CFSA Blog

 Meet the Board Initiative - March 2023

Author: Kate Schramm

                  Tell us how you started in the fire safety industry?

I was introduced to the fire safety industry through friends working for the fire department and decided to study Fire Protection Enginnering Technology at Seneca in 2014.  Through that course of study I learned about the wide range of fields in this industry and had the opportunity to work for Chubb Edwards and the TTC as a student. I started my career in the consutling field with ARENCON Inc. upon graduation and then moved into the world of municipal fire departments as a Fire Inspector with Bradford West Gwillimbury.  I've been a Fire Prevention Officer with a focus on Plans Examination with Barrie Fire and Emergency Service since early 2020. 

 

Was there a role you have held that provided the greatest learning opportunity - and what was the learning?

One of the things that I love most about this industry is that every role I've held has provided huge learning opportunities.  I'm still early in my career so there is a lot to learn in general, but there are always changes in this industry, in the technologies used for fire protection and updates to Codes and Standards, that require active learning to stay informed on.  That's one of the benefits of an organization like the CFSA - the tech sessions that we put on throughout the year and the Annual Educational Forum hosted annually (registration is open now!) are great ways to stay aware of changes and advancements in our industry. 

 

Why did you volunteer with CFSA? 

Volunteering with the CFSA felt like a good way to give back to the industry.  The CFSA has a generous scholarship program and I was lucky enough to qualify for some of those scholarships while I was in school.  That experience motivated me to volunteer with the CFSA after graduation, to support the organization that had supported me as a student.  Volunteering with the CFSA is also an excellent way to participate in the fire safety industry beyond the borders of my everyday work and to collaborate with a passionate, fun group of individuals on the Board.