “complicated” in a 2018 interview with the Advertiser, adding the feeling of lost confidence in Inuvik was not “stereotypical of the entire department.”
Previously, Sawkins was fired from Muskoka Lakes, where he worked from 2004 to 2010.
According to a local newspaper, The Muskoka Region, Sawkins’ dismissal sparked outrage from firefighters, who protested the decision.
In 2018, Sawkins told the Advertiser his departures from Inuvik and Muskoka Lakes were discussed in his hiring process with Erin officials.
He said at the time he wanted to take the Erin job to be closer to family members.
