Quadra Island BC
THE FOLLOWING IS AN INTERVIEW WITH FIRE CHIEF SHARON CLANDENING OF THE QUADRA ISLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE DEPARTMENT SPOTLIGHT :
Quadra Island Fire Chief Sharon Clandening has been with the Quadra Island Fire Department for 27 years , moving up the ranks until she became chief in 2008 . When she was recruited , there was very little emergency coverage in the Quadra Island community , and the department ’ s fire chief at the time was specifically seeking women with school-aged children to join . Sharon just happened to be one of those moms , and she became part of a nine-woman recruit class and the first recruit class to go through formal training and certification . Up until that time , it had been an environment of learning as you go . Although she encountered some older male crew members who were unhappy with the new system and the gender of her recruit class , Sharon remembers being welcomed and encouraged by the majority of the department as she paved the way for change .
This month , we ’ re excited to spotlight Sharon and the Quadra Island Fire Department for their innovative attitude and commitment to serving the tight-knit community that makes up their beautiful island . What an honour to recognize our dedicated first responders coast to coast . If you have the chance to visit Quadra Island , it ’ s an experience you won ’ t forget .
TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THE QUADRA ISLAND ATMOSPHERE AND COMMUNITY .
Quadra Island is only 35 kilometers long . We have a population close to 4,000 people , with the southern portion being the most populated , and we are growing by the year . In addition to this , we have approximately 10,000 tourists show up during the summer months . . . when there is no pandemic , of course . Our island is a short seven-minute ferry ride from neighbouring Vancouver Island . It ’ s mostly rural , with around 10 percent commercial regions and one percent industrial .
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