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FCABC: The show circuit’s in-person return to the west coast

Mild sea-soaked air alongside splashes of rain here and there proved the perfect oceanside compliments to the trade show circuit’s return to live and in-person on the west coast. The Fire Chiefs’ Association of British Columbia (FCABC) held its annual conference and trade show from June 5-9 in Victoria, the picturesque island city known internationally as the City of Gardens for its billions of blooms (yes, you read that right – 3.4 billion at Tourism Victoria’s 2018 count).

Dan Derby, FCABC president shared his thoughts on this year’s BC Fire Expo and FCABC Education Summit.

“The theme of this year’s conference — “We’re BACK” — certainly captured the sentiments of attendees, who were pleased to be able to attend our first in-person conference since 2019. The opportunity to network and attend sessions was certainly well received! One of the prominent conversations was around mental health and how we support our members and each other as leaders and chief officers. The FCABC has a mental health task force focused on developing support and resources specific to our members.”

The BC Fire Expo, running June 5-6, drew 270 trade reps from over 100 companies occupying 167 booths at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, with plenty of apparatus outside. There were 260 chief officers registered. Sunday and Monday saw over 200 walk-ins with 70 First Nations’ Emergency Services Society members attending the expo.

The event transitioned to its education summit on June 7, which hosted 24 speakers over 27 sessions along with the various AGM meetings. On the most emotionally engaging speakers, Derby noted, was keynote Joe Roberts, the ‘Skid Row CEO’. Roberts is a particularly adept speaker on resiliency and change when he shares his story of rising up from his former life as a homeless drug addict.

Other educational sessions include Training for Life and Call Signs for Life from Comox Fire Rescue Chief and Fire Fighting in Canada’s StopBad columnist Gord Schreiner. Vancouver’s Fire Chief Karen Fry and Deputy Chief Celene Lemire delivered a talk on diversity. Taking a regional approach to food truck inspections was delivered by Surrey Deputy Chief Jason Cairney and North Vancouver Deputy Chief Davide Owens. Burnaby Deputy Chief Dave Samson and Coquitlam Deputy Chief Scott Young brought attendees a B.C. first responder mental health update. Delegates took in a “coach approach to leadership” with certified executive coach Shelley Langille, founder and president of SeeShell Consulting (SSC) and the International Coach Coalition (ICC). Best practices in fire hall design, supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and the community risk reduction dashboard from the OFC and Centre for Justice Community Safety Statistics, enhancing fire safety and community risk assessment for fire chiefs were amongst the other subjects rounding out the three-day agenda.

The 2023 BC Expo and FCABC Education Summit will be held in Penticton from June 4-8.