Jennifer Cowles is looking to help more young women choose a career in firefighting.
“The latest statistics from 2020 show that women make up just under 6% of the fire service in Canada,” said Cowles, Fire Chief with Pro-Tec Fire Services of Canada ULC at the Saskatoon Airport Fire Department. “It’s a very small percentage, but it is growing, and that’s encouraging.
“Unfortunately, there’s still a perception out there that women can’t do this, and I really want to break that mould. Women bring great things to the fire service; but they may not be aware that it’s an option for them.”
That’s where ‘Camp Molly YXE’ comes in.
The four-day camp slated for June 12-15 provides young women aged 15–18 with hands-on experience in all aspects of fire services, including fire suppression, auto extrication, fire dispatch and communications, aircraft fires, and medical emergencies.
During the course of the camp, the girls can meet and engage with strong female role models in their community.
Organized by Cowles in conjunction with the Martensville Fire Department and Dalmeny Fire and Rescue, the camp is modelled on a similar initiative in Ontario that began in 2019. Founded by Monique Belair, a 40-year veteran firefighter, the camp’s vision is: ‘Be Prepared to Be Challenged, Empowered, and See Yourself Differently.’ Camp Molly is named after Molly Williams, North America’s first known female and first known black firefighter.
Cowles said the camp is open to all young females with an interest in firefighting. The camp can accommodate up to 35 participants, and because expenses are covered by donations and corporate sponsorships, there is no admission cost for the girls enrolled in the program.
Information on the camp and registration forms, for both participants and adult volunteers, are available online at www.campmolly.ca .
“It’s a once in a lifetime experience,” said Cowles. “We really hope we can get the camp full and make it a really successful event.”
This marks the second year a Camp Molly is taking place in Saskatchewan, said Cowles.
“Last year there was one in White City, near Regina,” she said. “It was very successful, and we’re hoping to build on that to create a western Canadian Camp Molly division to hold more camps in more communities.”
Cowles, a former firefighter with Dalmeny Fire and Rescue and Warman Fire Rescue, said the camp will provide girls with exposure to all aspects of firefighting and give them an opportunity to experience what it’s like to use firefighting equipment while wearing helmets, boots and turnout gear.
“The girls can get a sense of what’s involved,” she said. “And it gives them some confidence in working with the equipment. It’s a great way of letting the girls know it doesn’t matter if you’re tiny. It doesn’t matter what size you are, or whether you’re male or female. We can all bring something to the fire service.
“We’re covering all aspects,” she continued. “Maybe they may want to go into dispatch, so we have a communications section; or fire investigation; or aircraft firefighting, which is my specialty. We’ll also have sessions on vehicle extrication, wildland firefighting and medical training. Toward the end of the camp we’ll have a ‘combat challenge’ where the girls are divided into two teams and they run through a series of tasks. At the end, there’s a graduation ceremony and they receive awards and a certificate of completion.
“We do a slide show of the camp at the grad ceremony, so their parents actually get to see what the girls accomplished over the four days.
“It’s very moving, because the girls arrive at the camp kind of shy and unsure of themselves, and at the end they’re beaming with tons of confidence after accomplishing so much and being around strong and empowering people in the fire service.”
Cowles said mentorship is important in helping young people make good choices. She credits Dalmeny Fire Chief Rick Elder in particular for providing her with an opportunity to become a volunteer firefighter back in 2008.
“I’m so grateful to Chief Elder and Dalmeny Fire and Rescue for allowing me to be exposed to the fire service,” said Cowles. “When I first knocked on the door of the fire hall on a Wednesday night, Chief Elder absolutely opened the door with no hesitation. The training through the fire departments in the North Corman Park Fire Chiefs Association is second to none. I strongly believe they’ve changed the face of volunteer firefighting in Saskatchewan because they set the standards so high. This area out here is highly-trained and very professional.”
Cowles said while Camp Molly YXE is designed to inspire participants, it’s also challenging for those who sign up.
“The girls need to go into this with their eyes open,” said Cowles. “Obviously safety is our top priority. There are no phones allowed because the girls have to be very focused. And they also have to understand that yes, there is going to be some physical aspects to this, but we’re going to show you how to do it, and you’re going to get it done, and you’re going to be so proud of yourself.”
Cowles said even if participants who graduate from the camp don’t choose a career in firefighting, the experience will still prove invaluable for them.
“It will help them realize that they can step in to a critical or traumatic situation and help out,” she said. “If they should come across a critical accident on their way home, they’re going to have that training in the back of their minds, and say to themselves, ‘I did this at camp; I can do this now. I can help these people’. I think that is huge in itself.”