Learn More about FSWO

Board of Directors

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  Lydia Wilcox

  President

  Lydia Wilcox is an inspiring leader and dedicated advocate for diversity in the fire service, currently serving as President of Fire Service Women Ontario (FSWO). With over 17 years of comprehensive experience at the Kitchener Fire Department, Lydia has excelled in both the Fire Prevention Division and Operations, making significant contributions to her community and the profession. Since joining the FSWO board in 2014, Lydia has been instrumental in developing initiatives aimed at empowering women in fire service. Her efforts include spearheading the FSWO mentoring program, organizing impactful symposiums, and facilitating engaging virtual education sessions. One of her standout achievements is her collaboration in the creation of FSWO’s influential research paper, ‘Insights from the Inside,’ which laid the groundwork for the FSWO toolkit—a vital resource for current and future fire service members. A passionate advocate for representation, Lydia has effectively represented FSWO across various platforms, delivering presentations to the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services, Ontario colleges, and various community organizations. Her involvement with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs has further solidified her role as a thought leader, particularly in discussions centered on women leaders in firefighting. Lydia holds a Master of Public Administration from Western University, earned in 2018, and continues to expand her expertise through rigorous educational pursuits. She is currently enrolled in the Fire Service Executive Management Certificate program at Humber College, the Dare to Command leadership initiative hosted by Effective Command, and the CAFC’s Rapid Response Leadership Development program.

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  Tracey Shields

  Vice-President

  Tracey Shields has been actively involved with Fire Service Women Ontario (FSWO), since its formation of the organization in 2009. Her remarkable journey in the fire service began in 1999 when she made history as one of the first three women hired as firefighters in the Ottawa Fire Service. Over the past 26 years, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment, achieving the historic milestone of being the first woman in Ottawa to be promoted to Captain in the suppression division. Throughout her career, Tracey has embraced various roles that showcase her dedication to the fire service and her community. Her involvement with FSWO includes significant contributions as Registrar, Symposium Chair, and Vice-President. Under her leadership, FSWO's membership blossomed from 25 members in 2009 to over 750 today, a testament to her passion for promoting diversity and inclusivity within the fire service. Balancing a demanding career with family life, Tracey is a proud mother of four boys, all born during her time as a firefighter. During her pregnancies, she successfully transitioned to modified duties, acquiring valuable experiences in different divisions such as Administration, Training, and Air Management. These experiences not only enriched her professional growth but also reinforced to her the importance of all divisions in the fire service. Tracey is a passionate advocate for recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in the fire service. Her commitment is further demonstrated through her volunteer work as a Camp FFIT Instructor and many other events where she has inspired the next generation of women in the fire service. Tracey's dedication to FSWO's mission remains unwavering. She firmly believes in the importance of women supporting women and continues to work tirelessly to foster a more inclusive and diverse fire service. Tracey's accomplishments and advocacy work set a powerful example for others in the fire service, making her a true leader and a source of inspiration for many

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  Susan Jones

  Executive Director

  As the Executive Director of a woman’s advocacy organization for women in fire, Susan Jones brings a wealth of experience from her illustrious career. Retired from the City of Ottawa, Susan served as the former Acting Deputy City Manager of City Operations, where she oversaw various city departments. With 37 years in municipal government, Susan's roles included General Manager of Emergency and Protective Services for the City of Ottawa, where she managed Fire, Paramedic, Corporate Security, Emergency Management, and By-law operations.

  Throughout her career, Susan has championed women in leadership, notably in male-dominated professions. She played a pivotal role in launching initiatives like Fire Service Women Ontario (FSWO) and Camp FFIT (Female Fire Fighters in Training), and served on the FSWO board of directors and as an International Trustee with the International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services (iWomen). Susan holds a BA in Criminology from Carleton University and is a Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor, having completed a post-graduate program in Addiction Studies at McMaster University. Married with three sons and a proud grandmother, Susan is deeply committed to FSWO, where she received the President’s Trailblazer Award in 2016 for her groundbreaking work and innovative leadership in advocating for women in the first responder field. Excited to continue her journey with FSWO, Susan is honored to serve as their Executive Director.

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  Kristy-Lynn Pankhurst

  Secretary

  Kristy-Lynn Pankhurst is the full-time Training Officer for Scugog Fire & Emergency Services, with previous experience as a Fire Prevention Officer and Volunteer Firefighter. She also serves as the Association President for the Scugog Professional Firefighters Association. Kristy-Lynn holds an undergraduate degree in Communication and Digital Media Studies from Ontario Tech University and is currently pursuing her Master of Education in World Indigenous Studies at Queen’s University. In 2020, Kristy-Lynn was injured during a propane explosion that occurred while fighting a house fire. She has since become an advocate for First Responder mental health, sharing her story of resilience and recovery after a near miss. Kristy-Lynn is a mother of two young girls, and remains dedicated to advancing FSWO’s mission to encourage, educate and empower women in the Fire Service.

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  Kate Jamieson

  Communications Director

  Kate Jamieson is a firefighter in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and has been a dedicated member of both the RCAF and firefighting community since 2014. She is currently posted to 14 Wing Greenwood, where she serves as the Chief Fire Inspector. Before joining the military, Kate attended Memorial University for a year of general studies before transitioning to college, where she earned diplomas in Journalism and Public Relations. She previously worked in communications with the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union before embarking on her military career. Additionally, she has been a fitness instructor since 2009. In 2023, Kate spearheaded a groundbreaking professional development initiative for women in RCAF firefighting, organizing a trade-wide tasking for members to attend the Fire Service Women Ontario (FSWO) Training Symposium. She secured funding from the Professional Conduct and Culture department, as well as the Canadian Forces Fire Marshal’s office, ensuring financial support for all female-identifying firefighters to participate. This initiative marked a significant step forward in addressing gender underrepresentation within military firefighting. Kate remains committed to uniting the firefighting community nationwide and advancing the mission and values of FSWO.

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  Jaclyn Halko

  Director-at-Large

  Jaclyn Halko is a career firefighter with the City of Oshawa, bringing her passion for service, teamwork, and community to every shift. A graduate of the Fire & Emergency Services Training Institute, Jaclyn successfully transitioned into fire services following an accomplished career as a high-performance athlete and healthcare professional.

  Before joining the fire service, Jaclyn represented both Canada and Poland on the National Rowing Team, achieving extraordinary success including a World Championship title in 2012 and a gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games. Her discipline, resilience, and drive from elite sport have seamlessly translated into her firefighting career.

  Jaclyn also works as a Registered Dietitian, providing clinical nutritional care to long-term care residents, combining science-based expertise with compassionate support for vulnerable populations.
  

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  Teagan Knowles

  Director-at-Large

  Teagan Knowles began her career in emergency services in 2017 as a Communicator with the Brantford Police Service. In 2019 she decided it was time for a change and she joined the fire family as a Communicator with the Brantford Fire Department. Since then Teagan has stepped into the role of Fire Safety Educator (FSE) and has held the position since 2021. Although she enjoyed her time serving her community as a 9-1-1- operator Teagan values being able to take a proactive approach to protecting her community by teaching about fire and life safety in her role as FSE. Teagan holds an undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of Guelph and loves applying sociological concepts in her pursuit of Community Risk Reduction. She is currently pursuing further education in leadership. She is proud to also be serving as a Director on the board of the Ontario Association of Fire Educators (OAFE). Outside of her fire service career Teagan has a passion for food and beverage. She enjoys spending her time cooking, trying new restaurants and working part-time at a casual fine dining restaurant.

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  Samantha Hoffmann

  Director-at-Large

  For over 30 years Samantha Hoffmann has worked her passion for community safety and fire prevention. She specializes in fighting fires before they start, with education campaigns that weave informative and fun community campaigns and partnerships with her own public speaking and published articles. Her fire career began at the internationally renowned Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto as Fire Marshal and Emergency Planning Co-Ordinator. She took the exacting standards she experienced there to North York's fire department in the rank of firefighter with the duty of Fire Prevention, Public Education and Media. When North York amalgamated and became Toronto Fire Service, Samantha worked as Acting Captain until 2011 when she joined Barrie Fire as the Public Fire and Life Safety officer, eventually becoming the Acting Chief Fire Prevention Officer. In 2022 Samantha became Deputy Chief, Community Safety and Administration for Caledon Fire and Emergency Service. In each role, Samantha has lived the moniker of front line safety responder. In 2001, she was part of the Toronto Fire CISM Team at Ground Zero in New York. The experience galvanized her passion for safety and support for those in the fire service. Samantha was honoured with a Firefighter of the Year award from the Islamic Foundation of Toronto for her work with Critical Incidence Stress and Employee Assistance. With Barrie Fire, Samantha and the Fire Prevention team received many awards and accolades for their work in Public Education and Community Outreach; they received the Bernard A. Moyle Excellence in Education Award, from 2014 to 2019 they received multiple IAFF Media Awards annually. In 2014 Samantha was named Public Fire and Life Safety Educator of the year award by the National Fire Protection Association; only the second Canadian and first Ontario educator to receive it since its inception. When she is not at work or attending conferences or volunteering with organizations she believes in, you'll find Samantha hiking in the woods or on the soccer field, cheered on and bolstered by her husband of 30 years, 4 children and 1 grandchild.

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  Kalpana Rajgopalan

  Director-at-Large

  Kalpana Rajgopalan currently serves as Deputy Fire Chief with the Oakville Fire Department, where she oversees Fire Prevention, Public Education, and External Stakeholder Engagement. Her career includes 17 years of progressive leadership in fire services, emergency management, and public safety key leadership roles with Emergency Management Ontario, the Office of the Fire Marshal, and Mississauga Fire & Emergency Services. She has contributed to national response efforts during the G8/G20 Summits, the Syrian Refugee Program, and the COVID-19 pandemic. A recognized leader and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the fire service, Kalpana has been instrumental in advancing certification standards in Ontario to align with international best practices. She is equally passionate about mentorship, experiential training, and developing the next generation of fire service professionals. In 2022, Kalpana co-founded Blaze Fire Academy, a regional initiative backed by all four Halton municipalities. Blaze creates career pathways for young women and underrepresented groups, offering hands-on training and a supportive environment to explore the fire service. Kalpana’s contributions were recently recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, awarded by the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs for her service to public safety and emergency management.
  

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  Laura Ellis

  Student Director

  Laura Ellis is a graduate of the Ontario Fire Academy and an Emergency Medical Responder. For several years, she has applied her expertise as a medic within the television and film industry and as part of McMaster University’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences. With over a decade of experience in Health Sciences, she has excelled as a Standardized Patient Trainer and content developer for Simulation-Based Learning, working with post-secondary institutions and medical examining boards across Canada. Much of Laura’s work has been dedicated to breaking barriers, amplifying marginalized voices, and creating accessible education and community programming. She co-founded and serves as Executive Director of “Women’s Work,” a female-focused writing program, and the “Hamilton LOFT (Ladies of Film and Television),” striving for gender parity and improved industry culture. Her board experience includes serving as FSWO’s Student Director in 2024, and on the Hamilton Fringe Festival Board of Directors for five years. During this time, she assisted in securing grants to support vulnerable populations (with a focus on artistic and Indigenous communities.) Laura is excited about making a full career transition into the fire service and is passionate about continuing her impactful work with the FSWO.

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  Pike Krpan

  Past President

  Pike Krpan has been a firefighter since 2012. She is an Acting Captain and Incident Safety Officer at the Hamilton Fire Department. In 2015, she founded Camp FFIT (Future Firefighters in Training) Hamilton, an annual three-day camp held every fall at Hamilton Fire's training facility for young women aged 16-20. Since 2015, Pike has also served the FSWO community in several roles. She recently completed her Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management at Algonquin College. She is also pursuing her Executive Chief Fire Officer designation via the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs. She was the only Canadian fellow in the 2024-2025 International Association of Fire Chiefs Diversity Executive Leadership Program. Pike was the recipient of a full Honeywell Scholarship to FDIC 2016. She studied Pre-Service Firefighter Education at FESTI (Fire and Emergency Services Training Institute) in 2012 and was hired within six months of her graduation. Pike brings a varied background to her career in the fire service. She completed her Masters of Arts at the Ontario Institute of Education in Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, focusing on women's issues in education. Previously, she worked in international development education in diverse countries such as Cuba, Ecuador and Jamaica after completing an undergraduate degree in International Development and Women's Studies at Trent University. Pike is a mentor who assists those considering a career in the fire service. She has also promoted women in firefighting with the Women in Trades program of the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and the YWCA Hamilton. In 2019, she was nominated for a YWCA Hamilton Woman of Distinction Award for her work in education and mentoring. Pike loves to introduce people to the challenge of firefighting.

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