The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) is the national association representing the country’s fire departments through chief fire officers and senior leaders in emergency management. In 2017, the CAFC asked its National Advisory Council which consists of all provincial and territorial Chiefs Association and National Affiliate Organizations, the top three issues of concern to them: Building Codes, Mental Health, and Diversity and Inclusion. This led the CAFC Board to espouse a commitment to diversity and inclusion, with gender representation among its first areas of focus. This commitment has been reshaping the national
association. Organizations like Fire Service Women Ontario (FSWO), and the Alberta Fire
Emergency and Wildfire Management Women (AFEW) have been instrumental partners. In 2018, the CAFC elected its first woman board member and established the Women Chiefs and Company Officers Network of Canada. In 2019, the association held its first symposium to develop an action plan towards a “Fire Service for All” which has recently been released.
Members were asked to imagine the fire service of the future and what would be required to get there. In this presentation, Board Member Chief Keri Martens and Diversity and Inclusion Co-Chair, Laurie VandeSchoot and Executive Director Tina Saryeddine will speak to the recently released action plan that is being implemented to help make a “Fire Service for All” in the context of the broader work of the CAFC in the fire sector.