The 11-year-old is the winner of the Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services Junior Fire Chief contest and was driven to school in a fire truck wearing her own firefighter uniform this morning.
Despite the ride being "a little bumpy," Michelle said it was "a lot of fun."
Michelle, a 5th grader at St. Margaret of Scotland, was greeted at the Erin Mills school by her classmates and teacher Vida Dailyde as well as the school principal, vice-principal and acting deputy fire chief Kevin Duffy.
Arriving to school in a fire truck is just the beginning for Michelle as she and her class, who have been learning about fire safety, will speak to other students about safety, said school principal Mike Coburn.
"I'm hoping they'll gain an awareness of fire safety," said Duffy, who presented Michelle with a certificate.
"I'm so thrilled," said Michelle's mother, Mary Ann Charbonneau. "What a great experience. Who knows? Maybe it will inspire her to be a firefighter."
Michelle will also have lunch with the acting deputy fire chief today and go for a tour of a fire station.
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