Entertainment and activities | June 2, 2016
Give them one week and Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services (MFES) will show 20 teenaged girls, ages 15 to 19, what a career in fire service could look like through the new program Camp Ignite.
“Diversity in our fire service is an extremely important issue for us. It’s essential that residents are able to see themselves in the crews that are proudly serving their City,” said Tim Beckett, Fire Chief, MFES. “We are encouraged that women are applying to the fire service but it’s not happening in the numbers that it would take to make a significant difference and we want to change that.”
The camp is being led by the City’s first female firefighter, Shelli Varela. Varela joined MFES in 1994 and was later promoted to the position of captain in 2008.
“Girls often don’t have that same natural connection to firefighting that young boys frequently embrace,” said Varela. “Because the connection isn’t there, girls generally don’t investigate a career in firefighting. With Camp Ignite, we want to show young women that firefighting isn’t just possible but could be the ideal path for them.”
During the week, girls will learn a diverse set of skills including:
• basic firefighting;
• basics of pump/ladder operations;
• aerial ladder climb;
• auto extrication;
• basics of technical rescue; and
• forcible entry.
Camp Ignite – Details
Who:
Teenaged girls ages 15 to 19 working with members of MFES
Where:
Garry W. Morden Centre
7535 Ninth Line
Mississauga, ON
L5N 7C3
[Map]
When:
August 8 to 12, 2016
Time:
Daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost:
The cost of Camp Ignite is $150. Participants will require steel toe boots to take part in fire ground activities.
How to Apply:
The application form can be found here. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, June 15, 2016.
Media Contact:
Lindsay Noronha
Communications Advisor, Community Services
City of Mississauga
905-615-3200, ext. 3940
Lindsay.Noronha@mississauga.ca
TTY: 905-896-5151