You’ll explore the legal, cultural, and operational challenges of supporting gender transitions in the fire service. Co-facilitated by a seasoned fire service leader and a veteran employment lawyer, this session delivers real-world case studies, legal insights, and practical strategies. From pronouns and privacy to locker rooms and litigation, you’ll gain tools to foster inclusion while staying on solid legal ground. Expect candid discussion, policy takeaways, and support strategies you can use immediately.
Level: Intermediate — ideal for chiefs, officers, HR professionals, union reps, and anyone responsible for shaping respectful, effective workplace culture in re and EMS.
Laurie VandeSchoot
Laurie VandeSchoot is a Deputy Fire Chief and internationally recognized consultant in public safety and organizational culture. With over 30 years in the re service, Laurie has led initiatives that challenge the status quo and build more inclusive, high-performing teams. She holds a Master of Science in Sustainable Development and is known for bridging operational realities with progressive leadership strategies. Laurie teaches at the post-secondary level and consults across Canada and the U.S. on equity, psychological safety, and leadership in emergency services. She has helped develop national DEI frameworks and facilitated conversations on some of the toughest issues facing re and EMS today. Living by her credo, “I educate, I create, I inspire,” Laurie brings candour, compassion, and deep sector insight to every room she enters. She co-developed and co-facilitates this session to equip re service leaders with the tools and condence to support members navigating gender transition with dignity and legal clarity.
Alisa Arnoff
Alisa Arnoff is a seasoned employment lawyer with over 30 years of experience representing public and private sector employers, including numerous re and EMS agencies, on matters of labour law, workplace policy, and discrimination claims. Based in the Chicago area, Alisa didn’t set out to work in public safety, but after being pulled in by persistent re chiefs and paramedics nearly 15 years ago, she never looked back. She is legal counsel to Women in Fire, codeveloped the IAFC’s Safety, Health & Survival Section’s anti-bullying training, and is known for her blunt, strategic, and insightful approach to tough workplace issues. Alisa has successfully defended departments in high-prole discrimination cases and advises on inclusive policy design that stands up both legally and culturally. She brings a critical legal perspective to this session, helping participants understand what’s required, what’s risky, and how to manage gender transitions in the re service without becoming the next cautionary headline.
