The mission of FSWO is to encourage, educate and empower women in the fire service and includes:
Pike Krpan is a career firefighter with the City of Hamilton since 2013. She currently serves the firefighting community as FSWO President. She has been a member of FSWO since the beginning of her career. She is the organizer of Camp FFIT (Female Firefighters in Training) Hamilton, an annual three-day camp that takes place every fall at Hamilton Fire's training facility for young women aged 16-20.
Pike is a proud member of an engine crew and also works in communications/dispatch, technical rescue (high angle rope rescue) and as a driver/pump operator at Hamilton Fire. She 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, with a focus on women's issues in education. Previously, she worked in international development education in diverse countries such as Cuba, Ecuador and Jamaica after getting her undergraduate degree in International Development and Women's Studies at Trent University.
Pike is currently a mentor with FSWO's mentorship program and offers assistance to many young women and men considering a career in the fire service. She also acts as a mentor promoting women in firefighting with the Women in Trades program of the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program as well as with the YWCA Hamilton. She was nominated for a YWCA Hamilton Woman of Distinction Award in 2019 for her work in education and mentoring. She loves to introduce people to the challenge of firefighting.
Lydia has been a firefighter with the Kitchener Fire Department since 2008. Prior to firefighting, she was a Building Inspector and Property Standards officer with the City of Brantford. Her main focus was the inspection of commercial and industrial buildings, including fire suppression and alarm systems.
Since joining the fire service, Lydia has completed her Disaster and Emergency Management Certificate at Ryerson University and Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Centennial College. She is currently completing her Masters in Public Administration degree at Western University.
At the 2015 FSWO Conference, Lydia became the first recipient of the 3 E Award (Educate, Encourage, Empower) for her efforts to mentor and recruit women into the Fire Service.
Debbie Higgins is a Deputy Fire Chief with Toronto Fire Services, with the portfolio of Administrative and Mechanical Services. In this capacity, she is responsible for finance and budgeting processes, labour relations, quartermaster, facilities, the TFS medical office, and providing professional support for the procurement and maintenance of both apparatus and equipment. Debbie previously held the portfolios of Fire Prevention and Public Education, and more recently Professional Development and Training, including Special Operations (HUSAR and CBRNE). Prior to her promotion to Deputy in 2010, Debbie spent eleven years as an Executive Officer for Toronto Fire, working in the Office of the Fire Chief. She also previously worked with the City of Mississauga as a Business Planner, where her work included various strategic projects for the Community Services department, including fire. Before joining the municipal sector, Debbie spent five years working as a consultant undertaking social planning studies, including feasibility studies, master plans, emergency response plans, marketing plans and organizational reviews.
Debbie has a degree in Applied Geography from Ryerson University, and a certificate in Business from McMaster University. She is currently an Associate Director with the World Police and Fire Games Federation, and previously served three terms on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.
Cheryl Hunt is serving her third term as secretary on the board of directors for FSWO. Cheryl has been with FSWO since it began and was the education chair of the very successful symposium held in Ottawa in 2019. Cheryl began her career with the Ottawa Fire Service in 2003 and is now an Acting Lieutenant and Safety Officer in suppression.
Cheryl is a Water Rescue Technician, certified in swift water rescue, ice rescue and boat-based rescue. For the past 6 years Cheryl has been learning the finer skills of enclosure fire dynamics and has become one of the elite lead instructors for the “From Knowledge To Practice” Fire Dynamics program, based in Ottawa, ON. This program is founded on science and modern fire attack tactics and aims to bring a standard language to firefighting across Canada.
As an active and dedicated member of FSWO, Cheryl understands first-hand the need to be a strong advocate for mental health and helping those who may be diagnosed with PTSD or have been exposed to other discriminatory situations that negatively impact their ability to function. Cheryl is certified as a Mental Health First Aid instructor by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and is trained in Suicide Prevention. Cheryl serves as an active member of the OFS Peer Support Team and is highly regarded for her leadership in promoting a safe work environment including the ongoing need to breakdown the stigma associated with mental health in the fire service
Louise is the Division Chief of Safety with Ottawa Fire Services and is one of the first of three women firefighters hired in 1999 in the City of Ottawa. She is trained as a technician in Rope Rescue, Confined Space, Elevator Rescue, and Extrication. She was the editor of the OFS Rope Rescue Manual and currently sits on the IAFF Local 162 Human Relations and Accommodations Committee.
Louise is one of the three founding members of FSWO who also helped to establish Camp FFIT(Female Firefighters In Training) which has served as a model for other fire services from across Canada. Louise is honoured to have served as the first President of FSWO from 2009-2011 and then again from 2015-2019.
Louise is an accomplished national athlete who represented Canada at the Pan Am Games in 1987 winning two silver medals in sprint kayaking. She is married to Brent for 30 years and they have a daughter who is on the Canadian National sprint kayak team and a son who is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.
Louise has an honours BPhEd (University of Ottawa), an Executive Diploma in Municipal Management (Western Ontario/Seneca College) and a Certification in Dispute Resolution, (York University).
With a membership that grew from 3 to over 450, Louise is incredibly proud of the impact FSWO has had in improving diversity and inclusivity in Canada’s fire service. Louise’s 12 years as a member of the Board Executive helps to provide the organization with the experience and leadership needed to contribute to the overall success of FSWO.
Tracey was one of three women first hired in 1999 to become a firefighter in the Ottawa Fire Service. Her career which has spanned over 22 years has seen her rise through the ranks where she recently became the first woman in Ottawa’s history to be promoted to Captain in the suppression division. Tracey has also successfully demonstrated that women can have both a career and a family and is the proud mother of four healthy boys who have all been born since she became a firefighter. Tracey was able to demonstrate during her pregnancies that working modified duties was an opportunity for her and an asset to Ottawa Fire which allowed her to gain additional knowledge and experience by working in many different divisions such as Administration, Training, and Air Management.
Tracey understands the importance and need for diversity and inclusivity and has led by example in advocating for the recruitment, retention and advancement of women in the fire service profession. Tracey’s commitment in making the fire service better for her and others has resulted in her volunteering her time as a Camp FFIT Instructor and as a FSWO member since it began including her election as a Director for the past 7 years. She is currently serving as the FSWO Registrar and has been instrumental in helping the membership grow from 25 members in 2009 to over 430 members today. She also has oversight of the FSWO website and serves on many committees.
Sheri Fisher has been a volunteer firefighter with Cramahe Fire Department since 2014. She brings a diverse educational and professional background to her role as a firefighter. Sheri is one of the organizers for the Camp L.I.F.T. (Ladies in Firefighter Training) program, a day camp for girls aged 11-13 in Northumberland County. Sheri is also a member of a critical incident stress management team (After The Call) as a way to give back to her fellow emergency responders.
Audrey-Anne Robinson is currently employed as an Aircraft Rescue Firefighter at the Ottawa International Airport since 2019. She joined the Army Cadet program in Sainte-Julie, Quebec at the age of 12, starting at the rank of Cadet Recruit and managed to rise to the highest rank of Cadet Chief Warrant Officer. Her cadet career took her across Canada for specialized training and advanced leadership courses.
After obtaining a college degree in Community Recreational Leadership at Cegep St. Laurent in 2006, Audrey set her sights on a more exciting career field. In 2007, she began a trailblazing career as a professional Skydiving instructor, becoming one of five female fully-rated instructors across Canada. During her career, she has accumulated nearly 5,000 jumps and currently holds two separate Canadian Skydiving records.
Never satisfied with the status quo, Audrey set out to find a new challenge in life.
In 2017, Audrey decided to enrol into the Pre-Service Firefighting program at La Cité Collegiale, where she was immediately appointed to be the class Captain. In 2018, Audrey graduated from the program with Honours. Due to her outstanding performance, Audrey was offered an Instructor position within the program.
In 2018, she was also hired to be a volunteer firefighter in the City of Clarence-Rockland. In addition to being a volunteer firefighter, Audrey began working with Multi-Trek as a Vertical Safety and Confined Spaces Rescue specialist.
In her free time, she enjoys extreme sports, living a healthy lifestyle, travelling, and hanging out with her puppy - Vector.
Julie has been a career firefighter with Toronto Fire Services since 2006 with extensive experience operating multiple apparatuses including a HazMat support pumper, aerial truck and heavy rescue support pumper. She is also trained in technical rescue, is a member of Toronto’s Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team and is an ice water rescue training instructor.
Julie is highly regarded and respected not only as a firefighter, but also as a leader and hard-working advocate for diversity and inclusivity. She is a shop steward, an active member of both the Toronto Professional Firefighters’ Association’s Human Relations and Equity Initiatives Committee and the Toronto Fire Joint Management/Association Inclusion Working Group. She was instrumental in developing the Pregnancy and Family Resource Guide which recognizes the diversity and gender of family situations and educates member about their rights.
Julie’s work in enhancing the recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce has included strategies that further educate her peers on issues of concern for women as well as members of racialized and LGBTQ+ communities. Julie was the deserving recipient of the Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2018 and continues to be a devoted and energetic member and Director of FSWO.
Julie is a mother of 2 boys and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trent University and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario.
Since January 2017, TJ has been a part-time fire fighter in Milton. At the time of her hire, she had seven years of experience as an Auxiliary Police Officer in Halton region and made a natural transition into the fire service command structure and culture. Always looking for more ways to get involved, she has volunteered at Camp FFIT the past two years and wrote for the FSWO magazine.
Fire Chief Monique Belair is a Fire Service Leader with 30+ years of knowledge and experience and has always been committed to facilitating and educating young women about the opportunities a career with the fire service. Monique currently serves Director of Emergency Services and Fire Chief for Belleville Fire and Emergency Services.
Chief Belair began her career as a Crash Rescue/Structural Firefighter with the Canadian Armed Forces in 1986 and was one of five females serving on military bases throughout Canada. She continued her career progression working in every role of the Fire Service; Communications, Prevention, Education, Investigations and Office of the Fire Marshal where she was able to obtain insight on fire service cultures from the farthest northern rural communities to large urban city centres.
As a strong advocate of women in the fire service she continuously seek out opportunities that will afford her the opportunity to engage with and mentor the youth of her community. In 2019, along with other Fire Service Leaders they were able to launch Inaugural Camp Molly Halton. Similar to other programs, the mission of Camp Molly is to support, educate, and empower young women in the Halton Region about all the opportunities a career in fire services holds for them. In June of 2019, she was selected as Biosteel’s Women of Inspiration for her work with Camp Molly and female youths.
Serving as a Director with FSWO, Monique’s objective will be to provide an immediate contribution to the enhancement of the corporation’s mission statement to encourage, promote, and advance women in the fire service
Susan Jones is retired from the City of Ottawa and was the former Acting Deputy City Manager of City Operations at the City responsible for overseeing several City departments. She has held a number of positions in her 37 year career in municipal government which included being the General Manager of Emergency and Protective Services for the City of Ottawa from 2009 to 2015 responsible for managing and directing the delivery of Fire, Paramedic, Corporate Security, Emergency Management, and By-law, Parking and Licensing operations. Susan has been a strong advocate and mentor to women in leadership roles, particularly in male dominated professions and is proud to have helped launch Fire Service Women Ontario (FSWO), Camp FFIT (Female Fire Fighters in Training) and served on the FSWO board of directors. Susan was also an International Trustee with the International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services (iWomen).
Susan has a BA in Criminology from Carleton University and is working in private practice as a Canadian Certified Addiction Counsellor having recently completed a post graduate program in Addiction Studies at McMaster University. She is married with three sons and a grandmother of twin girls. Susan is a lifetime member of FSWO and was honored to receive the President’s Trailblazer Award in 2016 for her ongoing work and innovative leadership as an advocate for women in the first responder field. Susan is excited to continue working with FSWO and is thrilled to become their new Executive Director.
Jenn Dawkins has been a member of Vancouver Fire Rescue Services since 2000. She is currently working as a Training Officer managing the Heavy Rescue / RIT portfolio. During her career she has been part of HUSAR, Hazmat and Heavy Rescue. She became an FSWO board member earlier this year. Jenn is a proud dog mom to Shiloh Shepherd Emma and enjoys participating in Rally Obedience together.
Brenna Gray is a twenty one year old graduate from Centennial College’s Preservice Firefighter program. At eighteen she completed one year of a psychology degree after which she took some time to reflect on her career direction while working. She realized her passion has always been wanting to help others and decided to study Firefighting. Brenna wants to inspire positive change within the fire service. This is her first year as an active member with FSWO and hopes to forge new friendships and continue to help the FSWO board with their missions. Brenna is committed to empowering young men and women within the fire service to further educate themselves and follow their passion.