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Community-to-Community Learning in Canmore: Enhancing Wildfire Resilience with Perspectives from Logan Lake and Jasper

The Resilience Institute hosted a special screening of “The Test,” a documentary that highlighted Logan Lake, BC’s innovative, community-driven approach to wildfire preparedness. Following the film, fire professionals from Logan Lake, Jasper, and Canmore took part in an interactive panel discussion, where they shared their firsthand experiences and lessons learned from past wildfire events.

Doug Wilson 

Fire Chief, District of Logan Lake 

Doug Wilson began his fire service career in 1989 with the City of Langley as a Paid-on-Call Member, earning Firefighter Level 1 and 2 certifications. After relocating to Logan Lake in 2015, he joined Logan Lake Fire/Rescue and quickly rose through the ranks by being promoted to Captain in 2018, Assistant Fire Chief in 2020, and Fire Chief later that same year. 

Greg Van Tighem 

Retired Fire Chief & Director of Protected Services, Municipality of Jasper 

Greg Van Tighem is the former Fire Chief and Director of Protective Services for the Municipality of Jasper. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management with distinction and has over 25 years of experience leading FireSmart fuel management and public education in Jasper. Greg now serves as a contract trainer with FireSmart Alberta, FireSmart Coordinator for the Municipality of Jasper, and Training Officer with the Jasper Park Lodge Fire Department. 

Ted Ruiter 

Fire Chief, Town of Canmore  

In his 36 years of experience in local government and the fire service, Ted Ruiter has developed a versatile skill set. Ongoing education has been a cornerstone of Ted’s professional journey, and he recognizes it as the key to his professional growth and success. He has had the privilege of serving communities across Ontario, British Columbia, and now Alberta. 

Ted is a graduate of the Ontario Fire College and has completed the Public Administration and Governance program at Ryerson University, as well as an Executive Certificate in Local Government from Dalhousie University. Working with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, he also obtained the Executive Chief Fire Officer Designation. 

Ted has worked extensively in communities with progressive FireSmart programs, playing a pivotal role in advancing wildfire risk reduction initiatives. He is dedicated to serving and protecting the communities he calls home. 

 

Michael Bourgon

Deputy Fire Chief, Town of Canmore 

Michael Bourgon is the Deputy Fire Chief of Prevention and Risk Reduction with Canmore Fire-Rescue. With two decades of experience in fire and emergency services across Alberta and Manitoba, Michael brings a deep commitment to public safety and wildfire resilience. 

He has served in key leadership roles, including Fire Chief, Director of Public Safety, and Director of Emergency Management. Throughout his career, Michael has championed a collaborative, community-first approach—working closely with residents, partners, and agencies to advance FireSmart practices and strengthen the Bow Valley Community Fire Guard.  

Michael is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities with the tools and knowledge they need to reduce risk and stay safe. He believes that when communities are equipped and engaged, they become stronger, safer, and more resilient. 

Jim Smith 

Fire Chief, Town of Hinton 

Jim Smith has served as the Fire Chief for the Town of Hinton since October 2024. A Canadian Armed Forces veteran with over 30 years in the fire service, Jim brings a wealth of experience in structural, industrial, and wildland firefighting. He served as Operations Chief during the 2013 Southern Alberta floods and is a graduate of Dalhousie University and Lakeland College.

Laura Stewart

Board Member

Laura Stewart is the Community Wildfire Resilience Coordinator with Forsite Fire, supporting communities across Canada with wildfire risk assessments, mitigation planning, and program delivery. She has more than a decade of experience advancing wildfire resilience at Indigenous, municipal, provincial/territorial, and national levels. Previously, Laura served nearly eleven years as Alberta’s Provincial FireSmart Specialist, leading community, WUI, neighbourhood, and Home Ignition Zone programs, coordinating funding, and partnering with communities and fire services across the province. She has also served as Board Chair with both the Partners in Protection Association (FireSmart Canada) and the Community Wildfire Resilience Association of Alberta.

 

Sara Walsh, PhD

Board Member

Sara Walsh, PhD, is a disaster risk reduction and climate resilience specialist with more than 15 years of experience spanning Canada, Nepal, the Middle East, and North Africa. Until November 2025, she served as Thematic Lead for Climate and Resilience with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), where she supported Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to strengthen their climate and risk reduction work across the region. Sara currently works as a freelance consultant with the United Nations, governments, and humanitarian organizations on recovery, risk governance, and community-based resilience. She teaches at a Canadian university and holds a PhD in Disaster Risk Reduction. Her work emphasizes anticipatory action, equity, and bridging research with practice to shape more resilient and sustainable futures.

Alison Criscitiello

Board Member

Alison Criscitiello, PhD, is an ice core scientist and high-altitude mountaineer who explores the history of climate and sea ice in polar and high-alpine regions using ice core chemistry. Alison’s work also focuses on environmental contaminant histories in ice cores from the Canadian high Arctic and the water towers of the Canadian Rockies. In 2010, she led the first all-women’s ascent of Lingsarmo, a 22,818-foot peak in the Indian Himalaya. Alison has earned three American Alpine Club (AAC) climbing awards, the John Lauchlan and Mugs Stump alpine climbing awards, as well as the first Ph.D. in Glaciology ever conferred by MIT. She is an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Canadian Ice Core Lab at the University of Alberta. She is the co-founder of Girls on Ice Canada.