JIBC appoints new fire and safety director

September, 10, 2019, British Columbia – The Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) appointed Charlene Jordan-Jones as the first female director of its fire and safety division.

After teaching in public and private elementary and middle schools, Jordan-Jones joined the Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service (AFRS) in 1994 as a career firefighter responsible for community fire and life safety education programs, including serving as the public information officer. She was the first female career member at AFRS, where she rose to the rank of lieutenant in the fire prevention office. Her work during this time included co-authoring the provincial fire and life safety education curriculum, and working in the Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centre in Kamloops for the B.C. Office of the Fire Commissioner during the 2003 wildfires.

In 2006, Jordan-Jones was seconded to the JIBC Fire and Safety Division to manage the fire officer I-IV courses and certifications. This developed into permanent positions in the division of program manager, program director, and then deputy director in 2010. As deputy director, she led the development and approval of the fire officer certificate, fire prevention officer certificate, and fire fighting technologies certificate programs. She also served as acting director for 18 months. She has represented JIBC on several provincial, national and international committees, including as chairperson of the Canadian Fire Service Training Directors, and as an elected member on Pro Board’s Committee on Accreditation.

“I am very excited to be returning to the fire and safety division as the director as I have over 25 years of experience and relationships within the fire service,” said Jordan-Jones in a news release. “I plan to focus on building relationships and connecting with our stakeholders and students to support their training and education needs.”