Jim Runciman is no longer chief of Grand Forks Fire/Rescue or manager of Emergency Services.
The announcement of his departure was posted early Saturday morning on City of Grand Forks’ Facebook page. Deputy chiefs Rich Piché and Brittany Jalbert, the city said, are the new primary contacts for the fire department.
On Monday morning, a release from the city to the Grand Forks Gazette stated it is policy to not comment on personnel matters and that no further statement will be provided.
Runciman’s departure comes after weeks of controversy. It started when he turned himself in to Kelowna courts last December more than two months after a warrant had been issued for his arrest over a civil lawsuit he hadn’t responded to by Jodi and Trevor Rawson.
Read more: Grand Forks fire chief pays Trail lawsuit amount
Read more: Grand Forks fire chief turns himself in over civil suit-related arrest warrant
The Trail couple sued Runciman over paid for but unfinished kitchen renovation work in 2021 that cost nearly $30,000. At the time, Runciman was a contractor, operating Kokanee Peaks Interiors, out of Nelson, according to papers filed in the suit.
He paid $28,500 in Rossland court on Jan. 11 and left without facing the Rawsons. At the time, a judge closed the case citing Runciman had fulfilled his obligation and paid.
Since the story broke, information on Runciman’s past as a fire chief, firefighter and contractor across Canada has come to light.
He was previously sued by former Kokanee Peaks owner Thomas Richard Purdy for failing to pay him out for shares and shareholder loans, according to documents. He was also sued by Red Tree Construction last February for $9,652 for failing to provide kitchen and bathroom cabinets ordered by the company for a project in Nelson.
In 2011, he was let go as fire chief in Stanstead, Que., after being on the job for less than a year, according to an article from the Sherbrooke Record dated July 7 of that year.
Details over why he was dismissed were not released, but then-Mayor Phillipe Dutil was quoted saying Runciman was suspended the previous June “upon authority as head administrator of the town.”
He was hired as Chief of Grand Forks Fire/Rescue in January of 2022.
Read more: New fire chief comes out of retirement for Grand Forks