The first person to hold the newly created deputy fire chief position in Olds arrives with extensive experience in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Stephanie Bibault is originally from St. Catherines, Ont. and began her fire career in Comox, B.C. after completing training at the Canadian Armed Forces Academy and Algonquin College.
Her career has involved experience as a firefighter, fire instructor and proactive emergency management leader. She has been on several domestic and international deployments with the army, navy, and air force and has a passion for helping others in any capacity she can, says the town in a Wednesday news release announcing her appointment.
Bibault holds a Masters of Arts degree in Disaster and Emergency Management, where she studied ways to increase disaster and emergency preparation and mitigation strategies. She also learned how best to help communities with project planning, risk management, community resiliency, and sustainable recovery.
“I am humbled and truly honoured by this opportunity to serve with such a great team. My family and I look forward to calling the beautiful Town of Olds home,” said Bibault.
The deputy fire chief position is a full-time position approved by town council last December. The position focuses on the department’s training portfolio and support services which includes emergency management, health and safety, fire prevention and education initiatives.
“Having someone with Stephanie’s experience and background is a huge addition to the Olds Fire Department,” said Justin Andrew, Olds fire chief and director of protective services. “We are excited to have her join our team and community.
“To add someone with experience serving in the Canadian Forces brings many new opportunities to us in Olds.”
As demand for service and call volumes have increased, the fire department has seen the need for additional full-time staff to support the paid-on-call members.
The department responded to 435 incidents in 2022 and will surpass that number this year if current activity continues. Recognizing the significance of supporting paid-on-call members is paramount in effectively reducing future operating costs by maintaining the premise that firefighters are only called upon when they are required, says Andrew.
It is important to both the department and community that efforts take priority to ensure firefighters are not lost due to stress and demands on their time, he added
“If we can alleviate those pressures with a few administrative staff, our hope is that we don’t often have to summon the firefighters, taking them from their busy lives, jobs, and family.”