A Recap of CFAA’s 2025 Annual General Meeting

by Suzanne Alfano, CFAA Executive Director

On June 12, 2025, we held our 52nd Annual General Meeting in Jordan, ON, located in the Niagara Region of Southern Ontario. It was a two-day event that included the Annual General Meeting plus a Board of Directors strategic planning session, networking dinners and the opportunity to enjoy social time with industry colleagues. Following last year’s successful AGM event held in Blue Mountain Village, ON, we continued the format to provide a focused strategic planning retreat to network and brainstorm ideas and plans towards CFAA’s mission to the use and effectiveness of fire alarm systems across Canada and realizing our vision to be be recognized nationally as the definitive resource for fire alarm related information, education, qualifications, expertise, and industry support with active chapters throughout Canada.

The Annual General Meeting included:

  • Greetings from Hon. Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General of Ontario, that highlighted the important work of CFAA’s members and technicians in protecting lives and property across Canada
  • The President’s Report highlighting 2024 achievements and 2025 initiatives by CFAA President Jordan Klemick, Troy Life & Fire Safety
  • Strategic Plan update by Lui Tai, 1st Vice President & Chair of CFAA’s Strategic Planning Committee
  • 2024 Financial Auditor’s Report
  • The approval of the 2025/26 Board of Directors for a one-year term
  • Life Membership Awards presented to Alan Cavers, retired from Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) and Derrick Bertrand, retired owner of Pyrene Fire Security Manitoba
  • Student Scholarship Award Presentations
  • A closing keynote presentation “Chasing Gold: Uncommon Leadership” by Matthew Pegg, Former Toronto Fire Chief | Crisis and Risk Management | Leadership Expert | Mental Health Champion

We continued with a hybrid AGM format for the third year, which allowed both in-person and online participation.

The President’s Report highlighted the activities of the Board’s ten Committees and nine Chapters across Canada. Mr. Klemick also highlighted the ongoing digital transformation of all Association operations, website, events, seminars and practical exams and enhancements to the CFAA Fire Alarm Technology Education Program. CFAA is moving to a new Association Management System (AMS) to provide improved digital online service for members and technicians, along with streamlined management of CFAA website and database that houses all CFAA technician education and continuing education records, in addition to member engagement and event management, CFAA job board, news and information.

Lui Tai, 1st Vice President & Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee provided an update on the Strategic Plan for the Association. The Board met for a full day before the AGM to update the Strategic Plan with Jasmine Martirossian of Strategy Ark Consulting. The refreshed plan includes strategic imperatives to address seven key areas identified by the Board of Directors to be i) Education and Training, ii) Industry Technician Growth and Recruitment, iii) Standardization and Recognition, iv) Marketing, Communication, and Outreach, v) Governance and Board Effectiveness, vi) Technological Adaptation and vii) Website/AMS.

Ongoing projects are underway towards enhancing our digital capabilities; addressing the gap analysis findings for SCC accreditation to ISO17024 to be formally recognized as a certification body to certify fire alarm technicians; modernizing the CFAA Fire Alarm Technology Program and growing our fire alarm technician workforce in Canada.

CFAA’s Auditor Reilly Back LLP presented the 2024 financial statements that highlighted the positive financial health of the Association and were re-appointed as the CFAA’s Auditor for the upcoming year.

There was a total of 44 nominations received this year for CFAA’s student scholarship awards. Executive Director Suzanne Alfano presented the three student scholarship awards to deserving students in the fire and life safety education stream as follows:

  • Richard Morris Fire Alarm Fire Alarm Scholarship Award – Marc Edwin Soriano
  • David Sylvester Memorial Fire Alarm Continuing Education Scholarship Award – Almir Selimi
  • Jack Duggan Fire Alarm Technician Scholarship Award – Michael Borisenko

We are very proud of their academic accomplishments and welcome these aspiring graduates to our CFAA community.

Revitalization & Membership Committee Chair Evan Bombino presented the new slate for the Board of Directors, which included a total of 33 Director positions that were approved as presented.

CFAA’s large Board continues to be an asset of our Association. Directors volunteer and actively contribute to CFAA Board, Committee & Chapter initiatives. The CFAA relies on the volunteer contributions of our Board of Directors and other members, technicians and staff, to help execute our plans. There is a shared and firm commitment towards our Association's mission and vision, and it is a sincere pleasure to work with this group of fire protection and life safety professionals.

We welcome our new 2025/26 Directors below:

  • Mark Wilson, Troy Life & Fire Safety
  • Francis Bergeron, Pro-Teck Sécurité
  • Raymond Dulac, Lifeline Fire Protection
  • Corey Seybold, Mircom Group
  • Gabriel Senechal, Cerco Cable
  • Derrick Bertrand, Life Member
  • Alan Cavers, Life Member

Additionally, we recognize the contributions of the following outgoing Directors:

  • Alwin Friess, Mulvey + Banani International Inc.
  • Raphael Villeneuve, Standard Fire Safety International
  • Ray Collins, Toronto Community Housing
  • Rick Murray, Bruce Fire
  • Justin Mansbridge, ULC
  • Michael Finelli, Mircom Group

Our closing keynote presenter was former Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg. Mr. Pegg provided a motivating and insightful presentation on leadership and his personal experiences over the years as Fire Chief of the largest fire service in Canada and fifth largest fire service in North America. He shared experience-based truths for leaders seeking uncommon results. These “truths” included insights on the goal of leadership, ego impacts, criticism, reputation, achieving results, skills and ethics, dealing with setbacks, setting strategy and prioritizing mental health and resilience.

Newly re-elected President Jordan Klemick thanked our Board of Directors, members and staff for their contributions to the CFAA, along with Former Toronto Fire Chief Matthew Pegg for his presentation. We look forward to the year ahead!

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