14th Annual Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Councils Public Fire & Life Safety Educators Conference, November 15, 16 & 17, 2006: “Igniting Your Leadership”

This year’s conference was hosted by the Cambridge Fire Department at the Holiday Inn in Cambridge Ontario. Registration was on Wednesday November 15th followed by a welcome ceremony with Bev Gilbert, OFM Manager of Public Education & Media Relations, John Rehill and Bill Donahue (MC) from the Cambridge fire dept.

After the Welcome ceremony participants had the option of signing up for either a workshop on the ”New Canadian Risk Watch” – Saving Young Lives Presented By Chris Slosser, OFM and Karen Cook Co-Chair Kawartha Lakes Risk Watch Association or a field Trip by bus to Waterloo Region’s Children’s Safety Village. I attended the Risk Watch seminar and Karen gave an excellent presentation on how much easier the “Sell” is to teachers and school boards as we now have the Canadian Risk Watch version.

Thursday began with a presentation from The Ontario Fire Marshal Bernie Moyle called “Light My Fire”. Next up was “Igniting your leadership” by Cambridge Chief Terry Allen, followed by “Leading From Below” presented by Dr. Bruce Fournier, University of Waterloo. The presentations were excellent and well received by those in attendance.

After lunch there were several break out sessions of which only two you were able to attend. They were as follows:

• Alcohol and Fire: A burning issue, Cambridge Chief Terry Allen and Reggie Caverson.

• Putting a Lid on Stovetop Fires, Doug Crawford and Allison Wilson, OFM

• Leading the Smoke Alarm Charge, Ryan Betts, OFM and representatives from Cornwall, Barrie and Niagara Falls Fire Depts.

• Public Education in a Multicultural Environment, James Hind, London Fire dept.

• TAPP-C Know your responsibilities, Janice Johnstone, OFM and Representatives from OPP, CAS and CAMH

• Stand and Deliver, Ryan Betts, OFM

I attended “Leading the Smoke alarm Charge” where three departments gave presentations on their smoke alarm programs. There was excellent dialogue between the members presenting and the audience as to whether or not Fire Service staff should write a ticket for non-compliance with smoke alarms or proceed with a Part 3 summons and go the court route. The issuing of a ticket is $235.00 vs. a potential fine of $25000.00. The last session of the day was “Stand and Deliver” where Ryan Betts of the OFM gave an excellent presentation on preparation and delivery of presentations. Well done, with lots of humour.

Thursday evening was a reception and dinner honoring Fire and Life Safety Program Graduates including a tribute to Bernie Moyle reflecting his years of service as Fire Marshal. This led into the evening’s entertainment a taste of Oktoberfest tradition due to timing called Novemberfest for us, including the traditional “Tapping” of a keg by Bernie himself.

Friday morning began with a presentation from Kidde introducing new products they have on the market as well as new items on the horizon. This was followed by a presentation by Chief Dennis Compton, entitled “The Role and Importance of Public Education in Fire Departments”. He discussed the Fire and Life Safety Mission which includes Fire Prevention, Public Education and Emergency Response. Chief Compton spoke as well on how our focus is coming back to prevention and education. This in   despite of the fact it was identified back in the early 1900’s in a book called “Susan’s Neighbors at Work” discussing the importance of public education.

The final presentation was an outstanding hilarious talk with Dr Shonk.  An actual medical doctor called “Kick it up a notch” Using humour as the catalyst to ignite the leadership spark in others. He spoke on how humor is used in various ways to bridge gaps between people, break the ice and initiate communications and productivity within all aspects or ranks of work or life in general. Despite the name of this presentation I am not sure if we were actually instructed on how to do this properly, but we were certainly entertained throughout the entire presentation.

Closing ceremonies at noon concluded the three day conference, with Bev Gilbert of the OFM thanking the Cambridge Fire Department for hosting and announced that next years Conference would be held in Midland Ontario.

I attended the first Public Education Seminar at the Ontario Fire College back in 1988. WOW, we have come along way! Everyone should make a concerted effort to attend this annual conference.  Congratulations to all Conference organizers. Well done.