About Us
Firefighter Services of Ontario Ltd. is a highly qualified and diverse team of professionals dedicated to delivering comprehensive, individualized, and reliable physical and psychological profiling, empowering municipalities through analytics to make data-driven decisions when building teams.
The Company
Firefighter Services of Ontario Ltd. (FSO) is a specialized recruitment service dedicated to supporting municipalities in the evaluation of career and volunteer firefighter candidates. Through health- and occupation-specific assessments, we measure both physical and psychological readiness using validated, legally defensible screening protocols. Behind every assessment is a team of highly qualified professionals committed to accuracy, consistency, and care. We understand the pressures candidates face throughout the pre-employment process, and we strive to create an experience that is professional, transparent, fair, and supportive from start to finish.
Municipalities wishing to schedule a test date, please contact us. Thank-you.
Our Services
We offer 7 screening and testing components. Prior to registering, candidates are expected to know the testing required by each department.
Board of Directors
Fern Pham
Fern Pham is the Founder and CEO of Firefighter Services of Ontario, where she leads with a commitment to integrity, fairness, and excellence in firefighter recruitment. Since founding FSO, Fern has guided its growth into the second-largest firefighter recruitment and assessment agency in Ontario, supporting municipalities and candidates across the province. With nearly two decades of experience in candidate assessment, she has built her career around developing processes that are rigorous, consistent, and respectful of the people moving through them.
Prior to founding FSO, Fern was the longest-serving Manager of Brock University Firefighter Screening Services, where she played an instrumental role in the development and delivery of one of Ontario’s most established firefighter assessment programs. Over the course of her career, her work has supported thousands of firefighter candidates and numerous municipalities across the province, helping organizations maintain high standards while creating a professional and positive candidate experience.
Fern holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Health Sciences from Brock University, where she received the Distinguished Graduating Student Award for achieving the highest academic standing in her program. She also served as an instructor in Humber College’s Fire Service Executive Management program, where she developed and taught the Employee Wellness course, reflecting her longstanding interest in health, performance, and well-being within the fire service.
Fern is known for thoughtful leadership, strong accountability, and a people-centred approach to her work. She believes the way candidates are treated throughout a recruitment process is an important reflection of the organizations they hope to serve. That philosophy continues to shape FSO’s approach: combining high standards with transparency, professionalism, and genuine care for both candidates and municipal partners.
DR. LISA COTIE has been working with FSO for over a decade. Dr. Cotie completed her PhD in Kinesiology at McMaster University and is currently completing her post-doc at University of Ottawa. Her main academic focus is in Fitness and Lifestyle assessment and Exercise Prescription in many populations. Dr. Cotie has worked at McMaster University as an Instructional Assistant in the Department of Kinesiology and at the University of Guelph Humber, where she taught Fitness and Lifestyle Assessment in Clinical populations. Dr. Cotie is a Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP) through the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology (CSEP). Dr. Cotie is certified as a CSEP – Certified Personal Trainer Instructor/Examiner, giving her the qualifications to certify successful applicants as Personal Trainers through the CSEP.
DR. BRENT E. FAUGHT is a Professor of Epidemiology in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Brock University. His research expertise is in physical activity and health. Dr. Faught created the Brock University Firefighter Screening Services in 1999. This program was considered the leading firefighter pre-employment screening service in Canada. Dr. Faught has also been solicited as an expert witness in human rights tribunal cases involving health assessment protocols in the fire service industry.
DR. ILDIKO FOSSEY was born in Hungary and immigrated to St. Catharines, Ontario with her family at the age of four. Her early exposure to the field of vision care began through her mother, a licensed optician, which helped cultivate a lifelong passion for eye health and patient care. She earned an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences degree from Brock University, followed by a year of international volunteer work and study in South America. Dr. Fossey then completed her Doctor of Optometry degree at the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, where she trained extensively in the diagnosis and management of ocular disease alongside specialists in both optometry and ophthalmology. Her clinical background includes significant experience with oral and systemic therapeutics for eye conditions, and she maintains a strong professional interest in emergency and dry eye care. Dr. Fossey is board certified by the Canadian Examiners in Optometry (CEO) and the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO), and she is licensed to practice in both Canada and the state of New York. She is an active member of the Ontario Association of Optometrists, the Canadian Association of Optometrists, and the College of Optometrists of Ontario. She also serves as a coach for the College’s Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee (ICRC). In 2013, Dr. Fossey was honoured as one of the inaugural recipients of the Niagara Catholic District School Board’s Distinguished Alumni Award. She is especially passionate about pediatric eye care and is dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive vision services to patients of all ages, including infants, toddlers, and children. Outside of her professional commitments, Dr. Fossey enjoys hiking, wine tasting, and spending quality time with family and friends.
DR. DIVYA JOSHI is a Research Associate Academic in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster University. Dr. Joshi has been working with Firefighter Services of Ontario for over a decade. She completed her PhD in Epidemiology at McMaster University. Dr. Joshi has instructed several undergraduate and graduate level courses in biostatistics and epidemiology at Brock University. Her overarching areas of interest include examining the impact of exposure to adverse childhoold experiences on health and aging of individuals across the life course and generations.
ANDY MACDONALD was the General Manager of Emergency Services at the City of Guelph. He began his fire fighting endeavours with the Snelgrove Volunteer Fire Department, after earning his BSc from McMaster University. He started his professional fire fighting career two years later with Brampton Fire and Emergency Services. Andy progressed through the ranks, promoted to the department’s Fire Chief from 2008 – 2014 (retired in 2014). Andy was a member of the executive of the Brampton Professional Fire Fighters Association, for many years. Andy has continued his formal education throughout his career. Andy holds Certificates in Advanced Industrial Relations and Organizational Development from the Queen’s University Industrial Relations Centre. He participated in the Program on Negotiations at the Harvard Law School and has also studied at York University and the Ontario Fire College. Andy is a member of the Adjunct Faculty of Queen’s University and teaches Negotiation Skills at the Queen’s Industrial Relations Centre. He was also the Director of Fire Management Studies at Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. Andy was the recipient of an Honorary Degree from Humber College for his work in Fire Service Education and Fire Fighter Mental Health. He spends much of his free time aiding in many charitable causes and was the driving force behind the construction of his dream, the world’s first Fire/Life Safety Education Centre in Brampton. Andy’s other charitable exploits include rappelling off the CN Tower in 1985 to raise money for a Toronto burn unit, earning him a spot in the Guinness Book of Records.
JOEL NEUFVILLE has been working with FSO for the better part of a decade. From early on, he has participated in physical activity or exercise in one way or another including being very involved in track and field through high school. Through his personal experience with that sport, he eventually settled on the idea of going down a path that would position him to assist people in movement. Going through his studies at Humber College (FHP Dip.), Guelph-Humber University (BASc. Kin) and Brock University (MPK), his affinity for promoting fitness, physical activity and nutrition strategies as a means to recover and evolve had only solidified. Towards the end of his schooling till now, he has attained relevant certifications including the “Registered Kinesiologist of Ontario”, “CSEP Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist” and “CSEP-CEP Instructor Examiner” in order to facilitate his path. Over this same span of time, he has developed a history in the areas of health/wellness, prehab and rehabilitation, fitness assessment, cardiorespiratory reconditioning and nutrition counseling.
HAYES STEINBERG is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and affiliations with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). He provides psychotherapy through Abma Counselling, Eden Wellness, and his private practice, Hayes Psychotherapy, working with a diverse range of clients, including first responders. As a clinician, Hayes works from the understanding that our past shapes how we experience the present, and that greater insight can help us make choices more aligned with our values. His clinical work includes supporting people experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, substance use concerns, performance pressures, trauma, grief and loss, suicidality, relationship challenges, and significant life transitions. Hayes has served as a Strategic Advisor to FSO since 2023. Prior to entering the psychotherapy profession, he spent 32 years in advertising, marketing, and business leadership as a copywriter, Creative Director, agency owner, and senior executive. Working with some of the world’s leading advertising and marketing organizations, he led multidisciplinary teams, developed business and brand strategies, and contributed to significant client growth. His work was recognized with numerous international awards for creativity and effectiveness. Hayes also owned and operated his own advertising agency, The Mark, whose clients included Scotiabank, Shoppers Drug Mart, and Toronto Pearson Airport. Across his clinical, advisory, and business roles, Hayes brings a consistent approach: curiosity, objectivity, strategic thinking, and creative problem-solving, along with an ability to see challenges from multiple perspectives. Through his role on FSO’s Board of Directors, Hayes contributes expertise in organizational strategy, brand development, leadership, mental health, and first-responder wellness. He is particularly focused on supporting the continued growth of the business while ensuring FSO continues to provide exceptional service and transparent processes for its municipal partners and candidates.
What Candidates Are Saying
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“We are delighted to have Firefighter Services of Ontario as the exclusive volunteer firefighter screening. We are thoroughly impressed with their flexible services and professionalism and we look forward to our continued partnership. We highly recommend them to all municipalities in the province for firefighter recruitment.”
