- UPDATE: The latest developments in the legal proceedings involving Robert Bennett have been incorporated into this story.
Their reputation is established through bravery, dedication, and facing danger head-on.
However, a recent investigation by fifth estate has uncovered a dark side for many female firefighters in Canada: bullying, harassment, and sexual assaults.
Kirstin Rudolph, a former volunteer firefighter from Fort St. James, B.C., revealed that the chief sexually assaulted her and two other female colleagues over a period of six years.
Rudolph shared, “He would make sexual advances towards me in his office, suggesting that it would help with my promotion if I engaged in sexual activities with him.”
In February 2015, Rob Bennett, the former fire chief of Fort St. James, B.C., was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault.
During the trial, Bennett claimed his actions were not sexual in nature but rather meant to be humorous. However, the judge disagreed, holding the chief responsible for fostering a “toxic environment.”
Bennett appealed his conviction, arguing that the trial judge’s conduct resulted in a miscarriage of justice due to misinterpretation of evidence and inadequate legal representation. In October 2016, the B.C. Court of Appeal deemed the trial judge’s behavior as biased and ordered a retrial.
In December 2017, Bennett was acquitted of two of the three charges. The jury could not reach a verdict on the third count, leading to a new trial scheduled for 2018.
- Don’t miss “The Fire Within” airing tonight on the fifth estate at 9 p.m., 9:30 N.L.
- Former Fort St. James fire chief found guilty of sexual assault
Suffering in silence
Despite progress in various professions, firefighting remains predominantly male-dominated.
Out of 22,000 professional firefighters in Canada, only about three percent are women, totaling approximately 600 nationwide. While efforts are being made to attract more young women to firefighting, some veterans recount facing daily challenges.
One female firefighter, who chose to remain anonymous, disclosed her experience to the fifth estate, citing harassment from a senior firefighter at her fire hall.
She recounted receiving explicit sexual messages that escalated into unwanted physical advances, leading to a distressing incident in the fire hall dormitory.
Multiple female firefighters interviewed by the fifth estate across Canada echoed similar stories, emphasizing the need for change and an end to their silent suffering.
Highlighting potential systemic issues, Jennifer Pernfuss, a workplace discrimination and harassment coach, indicated that the military-style structure within fire services could exacerbate harassment and bullying.
Pernfuss noted, “Harassment and bullying are present in every organization, but they are particularly prevalent in the fire service due to its paramilitary framework.”
In Ottawa, where only two percent of the 1,000 firefighters are women, Gerry Pingitore, the city’s fire chief, is striving to improve gender diversity.
One initiative is Camp FFIT (Female Firefighters in Training), designed for girls aged 15-19, aimed at inspiring more women to pursue firefighting careers.
Pingitore acknowledged that while firefighters are well-trained for physical hazards, handling