Thursday, October 22, 2026

HOT CLASSES 8-HOURS at FESTI

8:00-17:00

Highrise Fire Fighting

Phil Montgomery,
Rob Wiggins & Maurice Doyle

Make Search Primary Again

Auto Extrication – The Past, Present and Future

HOT CLASSES 4-HOURS at FESTI

8:00-12:00

Rescue Drag Bonanza

Jess Clermont

Fitness Through Flowing

Heidi Jaaskelainen, Nicole Brugger, Mya Falcon &
Sierra Henderson-Muschet

13:00-17:00

Ladder Confidence

Jess Clermont

Aircraft Rescue Firefighting: Tactics, Entry, and Live-Fire Operations

Victoria Lam

IN-CLASS 8-HOURS at FESTI

08:00-17:00

Resilient Minds

Pauline Spiess

13:00-17:00

The Personal and Organizational Value of Psychology for Women in Fire Services

Dr. Casey Iwai, Dr. Lorraine Patterson & Dr. Chris Rodrigues

8:00-9:50

Introduction to Provincial Fire and Explosion Investigations

Jennifer Woodcroft

Mindfulness as a Catalyst for Strong, Resilient Teams

Julia Long

Advanced Vehicle Technologies and Response Tactics In EV’s -- OnStar

Built to Belong: Recruitment, Training, and Structure that Build Ownership in our Fire Service

Mark Saunders

10:00-12:00

How Toronto Fire Services Responds to Encampments

Susan Ing & Roman Wojarski

Data for Life: Using Evidence to Refine Firefighter Best Practices

Anthony De Benedictis

Cancer and Reproductive Health in the Fire Service

Lead the Crew: Women Stepping into the Company Officer Role

Michele Fitzsimmons & Tracey Shields

AutoStore Systems: A Fire Prevention and Operations Perspective

Chantelle Cosgrove 

Advanced Vehicle Technologies and Response Tactics In EV’s -- OnStar

Charlene Poranganel & Mitch Petterson

Dare 2 Command – Company Officer

Dr. Katherine Lamb & Debra Rogers

Navigating Risk, Authority, and Coordination in Complex Residential Fire Safety Cases

Kalpana Rajgopalan & Jonathan O’Neil

Duty to Self: Resilience Building Strategies

Julia Long

Acting Up: Stepping into Leadership in the Fire Service

Debra Rogers

FSWO Connect: Trade Show, Speaker’s Corner & Networking Night – Sponsored by: RK Rooney

Keynote Speaker: Dena Ali

Join us Thursday evening to kick off the Symposium with networking, inspiration, and connection. Explore our Trade Show featuring industry vendors, service agencies, and exhibitors showcasing innovative products, services, and resources that support the fire service. Their sponsorship and participation play a key role in helping make this Symposium possible.Visit the booths, enter to win exciting door prizes, and bid on great items as our Silent Auction officially opens. The evening includes an inspiring keynote from Dena Ali, Battalion Chief with the Raleigh Fire Department, as she shares her powerful message on resilience, leadership, and supporting one another in the fire service.

START OF SILENT AUCTION

Friday October 23, 2026

07:30-11:30

Hilton Garden Inn

Doors Open at 7:30am.  Gala starts at 8:00am

FSWO Annual Awards Gala – Sponsored by OnStar

Keynote Speaker: Sandra Perron

Canada’s first female infantry officer, Sandra Perron brings a powerful message of leadership, resilience, and breaking barriers. Drawing on her experiences in the Canadian Armed Forces and her work supporting women veterans, Sandra will share lessons on leading through adversity, building strong teams, and creating a culture where people can thrive.

Sponsored by YNCU

12:00-13:00

Leadership Without Limits – Lessons from Women Who Lead First

Join us for lunch and a candid conversation with accomplished women leaders from diverse backgrounds, many of whom have been among the first women to step into their roles. Hear their experiences, lessons learned, and perspectives on leadership, resilience, breaking barriers, and creating meaningful change while helping pave the way for those who follow.

Captain (Ret’d) Sandra Perron (CAF), Deputy Chief Michele Fitzsimmons (FDNY), and Battalion Chief Dena Ali (Raleigh Fire Department) will be joined by other inspiring women leaders for this engaging and thought-provoking conversation.

When I Doubt Myself – Part 1

jona olsson

“Leading From Within™” — Nervous-System-Informed Leadership for Women in Fire Service

Michelle Gibson

HazMat Isn’t Optional Anymore: Modern Threats Every Firefighter Must Understand

Greg Scott

Stronger Together: FSW Groups Building a National Movement

Dr. Tina Saryeddine, Tracey Shields, Sarah Peto, Anik St-Pierre, Jessica O’Dell

I’m the Boss…Where Do I Go From Here?

Michele Fitzsimmons & Tracey Shields

Strength Under Fire: Understanding PTSD and the Power of Service Dogs

Samantha Cooper

How Does my Union Represent me When my Union Doesn’t Represent Me?

Julie Petruzzellis & Adina Kaufman

AI is Not Coming for Your Job

Justin Brunner

Unlocking Access – Tactical Through the Lock

Rural Water Setups

Amber's Playbook: Building the Female Tactical Athlete

Amber Bowman & TJ Johnston

Auto Extrication – The Past, Present and Future

Modern Fire Dynamics and Suppression Techniques

FSWO Unplugged: Leadership, Laughter & Connection

Join us for an interactive evening designed to educate, encourage, and empower women in the fire service. Guided by a professional leadership facilitator, this engaging and lighthearted session will inspire meaningful conversations, strengthen connections, and offer plenty of laughs along the way.

You'll also have opportunities to win exciting prizes, participate in our Live and Silent Auctions, and enjoy an evening of networking with colleagues from across the fire service. Don't miss this memorable FSWO tradition!