Matthew Pegg

Background

About Matthew Pegg

As Ontario’s Deputy Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, I lead the province’s strategic planning and coordinated response to emergencies, working in partnership with all levels of government, Indigenous communities, non-profits, and private industry. With over 32 years of experience in public safety, I bring a deep commitment to service, innovation, and resilience. My career has spanned more than 32 years, holding various leadership roles in fire services across multiple Ontario municipalities, including serving as Chief of Toronto Fire Services from 2016 to 2024. During this time, we spearheaded the creation of Canada’s first emergency services Data Analytics and Decision Support team and launched a comprehensive Mental Health and Wellness Program for fire personnel. While concurrently serving as both Fire Chief and Toronto’s General Manager of Emergency Management from 2018 through 2022, I also led Toronto’s COVID-19 response as Incident Commander, developing and leading one of the largest incident management systems in Canadian history, overseeing the city’s Emergency Operations Centre and leading the COVID-19 Immunization Task Force, which resulted in the development of the provincial playbook for vaccine clinic operations. Prior to my current role, I served as Chief Operating Officer of Warrior Health, where I led the implementation of Ontario’s Mental Health Supports for Public Safety Personnel (MHS4PSP) strategy. I remain a passionate advocate for mental health and resilience among public safety professionals and their families. I am a graduate of Dalhousie University in Leadership and Administration, Queen’s University in Labour Relations and the Schulich School of Business in Public Management and am the recipient of numerous honours, including the Heroism and Community Service Medal, the Ontario Medal for Firefighter’s Bravery, the Canadian Fire Service Exemplary Service Medal, the Ontario Fire Services Long Service Medal, and the King Charles Coronation Medal for public service.