Debra Rogers

Background

About Debra Rogers

I have been working in Emergency Services since 2009 and have served as a 9-1-1 Fire Dispatcher and Firefighter professionally. I recently completed my Fire Officer II and certifications and my Fire Prevention Officer certification with the JIBC. I will have Fire Officer IV done by the end of 2025. I am keenly interested in Fire Investigation and am pursuing more education to improve my understanding. I remain a long-standing member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 891 in the Accounting and FACS categories. I have augmented my full-time work doing contract work as an industrial first aid attendant and work on assorted film productions in accounting. I have participated in personal development to understand labour issues and believe union activism is important work. I have served as a Trustee and Secretary at my IAFF Local 1668. I formerly served on the BCPFFA Women's Advisory Committee in the Union Leadership sub-committee and built our Committee Proposal for presentation to the BCPFFA Executive Board. I currently serve on the IATSE 891 Women's Committee. I aim to mentor other women interested in working in emergency services. As such, I formerly served on the Board of Directors for Camp Ignite as the Communications & Correspondence Coordinator, responsible for the website, social media, and camp planning. In May 2024, I was appointed the VP with Fire Service Women BC. Most recently, I founded a not-for-profit organization, Island Ignite Mentorship Society, to operate events to empower female youth through firefighting. As the President I oversee many aspects of the organization and work with a small Board of Directors in building our program. In July 2023, we successfully ran our first camp in Victoria with the help of many volunteers and the members of IAFF Local 730 and the Victoria Fire Department. I am an artist working on a project called 'Mask My Words,' which is intended to result in an art exhibit sometime in the future. I dabble in writing, painting, printmaking, and any avenue of expression. I studied theatre, did a stint studying clay animation and filmmaking, and recently have taken to building websites for fun. I believe education is a lifelong pursuit, and I still hope to finish a formal degree. I have learned most of what I know through trial and error, and I am confident tackling most tasks. I am outspoken, strong-willed, and direct, with an interest in supporting others to achieve results. I have lots more to do and lots more to give!