Page 19 - INSIGHT MAGAZINE_January2025

“I think I was always afraid of not being “I think we’ve overcome barriers that
liked at the beginning of my career, but as we possibly faced years ago,” she says,
time passed, I shifted that mentality to I before describing the amount of training
would rather be respected than liked,” she she embraced early on in her career
says, noting there are hard conversations to move up the ranks, first to become
managers must sometimes have with their captain, and then acting platoon chief.
crew. “I’m a very easygoing person, so I The latter move required her to undergo a
don’t have that type of authoritative type mentoring and training program involving
of leadership. I want my shift to be happy all other platoon chiefs, followed by a
and I think I’ve established confidence in very detailed practical test set against a
who I am.” scenario centred on an industrial fire that
tested her command skills to run a full
emergency operation.
“I would like to be a full platoon chief
before I retire, so I plan to continue on the
path I’m on,” says Marie, who continues to
switch between the role of captain and
These other family members include her acting platoon chief. “I feel sometimes
brother-in-law, a cousin and her husband, a bit disconnected from my shift, but
as well as Marie’s husband, Rick, a it’s definitely a great stepping-stone to
Brantford firefighter for just over 20 years. learning the position.”
The pair met while attending Conestoga
College’s Pre-Service Firefighter Education
and Training program and successfully
raised their two children while juggling
busy schedules which transformed in 2016
to a system of 24-hour shifts, followed by
several days reprieve.
“My husband and I were working on
opposite shifts, and we had one day off a
month together,” says Marie, noting things
became easier when their children grew Marie likes to lead by example and says
older. “We rarely needed babysitting, so it her passion for the job and work ethic
really was the best-case scenario.” have been key in her success and credits
the dedicated leaders she has had during
Having a spouse in the same her career with the department for
career has also been a benefit shaping her as a leader, beginning with
in terms of providing emotional the late Capt. Walter MacNeil, who passed
support when it comes to dealing away in 2022.
with the stressful situations “He had a military background, and She finds inspiration as a leader from
firefighters often face on the job his expectations were so high. But he the people around her and says all her
always treated me like I was just one of
colleagues bring much to the table in
while trying to assist others. the guys and I always respected him for terms of skills and personality.
“I think those hard calls sometimes give that because he pushed me out of my “I really try to look at our crews’ strengths,”
you gratitude and make you appreciate comfort zone,” says Marie, who became says Marie. “I really try to hone in on
your family and husband even more,” she the fourth female Cambridge firefighter creating a team atmosphere, so the day is
says. “I know that when I go home, I can when she joined the department more never really about me, it’s about us.”
‘dump’ those hard calls on him and he can than 20 years ago and notes she faced
do the same to me. I think it’s important fewer barriers thanks to the women who
to have that support system.” came before her.

Supporting her firefighter colleagues is That tradition has carried on as more
just as pivotal for Marie, who not only women join the ranks, which Marie says
co-chairs the department’s Peer Support is bolstered thanks to the training and
Committee which deploys members to corporate values of the department to
work with firefighters when they face ensure equal opportunities are clearly
traumatic calls but is also in their corner outlined in its promotional process.
in her leadership role as acting platoon Approximately 15% of Cambridge
chief. firefighters are women.

www.cambridgechamber.com Winter 2025 19