A new camp will be showing women what it's like to be a firefighter.
Officials from Oakville, Burlington, Milton, and Halton Hills have teamed up with local fire departments for a new initiative called Camp Molly to inspire young women.
Oakville Deputy Fire Chief and former St. Catharines Deputy Fire Chief Monique Blair says when she started her career she was one of only five female firefighters in Canada.
"Fast forward 32 years we still have, in North America, less than 3% females in the fire service. And that's 32 years later."
Blair says one of the catalysts for creating Camp Molly came from a discussion with a girl she was mentoring.
"She said to me, 'Geez, Deputy, I didn't think I would be able to come today.' And I said, 'Oh, why? You weren't feeling well, or maybe your parents thought it was too dangerous?' And she says, 'No, my father told me women can't be firefighters.' And I was shocked in today's society, at this time, people are still under the assumption that only men can join the fire service. She said her father actually looked me up on LinkedIn to confirm that I was actually a female deputy fire chief in the town of Oakville.'
Girl between the ages of 15 and 18 can apply to participate in the camp where they will learn about many aspects of the fire service including investigation, suppression, and education.
Camp Molly runs out of Oakville between May 9th and the 12th.
Applications close at the end of this month.
Blair also notes the St. Catharines Firefighter's Association has donated to help make the camp a reality.