A Recap of CFAA’s 2026 Annual General Meeting

by Suzanne Alfano, CFAA Executive Director

On June 11, 2026, we held our 53rd Annual General Meeting Montebello, QC, located in the Papineau region along the Ottawa River. It was a two-day event that included the Annual General Meeting plus a yearly Board of Directors strategic planning session. It was an opportunity to review plans and progress over the last year and pivot on a few imperatives that support CFAA’s mission to maximize the effectiveness and use 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. This year’s theme was “Strengthening Fire Protection & Life Safety Systems across Canada".

The Annual General Meeting included:

  • Opening keynote address “Realities in the Field and Key Challenges - What Fire Prevention Technicians in Quebec are Facing” by Nicolas Demurtas, President of ATPIQ (Association des techniciens en prévention)
  • The President’s Report highlighting 2025 achievements by CFAA President Jordan Klemick, Troy Life & Fire Safety
  • Executive Director’s Report by Suzanne Alfano covering the five-year growth of key performance indicators related to technician workforce, online sales and overall financial performance and the 2026 initiatives
  • Strategic Plan Update by Lui Tai, 1st Vice President & Chair of CFAA’s Strategic Planning Committee
  • 2025 Financial Auditor’s Report
  • The approval of the 2026/27 Board of Directors for a one-year term
  • Honorary Membership Award presented to Pierre Noel, recently retired from the National Research Council
  • Student Scholarship Award Presentations by Catherine Aastrom, Director of Education & Regulatory Affairs
  • A closing keynote presentation “Advancing Canada Through Standards” by William O’Neill, Director, Business Management, Accreditation Services, Standards Council of Canada
  • Closing Remarks by newly elected President Lui Tai, Vitalis Engineering

Nicolas Demurtas’ opening keynote presentation explained that fire prevention in Quebec is a complex, evolving profession that goes beyond enforcing rules to include risk analysis, technical expertise, and human-centered work, requiring better collaboration between prevention specialists and fire alarm professionals. He highlighted challenges such as recruitment, ongoing training, fast-changing technologies, and real-world social issues, while stressing the need for certified, qualified workers to ensure public safety and avoid false security. Overall, it calls for stronger partnerships, standardized practices, and proactive action to improve fire safety and prevent tragedies.

The President’s Report highlighted the activities of the Board’s nine Committees and nine Chapters across Canada. Mr. Klemick also highlighted the ongoing digital transformation of all Association operations, website, events, seminars, and enhancements to the CFAA Fire Alarm Technology Education Program. CFAA’s new Association Management System (AMS) will be launched in July to provide improved digital online services 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.

The Executive Director’s Report showcased the five-year growth of key performance indicators related to technician workforce, online sales and overall financial performance. 2026 initiatives include the new website and AMS launch; the development and introduction of the new online CFAA Fire Alarm Technician Program in French; government relations & advocacy efforts to formally recognize the CFAA Fire Alarm Technician credential across Canada; ISO17024 project to seek third-party accreditation from Standards Council of Canada to certify fire alarm technicians and the modernization of CFAA’s Fire Alarm Technology Program to introduce tiered certification levels that will recognize both advanced education and experience levels for technicians.

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 review and update the Strategic Plan with Jasmine Martirossian of Strategy Ark Consulting. The refreshed plan prioritized our strategic imperatives to focus on five key areas for the upcoming year as follows:

1) Education and Training

2) Standardization & Recognition/ISO17024

3) AMS & Website

4) Membership Revitalization and

5) Technician Growth and Recruitment

Projects are underway and making progress 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 2025 financial statements that highlighted the positive financial health of the Association and were re-appointed as the CFAA’s Auditor for the upcoming year.

Catherine Aastrom, Director of Education & Regulatory Affairs, presented six student scholarship awards to deserving students in the fire and life safety education stream as follows:

  • Richard Morris Fire Alarm Fire Alarm Scholarship Award – Kristofer Isovski
  • David Sylvester Memorial Fire Alarm Continuing Education Scholarship Award – Linus Cornelius
  • Jack Duggan Fire Alarm Technician Scholarship Award – Alex Martyniuk
  • Women in Fire Scholarship Award - Natalia Wesolowsky
  • Next Generation Scholarship Award - Arsh Sachdeva
  • Francophone Community Scholarship Award - Tchatat Vergez

We introduced three new scholarship awards this year to specially acknowledge women in the fire protection field, the next generation and francophone students. We warmly welcome all 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 32 Director positions that were approved as presented.

New to the 2026/27 Board of Directors are:

  • Alex Stratis, Johnson Controls Inc.
  • Tony Lapolla, Mircom
  • Andrew Palyszniuk, Pyrene Fire Security

Additionally, we thanked and recognized the contributions of the following outgoing Directors:

  • Sanj Patel, Ignis Building Solutions
  • Anthony Van Odyk, Life Member
  • Ralph Coco, Potter Electric Signal
  • Gabriel Senechal, Cerco Cable

CFAA Quebec Chapter President Francis Bergeron presented our prestigious CFAA Honorary Member status to Pierre Noel. This distinction recognizes his outstanding leadership, dedication, and invaluable contributions to the fire alarm industry.

William O’Neill’s keynote presentation, “The Power of Trust,” emphasized that trust is the foundation of standards, innovation, and societal progress. Using the example of the Nippur cubit, one of the earliest known standardized measures from ancient Mesopotamia, he illustrates how standards have historically enabled consistency, commerce, safety, and confidence. The presentation debated that as society undergoes rapid technological and social transformation, trust becomes even more critical: people will not adopt technologies they do not trust; markets will not embrace innovations they fear, and institutions cannot maintain legitimacy without public confidence. O’Neill concluded that the challenge facing organizations today is not merely keeping pace with change, but ensuring that the systems, standards, and safeguards that protect people continue to earn and sustain trust as innovation advances.

In his closing remarks, newly elected President Lui Tai shared his background and experience in the fire engineering industry. He emphasized that building strong relationships with members, regulators, industry partners, and volunteers to ensure the organization remains a trusted voice in advancing public safety. Continued success will depend on balancing advocacy, education, and technical leadership with a clear understanding of member needs, industry trends, and the practical realities of implementing codes, standards, and regulations.

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