Michelle Vandevord (Day Star Woman) is an active member of the Muskoday First Nation Volunteer Fire Department and is the longest serving female firefighter in the department’s history as well as its first female captain. She started her career in Prince Albert as an officer delivering fire prevention programs to communities and is now the associate director of Saskatchewan First Nation Emergency Management (SFNEM) in Prince Albert. She is the current President of the National Indigenous Fire Safety Council Project. She is a member of the Saskatchewan Fire Chiefs Public Education committee and was recognized by her inclusion in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Rising Star Program. She lives in her community of Muskoday First Nation and is the mother of three daughters and three adopted sons. She is a very proud Kookum to four smart, handsome and funny grandsons.

Bringing with her 25+ years of leadership roles in marketing, strategic planning, communications, retail operations, sales and program management, Magda joined CIFFC as the FireSmart Canada Program Manager in 2022. This new role is part of a strategic expansion of FireSmart Canada to develop and scale wildfire prevention and mitigation programming across the country. Leveraging the great leadership of FireSmart in BC and AB, building strong relationships with all Provincial and Territorial Liaisons to support their efforts, and engaging with national representatives among key industry sectors, all levels of government, and communities directly at risk is Magda’s key focus to help establish FireSmart Canada nationally and grow awareness related to FireSmart principles.

Magda lives in Winnipeg, MB with her two sons and golden doodle Cooper. She loves hiking, traveling, rowing and home improvement projects.

Wes, born and raised in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, has been with Forest Management Division, Environment and Natural Resources of the GNWT since 2010. He joined the team at ENR as the FireSmart Coordinator and currently is the Wildfire Risk Management Coordinator. At FMD we work with our regional staff in the NWT to complete and update Community Wildfire Protection Plans, provided fiscal support for implementing community FireSmart initiatives, and continue to support the communities in reducing risk.

During the fire season Wes is a Territorial Duty Officer and during large fire events is part of the Incident Management Teams when required.

Wes is a retired Fire Chief of the Fort Smith Volunteer Fire Department of 18 years, a past Chairperson of the CIFFC Mitigation and Prevention Committee, and the coordinator of the Fort Providence Wildfire Experimental Site (formerly known as the ICFME site). He has a love of the north, its people and plans to retire in Fort Smith in a few years.

I graduated from Renewable Resources Technology – Kelsey Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences (Saskatoon) in 1980. I worked for Saskatchewan Environment and seasonally seconded to Wildfire Management Branch for 17 years primarily involved in Wildland Fire Suppression Operations.

I was hired as a Forestry Technologist in 1999 for the Prince Albert Grand Council, and over the past 23 years promoted to the Program Director for Forestry and Emergency Protective Services.

I represent PAGC on the CIFFC Technical working group and currently the Vice President of the Prince Albert Model Forest Inc. which is part of the Canadian Model Forest Network.

Our office provides Response Service contract administration for 35 First Nation fire crews in 12 First Nations as part of a 5-year Saskatchewan Response Services Agreement. Additionally, the Saskatchewan First Nations Emergency Management and PAGC Search, Rescue and Recovery services for all Saskatchewan First Nations are administered through our office.

Our office also provides Wildland Fire Certification and Training through contractual services with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.

We are currently involved fiscally and have completed many on-reserve Fuel Hazard Reduction projects funded by Indigenous Services Canada through the Emergency Management Assistance Program. We also provide contract services for Fuel Mitigation projects in communities and recreational subdivisions tendered through the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.