JENN DAWKINS

Jenn Dawkins began her career in Maple Ridge in 1997 where she served 3 years before getting hired in Vancouver in 2000. Currently an acting Captain in Suppression Jenn has been part of several specialties including hazmat, heavy rescue and HUSAR and has worked in many divisions including Recruitment and Outreach, Public Education, and the Training Division. She has been an Instructor with the Justice Institute of BC for several years. In 2010,  Jenn was one of the founders of Camp Ignite and served as the Program Director for its first 11 years. She has a Certificate in Emergency Management and is currently completing her Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies. In 2021 Jenn became a board member for Fire Service Ontario and through that experience is excited to be FSWBC Founding President and continue her role as a leader serving the Women in the Fire Service British Columbia. 

MARY FOSTER

Mary Foster is a Captain with Maple Ridge Fire Rescue. She started as a Paid On Call in 2004 and landed a career spot in 2007. She is a driving instructor and First Responder instructor with the department as well as an instructor of the fire department’s Youth Academy and Paid on Call. In 2020 Mary completed Fire Officer 3 through the JIBC. She is a Peer Fitness Trainer and Certified Health Coach, a member of the Health and Wellness Committee as well as the Honour Guard.

She’s an instructor with the JIBC’s Fire Training Division and has been an active volunteer with Burn Camp, Camp Ignite, BCPFFA Women’s Advisory Committee, and now Fire Service Women BC. Mary is passionate about the fire service and about making it more diverse, equitable and kind. She lives in Maple Ridge with her husband Dave, and 3 dogs.

DARCIE SIBBALD

Darcie Sibbald is the President of Whistler Local #3944. She began her service with Whistler Fire Rescue in 2000 as a Paid-on-Call and started her career in 2005. Darcie was the Secretary/Treasurer for her local from 2012-2022. She is a current Red Cross Instructor Trainer and supports the First Responder training program for the department. She is the CISM/Peer Team Coordinator and an Instructor for Resilient Minds and Road to Mental Readiness. Darcie is invested in fostering resilience, mental health and wellness within the workplace. Darcie is very excited to develop mentorship, training, growth and community for all in FSWBC.   

HAIDA FORTIER

Haida Fortier Retired as an Assistant Fire Chief with the District of North Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services. Haida has worked in municipal government since 1997 in a variety of positions including fire administration, dispatch, suppression and prevention. Haida has held positions in the leadership ranks including Assistant Fire Chief of Public Safety, Assistant Fire Chief of Administration, and Duty Chief (Battalion 11). Haida has a Bachelor's Degree in Public Safety Administration, a Graduate Certificate in Leadership from Royal Roads, is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist, as well has completed both the Fire Officer Certificate and the Fire Prevention Officer's Certificate through the JIBC. In addition to numerous accomplishments in the field of fire prevention, she is a certified Blue Card Hazard Zone Incident Commander, and has completed a variety of operational and technical programs related to fire ground operations and support. Haida has had the opportunity to deploy throughout BC to Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) for wildfire and landslide. Haida was one of the founding members of Camp Ignite-teenage girls firefighting camp in the lower mainland of BC. 

JODY DOBUSH

Jody Dobush is a Firefighter with the City of Burnaby, since 2020, and the Director of the Camp Ignite Mentorship Program. Jody became involved with Camp Ignite in 2019 as an aspiring Firefighter and served on its Board of Directors in 2020/2021 as the Logistics Coordinator. She assumed the role of the Director of Camp Ignite and is committed to the enhancement and continued success of the program. Jody is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in the fire service and joining the Fire Service Women of BC is an opportunity to work towards that.

Director

LAURA DODMAN

Laura is an Assistant Fire Chief with Creston Fire Rescue Service. She started her fire service career in 1998 as a Paid-On-Call, moving up through the ranks and was the first female Captain in Creston Fire Rescue’s history. During the P-O-C years, she worked a few different jobs, like Crusher Operator in a gravel pit, Administrator for the Business Development Office and lastly, Executive Director for a Non-Profit that ran the Woman’s Shelter, Outreach Centre Camp, and Licensed Childcare Facility. In 2019 I was hired full-time as Assistant Chief, the first Female Chief Officer for the Creston Valley. I have completed numerous disciplines in fire ground operations, a Certificate in Fire Service Leadership from Dalhousie University, Incident Command 400, NFPA Fire Officer’s accreditation and Blue Card Hazard Zone Incident Commander and sectors of Emergency Management. I am currently initiating the start of Camp Ignite – Kootenay Division to run annually in July. I look forward to working with all the fantastic women here and supporting our sisters and brothers throughout.

Director

CARLENE PIRES

Carlene Pires is a Paid-On-Call Captain with Kootenay Boundary Regional

Fire Rescue (KBRFR), in Trail, B.C. She has been a POC Firefighter since

2015, rising through the ranks to Lieutenant in 2019 and recently became the first woman in KBRFRs 40-year history to be promoted to Captain. She is licenced as an EMR and is a First Responder instructor for her regional service. Currently balancing her role as a station officer with being a mom and her career in Emergency Management with the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary as the Emergency Program and FireSmart Coordinator for their Regional Emergency Program. Outside of Fire and Emergency Services, she likes to recreate in the Kootenay mountains with her two shepherds,

play softball in the summer and spend time with her family.

Always looking to expand her knowledge, she recently completed her Fire Officer 1 Certificate and Fire Inspector 1 and is currently working on her Fire Prevention Officer Certificate. She is participating in the planning committee to bring Camp Ignite – teenage girls’ firefighting camp, to the Kootenays.

Living in rural BC, she understands the importance of having strong peer

support and mentorship to recruit, retain and advance as a woman in the fire service and the need for greater diversity and inclusivity.

As a new board member, Carlene is excited to focus on growing the

membership, supporting and promoting the FSWBC mentorship program, and, most importantly, giving back to others what she had for herself in terms of encouragement, leadership, and advocacy.

Director

LEANNE INGHAM

Leanne Ingham is the Superintendent of Provincial Operations with the BC Wildfire Service. She started fighting wildfire back in 1998 and has held many roles spanning from unit crew member, initial attack crew leader, Forest Protection Assistant, Aviation Technician and Superintendent of Provincial Aviation during her career to date before moving into her current role in 2021.  

On wildfires, Leanne has primarily specialized in aviation roles in the field in the last decade, including being on a provincial Incident Management Team from 2014 to 2018 as the Air Operations Branch Director and more recently has focused exclusively on the Helicopter Coordinator role, coordinating the aerial response over the fire from the front seat of a helicopter during some of BC’s most significant wildfire seasons on record. She has also enjoyed the opportunity to support partner wildfire agencies in Australia, Ontario and the Yukon from the air while on deployment.  

Leanne is currently the Project Lead for BCWS’ “365 Readiness Project”, which is supporting the organization's shift to being an all-hazards response capable organization to support the Province in times of crisis. Leanne has a Master's in Disaster and Emergency Management from Royal Roads University and a passion for bringing together agencies and partners to collaborate on building relationships and developing solutions in advance of and during significant incidents.   

Outside of work, Leanne enjoys road cycling, paddle boarding, biathlon, distance trail running and life on the farm with her faithful dog Rudy and an assortment of farm animals just outside of Armstrong, BC.

Student Director

SOPHIE MICHAEL

Sophie Michael is an aspiring firefighter and is currently in the recruitment process. In 2019, Sophie got involved in Camp Ignite and has been a mentor and chaperone ever since. Sophie works presently for BCEHS, as she gains hands-on medical experience that is vital in the fire service. In June of 2022, Sophie graduated with a Criminal Justice Diploma and a Professional Communications Essentials Associate Certificate while playing post-secondary volleyball. Sophie is an active volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Burn Camp, FireMedix Peer Mentorship Program, Abbotsford Female Hockey Association, Jr. Cascades Volleyball Club, Abbotsford Pilots Team Manager/Social Media Director, as well as many other organizations. She also teaches CPR in rural communities to spread the knowledge and significance of bystander CPR. Sophie has attended National, Provincial and Municipal Leadership Conferences as a participant, organizer and volunteer. She has learned essential information from keynote speakers and continues to share the meaning of what a leader is. Sophie is overcome with excitement to start her career in the Fire Service while empowering women and exploring the importance of growth, diversity and inclusion. 

Director

ERIN WILSON

Erin Wilson is a Lieutenant with the Halfmoon Bay Volunteer Fire Department on the Sunshine Coast. She has been with the department for seven years and recently completed Fire Officer Level 1 certification through the JIBC.  Erin is the chairperson of her department's Health and Safety Committee and the Fire Fighters Association and is often found in the local community promoting fire education and safety. She is excited to become more involved in the Provincial Fire Smart program in 2023, as well as the BC Wildfire Service. As a new board member, Erin is excited to promote inclusion and diversity in the volunteer departments across British Columbia.

Director

DEBRA ROGERS

Debra is a firefighter with Campbell River Fire Department. She started her career as a fire dispatcher in 2009 and transitioned to the fire suppression division in 2017. Debra has served her union as both a Trustee and a Secretary. She formerly served on the board of Camp Ignite before launching the Island Ignite Mentorship Society on Vancouver Island. She is the sitting president at Island Ignite and keeps busy collaborating with some great fire service woman to develop a regional program that engages island youth. Debra is passionate about advancing opportunities and fostering enhanced representation for women in the fire service. She aims to align with others who are eagerly supporting others and remains committed to professional development.