About Us

Board of Directors

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  Pike Krpan

  President

  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.

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  Louise Hine-Schmidt

  Past President

  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.

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  Tracey Shields

  Vice President

  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 23 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 9 years. She is currently serving as the FSWO Vice President and has been instrumental in helping the membership grow from 25 members in 2009 to over 460 members today. She also has oversight of the FSWO website and serves on many committees.

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  Debbie Higgins

  Treasurer

  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.

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  Cheryl Hunt

  Secretary

  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

  
  

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  Susan Jones

  Executive Director

  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.

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  Monique Belair

  Director

  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

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  Jenn Dawkins

  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.

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  Caitlin Luno-Gilligan

  Director

  Caitlin Luno-Gilligan has been a volunteer firefighter with Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue, Station 20 Wheatley since 2019. While relatively new to the fire service, she has been around it her entire life and is incredibly passionate and dedicated to the emergency services. Since joining the fire service she has completed several NFPA accreditations and is always looking to expand on her fire knowledge.

  Caitlin has a degree in Business Management and Organizational Studies from Western University, with a specialization in Human Resource and Organization. She is currently enrolled in the Emergency Management, Threat and Response Planning Certificate Program at Ryerson University. Caitlin brings previous work, and volunteer experience in finance, project management and non profits. Recently, she began a career as an Emergency Communications Operator. Caitlin is a new board member and is excited to share her existing knowledge and experiences with FSWO.

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  Kristy-Lynn Pankhurst

  Director

  Kristy-Lynn Pankhurst is the Fire Prevention Officer for Scugog Fire & Emergency Services. In this role, she oversees the Department’s Fire Prevention efforts, and responds to emergencies alongside Scugog’s dedicated team.

  Kristy-Lynn grew up in the Fire Service, following in her father’s footsteps. After completing co-op placements in Kawartha Lakes and Ottawa, she was excited to attend Camp FFIT, Ottawa, in 2015, which is where she learned about FSWO and felt inspired to pursue her dreams. She became a Volunteer Firefighter with Kawartha Lakes Fire Rescue Service in 2015 and began her full-time career in the Fire Service in 2017.

  In 2019, while working as an Inspector with Ajax Fire, Kristy-Lynn was recognized as an NFPA “Rising Star” for her efforts in risk reduction through Fire & Life Safety Education. In 2021, Kristy-Lynn began a contract as a Program Developer with Canada’s National Indigenous Fire Safety Council. In this role, she has come to understand the devastation caused by fires in First Nations and hopes to pursue further education and research opportunities in this area.
  
  Kristy-Lynn obtained her B.A. (Hons.) in Communication and Digital Media Studies at Ontario Tech University while studying the use of social media as a cost-effective public education tool. She’s also NFPA certified as a Fire & Life Safety Educator, Fire Inspector, Public Information Officer, Firefighter and Fire Services Instructor.
  
  Outside of the Fire Service, Kristy-Lynn enjoys spending time with family and friends at the cottage, gardening, and participating in ice sports including hockey and synchronized figure skating.

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  TJ Robbins

  Director

  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.

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  Lydia Wilcox

  Director

  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.

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  Mike Wood

  Director

  A member of Toronto Fire Services for 26 years, Mike is currently assigned as Captain on a Heavy Haz Mat apparatus.

  Mike first attended The Fire Service Women Ontario Symposium in Mississauga in 2015, and each year since, often speaking and presenting on Recruitment.

  Just behind Mikes passion for firefighting is educating and mentoring. FSWO and Pre-service firefighting are a great fit. Mike is Program Coordinator of the Pre service Fire program at Centennial College and witnessed a number of students attend the symposiums and adopt the passion and drive so evident with FSWO.

  Mike is part of the Toronto Fire Health & Safety Committee, a member previously of the Inclusion and Diversity Committee, City of Toronto Mentoring Program and a recipient of the IDIGTA Cultural Award.

  Mike is looking forward to working with the Board and all members of the organization.

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  Brenna Gray

  Student Director

  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.