The Town of Tecusmeh’s Fire & Rescue Services is pleased to host the second annual #WomenOnFire event. The event is supported by St. Clair College and—new this year—the Canadian Armed Forces. #WomenOnFire aims to promote diversity in emergency responder organizations like Fire, Police, EMS, Canada Border Services (CBSA) and the Canadian Armed Forces within Windsor and Essex County as well as Chatham-Kent.
#WomenOnFire provides a female only recruitment training opportunity for women 18 years and older, to try out various components of each organizations’ physical testing, ask questions, network with women already working within the organizations and to have an opportunity to mentor with these women if they choose.
“We are proud to host this important event within Tecumseh with connections to the broader Essex Region and Chatham-Kent areas,” said Doug Pitre, Fire Chief and Director Tecumseh Fire & Rescue Services. “The event draws attention to increasing the number of women in emergency services. I’m proud of Donna for putting together this event for the second year and her efforts to promote diversity in our fields.”
The initiative was created by Donna Desantis, a Volunteer Firefighter with Tecumseh Fire & Rescue Services and a City of Windsor Facilities Supervisor. Donna has championed many initiatives and events aimed at educating, mentoring, advising and training young women interested in entering and succeeding at non-traditional employment opportunities in emergency response organizations in Windsor and Essex County.
“Our goal has always been to generate interest in an emergency services career for women,” said Donna Desantis. “I hope that by providing opportunities like this, we will see an increase in diversity which will in turn benefit local organizations and all municipalities in the region.”
The event will be held Saturday June 29, (rain date Sunday June 30) at Tecumseh Fire Station # 2, 5520 Walker Road, Oldcastle. Registration is on a first come/first served basis. There will be three 2-hour sessions, (8:30am-10:30am, 11:00am-1:00pm, and 2:00pm-4:00pm) with a break in between each session. Participants must wear appropriate attire including footwear, bring their own water, and will be required to sign a waiver and provide proof of age (over 18) at time of sign-in (max. half hour before event starts). There will be 15 openings per time slot, per service provider (Fire, Police, EMS, CBSA, Canadian Armed Forces).
Visit the Facebook Event page at www.facebook.com/Womenonfire-1319051094926033 which also provides some information, instructions to participants, parking, and required waivers.
