The Lynn Orstad Award for Women in Wildfire Resiliency was presented to five recipients on April 18.
The award, presented in partnership with The Co-operators during the Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit, brought together more than 800 members of the wildfire community from across B.C.
The Lynn Orstad Award is named after Lynn Orstad, a long-time advocate for wildfire resilience, known for her work in emergency management, wildfire risk reduction and community education.
Winners receive a personalized award and a $1,000 grant to further support wildfire resiliency initiatives in their communities.
The award recipients and their respective fields are:
- Kira Hoffman, fire ecologist and practitioner, University of British Columbia / Bulkley Valley Research Centre
- Nora Hannon, disaster mitigation and adaptation senior advisor, Regional District of Central Kootenay
- Amanda Reynolds, mitigation specialist, First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS)
- Amy Cardinal Christianson, policy advisor and Indigenous fire stewardship specialist, Indigenous Leadership Initiative
- Shelly Harnden, land and resource co-ordinator, Ministry of Forests
Reynolds, a Prince George local working as a mitigation specialist for FNESS, said she was excited and humbled to receive the award.
“It was very humbling to be recognized for the work that I've done in wildfire resiliency,” said Reynolds. “There are so many other amazing women working in this space, so to even be nominated — and then to win — was very humbling. I was surprised and totally honoured.”
Reynolds spoke to The Citizen about her role at FNESS and the programs she’s been involved in.
“When I moved over to the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society, as part of my own journey of reconciliation, I wanted to ensure the FireSmart program was inclusive of First Nations communities. I wanted them to see themselves in wildfire resiliency efforts. That meant bridging Indigenous knowledge with Western science to create programs aligned with community values.
“One of the things I advocated for — and was able to deliver — was a woodshed program. Many First Nations communities store wood right beside their homes. We wanted to encourage people to move it farther away for safety, so we created funding, blueprints and a guide to help communities build firewood shelters, especially for elders or people with mobility challenges who can’t walk 30 metres to get wood in the middle of winter.”
Reynolds, who offers wildfire education and tools for First Nations communities, has been a passionate advocate for wildfire resilience since early in her career.
“I was a high school teacher,” she said. “I remember someone telling me, as a teacher, you really have to educate about something you’re passionate about. When I learned about wildfire prevention and the FireSmart program, it was like a light bulb went off for me.
“In 2019, I was nominated to attend the FireSmart Canada Summit. At the time, I was the information officer for the Prince George Fire Centre. Part of my job was to relay wildfire information to the public, and people always wanted to help — bake cookies, send them to fire camps. They just didn’t know what role they could play.
“When I went to the summit, it was like—oh my gosh, this is it. That was the start of my spark. I got involved in FireSmart BC and became an advocate for the program, helping make it a recognizable name.”
The irony of leaving her teaching job to become an educator in wildfire resilience is not lost on Reynolds.
“I never thought I’d go back to teaching — and then, ironically enough, I’m now educating people about the FireSmart program,” she said.
“Before I left for FNESS, I led the development of the FireSmart BC education program, which is aligned with the B.C. school curriculum. That alignment adds value for teachers because it connects directly to what they’re already teaching. If you want future change, you have to start with today’s youth.”
Reynolds said she is honoured to be part of Lynn Orstad’s legacy and recognizes that many women are deserving of recognition for their work in wildfire resilience. She looks forward to using the grant money to support her continued efforts at FNESS.
For more information about the Lynn Orstad Award and to learn about future opportunities to support wildfire resiliency, please visit FireSmart BC
