Celebration of female first responders in P.E.I. also honours founder's legacy

Women working in first responder roles in P.E.I. came together Friday for a celebration, which this year also honoured the event's founder. 

Heather Horne was a deputy chief instructor at the P.E.I. Fire School. She organized the first such networking event last year to coincide with International Women's Day. 

Horne died at the age of 52 last September after a brief illness.

Her colleagues wanted to honour her wish for the event to continue as a way of offering support to female first responders and inspire more women to get involved in those jobs.

Thus, the Heather Horne Female First Responder Celebration was born. 

"It's very empowering," said Judy Wells, Horne's sister and the MC for the event. "I think it speaks to the importance of these types of events because it really… shows that community, it builds that network for people to connect, to talk through and learn from each other's successes and challenges.

"It's been very humbling and amazing to see the contribution that she's made to so many people in our community and just across the Island." 

'There's a job for everyone'

Horne dedicated her life to helping others. 

She worked as a nurse for more than 20 years and helped raise awareness about Lyme disease after her own bout with the illness. 

As a volunteer firefighter, she served with the Murray River and North Shore departments, which eventually led to her stint at the fire school. 

Her motto there was "there's a job for everyone" — which also served as the theme for the female first responders celebration. 

"I was a student at the fire school when she was teaching here, and she always made all of us feel that we could do anything," said Debbie MacInnis, a volunteer with the Charlottetown Fire Department and Horne's friend.  

"I think it's important to see all the diversity so that we can see ourselves… in different roles." 

Changing face

Shannon Dumville, the fire school's chief instructor, said almost half of this year's new firefighting recruits are women.  

"Just because firefighting, as a general rule, seems to be predominantly male, at the end of the day, no it's not," Dumville said. 

"Every year we see more and more [women]." 

While Horne wouldn't have taken credit for having a hand in that increase, Wells said it was her sister's belief that a true team includes everyone — and that belief put into action has had a big impact. 

"I hope her legacy reminds people that you can do what you want if you put your mind to it. That there's no stereotypical role for anybody," Wells said. 

"If you put your mind to it, you're passionate about it, you work hard, you will get there, and there are always people around you that are willing to help you."