Associates

Dave Mitchell

Dave Mitchell retired as Division Chief, Communications in 1998 from Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services following a career spanning 32 years. During this time he was responsible for managing the emergency call taking and dispatch for the Vancouver and Whistler Fire Departments. In 1997 he managed the transition of dispatch service for the five Fire Departments on the Sunshine Coast from an independent contractor, to Vancouver Fire/Rescue. In 1998, Dave was hired by E-Comm, Emergency Communications BC as its first Director of Operations. In this role he was a member of the founding senior management team, and was responsible for the transition of the Regional 9-1-1 Control Centre staff from the Vancouver Police Department to its current location at 3301 East Pender in June 1999. By June 2000 this included the management of approximately 200 call takers, dispatchers and team managers in addition to a ULC listed alarm monitoring service. He left E-Comm in June 2000 to work as a consultant, and since that time has managed the development of corporate, strategic and operational plans for a large number of public safety clients. These include fire departments in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Dave holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Geography) from Simon Fraser University in addition to a diploma from their Executive Management Development Program. He is past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Vancouver General Hospital and University of British Columbia Hospital Foundation, and past Director and Board Chair of the Justice Institute of British Columbia Foundation, a member of the National Fire Protection Association, the Fire Chiefs' Association of British Columbia, the BC 911 User Group, and the Canadian Association of Management Consultants.

Cassandra Boone

With more than 25 years of experience in emergency services technology and operations, Cass specializes in helping public safety organizations modernize how they use data, technology, and emerging AI-driven solutions. Her background includes extensive work with fire departments, emergency communications centres, and municipal agencies in the areas of data analytics, operational reporting, CAD and records systems, workflow design, and technology integration. Cass has developed strong expertise in transforming complex operational data into meaningful business intelligence that supports strategic planning, deployment analysis, performance measurement, and executive decision-making. She works with organizations to identify operational trends, improve reporting capabilities, and build practical analytics solutions that provide clear and actionable insights. In recent years, her work has expanded into AI-assisted workflows and automation, helping organizations streamline repetitive processes, improve information management, and explore practical applications for artificial intelligence within emergency services environments. This includes workflow automation, low-code solution development, data integration between multiple systems, and the design of AI-supported tools that enhance operational efficiency while remaining grounded in real-world public safety needs. Known for her practical and collaborative approach, Cass is able to bridge the gap between technical systems and frontline operations. She is recognized for communicating complex technical concepts in a clear and approachable manner, allowing leadership teams and operational personnel alike to make informed, confident decisions regarding technology and organizational improvement.

Mike Burgess

Mike Burgess is an accomplished fire service executive and consultant with more than 35 years of progressive leadership experience in municipal and regional fire and emergency services. Since retiring as Fire Chief for the District of Saanich in 2024, Mike has established a successful consulting practice supporting local governments and regional districts in advancing strategic, organizational, and operational fire service initiatives. During his 34-year fire service career, including 13 years as Fire Chief, Mike led numerous modernization initiatives such as two comprehensive Master Fire Plans, a full departmental restructuring, and the implementation of contemporary management and operational frameworks. He oversaw significant improvements to Saanich’s public fire protection classification and insurance grading, negotiated regional mutual and automatic aid agreements, and guided the planning and approvals process for replacement of aging fire stations. He is also widely recognized for his commitment to mentorship and officer development, having designed and implemented a comprehensive succession program for senior officers within Saanich Fire. His consulting portfolio includes projects with the Capital Regional District, the City of Colwood, the Districts of Oak Bay, Central Saanich, and North Saanich, the Town of Bridgewater (Nova Scotia), the City of Iqaluit (Nunavut), and the Township of Perth South (Ontario). These engagements included fire master planning, governance and service agreement modernization, organizational and staffing reviews, fire inspection and investigation program development, training and succession planning, and communications and dispatch system assessments. His ability to integrate operational knowledge with strategic and governance expertise, provides practical and sustainable solutions tailored to each client’s local context. Mike holds an Executive Chief Fire Officer designation through the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, a Diploma in Fire Service Leadership from the Justice Institute of British Columbia, NFPA 1021 Fire Officer IV certification, and a Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Victoria. He is a founding member of the Saanich Fire Fighters’ Charitable Foundation, past Chair of the Greater Victoria Fire Fighters Muscular Dystrophy Association, and a past member of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund.

Gord Ditchburn

Gord Ditchburn is a senior executive with a keen focus on operations and strategy with over four decades of experience across top public safety and emergency management organizations. Gord retired from Vancouver Fire Rescue Service in 2024. Over his fire suppression career he developed extensive experience in fire rescue emergency operations, specialty teams including Hazardous Materials, logistical planning, training and development, and crisis management. Gord also served as president of IAFF Local 18, Secretary-Treasurer and President of the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association and the BCPFF Burn Fund and as Senior Executive of IAFF Canada. Gord has served on numerous committees in these roles including developing the BC Fire Service Minimum Training Standards and E-Comm’s Interoperable P25 public safety radio network. Gord brings extensive experience in government relations at all levels and is a skilled negotiator and relationship-builder. He holds a certificate in Executive Leadership, a certificate in Labour Relations, as well as real life experience in delivering results for community safety. In addition to his years of service with Vancouver Fire, he is an Instructor with the Justice Institute of BC. Gord also holds numerous board positions including President of the Municipal Pension Retirees’ Association, Trustee of the Municipal Retiree Benefit Trust, Member of the Translink Board of Directors, and Board Chair of the People’s Pantry Food Recovery Society. Gord’s varied career has given him an exceptional understanding of the challenges facing today’s fire service, well positioning him to provide advice and assistance to fire departments at all levels. Gord is now working as a consultant utilizing his extensive skills and experience to help fire departments, CAOs and elected officials build safer communities. Gord has been associated with DMA since 2025.

Wayne Humphry

Wayne has over 45 years' experience with the BC fire service, retiring in 2009 from Vancouver Fire/Rescue after a career spanning 31 years. During this time, Wayne served in fire suppression, rising to the rank of Battalion Chief. He also worked extensively with Vancouver Fire's training division as an instructor and Division Chief between 1996 and 2009 developing and managing a variety of programs along with the site/facilities. Based on his work in both roles he has extensive experience in fire rescue emergency operations, specialty teams, logistical planning and budgeting, training and development, facilitation, and project creation and management. In addition to his work with Vancouver Fire he has been an instructor at the Justice Institute of BC, at UBC's Sauder School of Business as well as for Capilano University. Wayne has developed and delivered in-house Firefighter and Fire Officer Development seminars, including ProBoard certified programs, for various career and volunteer/paid-on-call fire departments throughout BC, Alberta, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories. His subject expertise includes Firefighter I & II, Fire Officer Level 1, 2 and 3 programs – Emergency Incident Management (BCEMS/ICS, Command Post operations, fire behaviour, strategies and tactics); Incident Safety Officer; Rapid Intervention Teams; Fire Service Instructor; and Live Fire Exercises. Wayne continues to develop and deliver firefighter, fire officer, and incident management training to a wide range of clients. He has worked with DMA since 2010 participating on many of the fire service projects.

Ian MacDonald

Ian MacDonald is a former lawyer who practiced international corporate law in Canada and the United Kingdom. Ian started as a lawyer with Davies Ward & Beck in Toronto in 1990 and worked on large corporate transactions in Canada, including corporate financings, shareholder agreements and corporate restructurings and corporate acquisitions. Ian became a partner in Davies Ward & Beck in 1994 and an equity partner in 1996. After moving to England in 1998, Ian became managing partner of Arnander, Irvine & Zietman, an intellectual property/litigation firm, and had a varied practice advising clients in respect of company formation, shareholder and members' agreements, corporate financing, governance issues, and privacy matters. He also did extensive work on litigation files related to corporate fraud. Ian retired as a lawyer in January 2004 and returned to Canada, since which time he has acted as a volunteer director on two boards, acting as the chair of the governance committee for both, and assisted various community groups in developing long term strategic and business plans. Ian has previously worked with Planetworks Consulting Corporation on the Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications project, conducting a full governance review of that organization. Ian has worked with DMA since 2007, participating on almost all the major fire and emergency service projects; providing advice to clients on governance and reorganization; and assisting several fire departments as they rewrite their bylaws to reflect the changes required by the Provincial Training Standards and the new Fire Safety Act.

Melanie Smith

Melanie brings 30 years of experience in public safety, including 25 years of frontline operational experience as a police dispatcher with both the Vancouver Police Department and the RCMP. In addition to her operational background, Melanie has many years of experience as a technology consultant supporting public safety and municipal organizations. Over the past five years, she has been serving as the Emergency Services IT Manager for the City of Lethbridge. This combination of operational, consulting, and leadership experience provides her with a strong understanding of critical incident response, emergency communications, and the technology systems that support frontline operations. Her background includes strategic planning, emergency communications systems, radio network operations, infrastructure modernization, cybersecurity, business analysis, and operational support for emergency services and multi-department municipal operations. Melanie is recognized for her practical, collaborative approach to solving operational challenges while balancing reliability, security, and long-term sustainability. She is also a skilled facilitator with extensive experience leading stakeholder engagement sessions, requirements gathering, cross-functional collaboration, and consensus-building initiatives involving executive leadership, frontline operations, technical teams, vendors, and regional partners. Her work is grounded in strong project leadership and a clear understanding of the people, processes, and technology that support critical public safety services.

Mike Webb

Mike Webb is an Electrical Engineer with over 40 years’ experience in the planning, design, procurement, implementation and operation of telecommunications and information technology systems. His career includes more than 25 years in the field of public safety communications focused on 9-1-1, dispatch and mission-critical radio systems. From 2011 until 2020, Mike led the Technology Services section at E-Comm 9-1-1 in Vancouver. During this time, he was responsible for the implementation of the Lower Mainland’s interoperable P25 public safety radio network and the development of a new, consolidated police communications centre on Vancouver Island. He also led the early stages of development of E-Comm’s NG9-1-1 program, including regulatory work involving the CRTC and execution of a technical pilot conducted jointly with TELUS. Previously, with Emergency Management BC, he was responsible for provincial initiatives related to emergency communications, including coordination and governance of radio interoperability and development of emergency management information systems in the lead-up to the 2010 Olympics. Mike has consulted for a variety of public safety clients in BC and Alberta and has worked in multiple start-ups in Silicon Valley developing broadband wireless technologies. His current areas of focus are new and emerging technologies and applications in public safety communications, including P25 land mobile radio, NG 9-1-1 and Public Safety Broadband Networks (PSBN).

Sheldon Young

Sheldon Young is an accomplished public safety executive with over 35 years of experience in emergency services and provincial governance. He now brings this depth of experience to his consulting practice, supporting fire departments and municipalities with executive recruitment, leadership development, succession planning, and organizational advisory services. Most recently, Sheldon served as Deputy Fire Commissioner with the British Columbia Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC). In this executive role, he directed provincial operations and led a multi-regional team of Fire Service Advisors and Assistant Deputy Fire Commissioners. He also built strong relationships with key partners and contributed to budget management, organizational structure, and recruitment and hiring. During his tenure, Sheldon played a key role in advancing fire service legislation, contributing to the implementation of the Fire Safety Act and leading the rollout of the BC Firefighter Minimum Training Standards. Sheldon’s career is anchored by 29 years with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, where he retired as Assistant Chief. In that role, he led a diverse range of portfolios including Operations, Occupational Health, Safety and Wellness and Fire Investigations. Today, Sheldon partners with communities to identify and recruit senior fire service leaders, develop high-performing leadership teams, and strengthen organizational effectiveness across the fire service.