As Canada's first female infantry officer, Sandra Perron has spent her career breaking barriers, leading under pressure, and demonstrating the resilience required to succeed in demanding, high-performance environments. Her experiences in the Canadian Armed Forces, combined with her work as the founder and Executive Director of the Pepper Pod, a retreat centre for women veterans, offer powerful lessons that resonate with today's fire service.
Sandra also has a special connection to the fire service through her father, who served as a Fire Marshal with the Canadian Armed Forces for more than 40 years
Firefighters know that leadership isn't defined by rank—it's built through trust, teamwork, courage, and the ability to make difficult decisions when the stakes are high. Sandra's keynote explores what it takes to lead through adversity, build resilient teams, foster inclusive workplaces, and support the people beside you, even in the most challenging circumstances.
Sandra is the bestselling author of Out Standing in the Field: A Memoir by Canada's First Female Infantry Officer, and her story has also been brought to the screen in the feature film Out Standing. Her journey is one of perseverance, service, and determination—qualities that are at the heart of the fire service.
Whether you are a firefighter, company officer, chief officer, or aspiring leader, Sandra's message will leave you with practical leadership insights and a renewed appreciation for the impact each of us can have on the people we lead and the culture we help create.