Chief Stewart is a thirty-seven year Fire Service veteran having served in the former City of North York Fire Department for 26 years prior to the amalgamation of the new City of Toronto on January 1, 1998. He has served as an operations fire fighter, Captain, Administration Chief, Assistant Deputy, Deputy Chief and the Fire Chief since May 1, 2003.

Bill has served as a member of the Professional Standards Setting Body, Ontario Fire College, in the review of all standards for fire fighter training in Ontario. He is also Past President, Institution of Fire Engineers (Canada Branch), Advisory Board Member of Humber College, Fire Services Program and Durham College, Fire Services Program as well as a member of the Board of Directors for the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council. He also serves as the International President of the Institution of Fire Engineers and Immediate Past President of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs/National Fire Protection Association.

Bill is a graduate of the Ontario Fire College, Technology Diploma Programs, general and advanced levels, Executive Development Program and the Canadian Emergency Preparedness College. He also holds professional designations from the Institution of Fire Engineers FIFireE; Ontario Municipal Management Institute, Certified Municipal Manager CMM, and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, Chief Fire Officer, CFO designation. Bill is committed to life long learning, and is currently serving as a Board member for Public Administration and Governance, Ryerson University.