How did we get to this point in the firefighters-BIM dispute? We break it down.
July 15
Derek Dickson starts as BIM’s new fire chief.
Aug 6 and 20
Representatives for the volunteers meet twice with Dickson to “express and seek to resolve our concerns,” according to an Oct. 7 letter from firefighters.
Sept. 10
Firefighters deliver a petition signed by 23 volunteers “indicating a vote of no confidence" according to Southern Butler Price phase one report.
Sometime in Sept.
The entire volunteer membership meets with Dickson in early Sept. according to firefighters’ Oct. 7 letter.
Representatives for the volunteers meet with the BIM Human Resources department.
Firefighters stop attending practice and training sessions, according to the Oct. 7 letter, which says, “we [the firefighters] believed it was necessary to underline the importance of the issues we had raised.”
Sept. 30
Council holds a closed council meeting in which they resolve to hold an independent core review, which was to include “evaluating fulfillment of Provincial training regulations,” “assessing compliance with Occupational Health and Safety regulations” and “reviewing current compensation methods,” among other duties. At the same meeting, council resolves to request that BIM auditors “review the Bowen Island Fire Department’s social fund.”
Oct. 1
Ander sends a letter to the firefighters notifying them of the previous evening’s resolutions.
Oct. 7
The firefighters deliver a letter to the municipality signed by all 26 volunteers saying that they were surprised by the focus on training in BIM’s letter. “During the meetings with the Municipality's representatives, we attempted to make it clear that our concerns are fundamental to the operation of the fire department, that they are not reconcilable, and that the only remaining solution is to terminate the employment of the Fire Chief before or at the end of his probationary period,” said the letter. It went on to say the volunteer firefighters would resign as of 4 p.m. Oct. 10 if the fire chief remained in his position. Word gets out on Facebook that there is a conflict between the fire chief and the firefighters and public tension builds over the following days.
Oct. 9
Ander writes a letter to the fire department that says that they (BIM) “strongly support our Fire Chief in his mandate.” It asks the firefighters to reconsider their position on resigning and commits to hiring a third party neutral facilitator for the dispute.
Volunteer firefighters’ spokesperson Mike Hartwick says that the firefighters stand by their commitment to resign if the chief stays.
Oct. 10
A contingent of islanders and media gather in front of Municipal Hall starting at about 11 a.m. Some islanders are there in support of the volunteer firefighters, others are there out of concern that they wouldn’t have a fire department as of 4 p.m. Emotions run high as Mayor Gary Ander takes questions and as islanders confront Ander and CAO Kathy Lalonde. At 4 p.m. Mayor Gary Ander announces to media that Dickson voluntarily temporarily stepped aside. The firefighters don’t quit but Hartwick says that they’re still working for Dickson’s dismissal or the firefighters will once again be poised to resign.
Oct. 14
BIM chief administrative officer Kathy Lalonde reads an emotional letter out to council decrying the personalization of the BIM-firefighters dispute. Lalonde describes her experience with “an escalating level of verbal aggression, personal attacks and other humiliating actions.” In the same letter Lalonde says that her husband is critically ill.
Oct. 16
Ander, Lalonde, and Dickson meet with acting fire commissioner Jay Brownlee. Separately, the volunteer firefighters meet with Brownlee and a member of WorksafeBC.
BIM announces that it has hired the law firm Southern Butler Price as a third-party facilitator. Southern Butler Price forms a task force of comprised of firm co-founder and lead facilitator Lisa Southern; firm lawyer Jessica Bowering, who has Bowen roots; and fire service expert Lorne West, to facilitate the process.
Oct. 17
The task force meets with Ander, Lalonde, Dickson, members of BIM staff and firefighters’ representatives.
Oct. 18
Southern Butler Price submits its phase 1 report to BIM. ““It is clear from the Phase 1 participants that there are widely varying perspectives and a perception that all of the information has not yet been heard or considered,” reads the report. “There is also a consistent concern about the tone and tenure of the discussion, including descriptions of serious incidents of disrespectful comments and conduct directed towards people who are perceived to represent one side of the debate or the other.” It says the next step is to conduct an “environmental scan” which is to include interviewing on a volunteer basis all current firefighters, former BIM fire chiefs, volunteer firefighters identified as “social” or “alumni” members “who have participated in events relevant to the current concerns,” BIM councillors, BIM Human Resources Committee, Bowen community members and a follow-up with the fire chief.
Oct. 20
Firefighters write a letter to council to express their concern over the mediation process and say that they won't return to the table until they get legal representation.
Ander and Southern respond to the firefighters to clarify their positions and the nature of the “terms of reference for an investigation.”
Oct. 21
BIM announces Lalonde is taking a personal leave and Dennis Back will take over as CAO for the next three months.
Firefighter Ian Brown says that the firefighters in the process of engaging a lawyer and that they stand by their letter to not meet with the task force until they have representation.
Oct. 24
Firefighters send a letter out to all the mailboxes on Bowen Island explaining their side of the dispute.
BIM releases the letter from acting fire commissioner Jay Brownlee that summarizes his conversations with Dickson and the firefighters on Oct. 16.
