Six weeks after the fact, Kelowna is no closer to hiring a new fire chief. On May 26, the city announced Rene Blanleil was stepping down after four years at the helm of the Kelowna Fire Department. Blanleil assumed the position after Gerry Zimmermann retired at the end of December 2005. Kelowna's Director of Human Resources, Charlene Covington, says the city is just in the process of hiring an external recruitment firm to conduct a search for Blanleil's replacement. "We wanted to ensure it was an open and fair process," says Covington. "We want a transparent, non-biased process. We want to get the best candidate available." Covington says this is a normal practice when it comes to filling senior positions. She adds the firm selected will likely go nationwide in its search, although she says that doesn't mean local firefighters will be left out. Covington expects the process to take up to three or four months to complete. Retired firefighter Steve Kinsey will serve as acting chief until a permanent replacement is found.
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