• Stouffville and York Region broke ground on the $14.5M Fire and Paramedic Station 5-2 at 4902 Aurora Road.
  • The 18,500-square-foot joint facility will include three fire bays, two ambulance bays, and 24/7 operations.
  • The project aims to improve emergency response times for the Ballantrae community and surrounding area.
  • York Region and Stouffville jointly purchased the Aurora Road site for $4.17M.
  • Officials said the facility represents a commitment to safety, sustainability, and service excellence.
  • Project completion is expected in 2027.

 

The rain did not stop Stouffville and York Region officials from breaking ground today on the new Fire and Paramedic Station 5-2, a $14.5-million joint facility and one of the Town’s most significant public safety investments.

Located at 4902 Aurora Road, the 18,500-square-foot station will house both Stouffville Fire and Emergency Services and York Region Paramedic Services. Once complete, it will include three fire bays and two ambulance bays, along with modern living quarters, training space, and 24/7 operations to improve emergency response times across northern Stouffville.

“When complete, the new station’s modern design and optimized layout will enable quicker dispatch, improve emergency response times, provide space for state-of-the-art equipment, and serve as a contemporary hub for training, operations, and community readiness,” details a Town press release.

Construction is being led by Pegah Construction, with design by Thomas Brown Architects. The facility is on track to achieve LEED Silver certification and is expected to open in the third quarter of 2027.

“This new Fire and Paramedic Station 5-2 represents a significant investment in emergency response for Whitchurch-Stouffville and the surrounding area,” Mayor Iain Lovatt said in his remarks. “Once complete, it will support faster response times and improved coordination between fire and paramedic teams.”

Lovatt highlighted the collaboration that made the project possible, noting that York Region Paramedic Services had initially planned a standalone facility on Highway 48.

“I want to acknowledge the fact that there could have been a paramedic station in Ballantrae probably a couple years ago,” he said. “But your patience and working with us is leading us to a better outcome, so I want to thank you.”

York Region Chairman Eric Jolliffe praised the partnership, saying the collaboration underscores how coordinated emergency planning benefits residents across all nine York municipalities. “Co-locating fire and paramedics under one roof strengthens our ability to respond quickly, coordinate effectively, and provide the highest standard of care,” he said.

The project advances key recommendations from Stouffville’s 2022 Master Fire Plan, which identified the need for expanded service capacity in the town’s northern area. The Town budgeted $9.75 million for its share of construction in 2025, making the station the largest single capital project of the year and representing 31 percent of the municipality’s annual capital plan.

Designed with functionality, sustainability, and adaptability in mind, Jolliffe said the facility will provide “a safe, efficient work environment for the highly trained staff that will work here.”

“At the heart of this collaboration are the women and men who respond every day to keep our communities healthy and safe,” he continued. “Day in and day out, our [firefighters and paramedics] respond to critical emergencies with skill, professionalism, and compassion. This station will provide them with the facilities and resources they need to continue delivering the exceptional care our residents have come to expect.”

Stouffville’s finance team have explained that the Town is avoiding long-term borrowing for the project by using short-term construction loans and proceeds from the sale of the existing Station 5-2 property on Highway 48. The new Aurora Road property was purchased jointly by the Town and York Region for $4.17 million plus tax.

In an earlier presentation to Council, Thomas Brown Architects outlined a design that combines practicality, community character, and sustainability. The primarily brick exterior aims to complement the surrounding Ballantrae neighbourhood.

“As we turn the first shovels…we celebrate more than a new facility: we celebrate a shared commitment to a safer, stronger, and more resilient York Region,” Jolliffe concluded. “No matter what or where someone needs help, emergency services will not be far away.”