Board of Directors

Norm MacLeod 

Vice President / Founding Member

Norm has been with FRITA since it’s beginnings in 2012. To date, Norm has deployed internationally 12 times, 6 to El Salvador and 6 to Peru, Norm has also deployed twice to First Nations Communities in BC. Previous to joining FRITA, Norm deployed as an instructor to Paraguay 3 times with Firefighters Without Borders Canada.

After 36 years in the fire service, Norm recently retired from White Rock Fire where he served as Deputy Fire Chief. Norm is also involved with Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue as a K9 Handler and Drione Pilot and he was deployed to assist post earthquake in Nepal (2015) and Türkiye (2023). Norm is A Canadian Red Cross First Responder Instructor and he also instructs at Justice Institute of BC. Recently, he joined his community Search and Rescue Society as a support member.

kiM Saulnier

Treasurer / Founding Member

A founding member of FRITA, Kim Saulnier is a retired Lieutenant from the District of North Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services, Public Safety division.  

She is also a long-time sessional instructor of the Fire & Safety Division of the Justice Institute of British Columbia.  Deploying with FRITA allows Kim to enjoy two of her favourite activities: sharing her expertise in fire prevention to empower others to protect their communities and travel!

BRIAN Hutchinson  

Recording Secretary / Founding member

Brian joined BC Wildfire Services as Superintendent – Fire Services in early 2024. His fire service career began in 1990 as a wildland firefighter on initial attack rappel crews serving the Canadian Rocky Mountain National Parks. In 2000, Brian moved into structural firefighting, spending 16 years with Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, and then 8 years with the District of North Vancouver Fire Rescue Services; with 6 of those as fire chief.

Brian met Jeffrey Moore in 2003 and together they hatched a plan to leverage the will and determination of firefighters to support our brothers and sisters in developing nations. Success has come through being inclusive, and encouraging some of the best and brightest the Canadian Fire Service has to offer, to get involved and share their skills, expertise and knowledge. Every deployment is a learning experience. Starting in 2008, Brian has deployed on 6 occasions to El Salvador, another 6 to Belize, and once each to Anguilla and to Colombia. 

Jeff Moore 

Director / Founding Member

Jeff has deep roots in El Salvador and has made annual visits to El Salvador’s National Fire Service ever since making an initial donation of PPE gifted from a Canadian Fire Department in 1994.  He is our only non-firefighter professional, but brings a unique and valued perspective to FRITA. 

Jeff serves as El Salvador’s Honorary Consul of El Salvador to Western Canada, is Honorary Deputy Chief – Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, a Director of St. John Ambulance Society (BC/Yukon), and a Founding Director of FRITA.

Derek Dickson

Director / Founding Member

Derek is currently serving as Captain / Fire Prevention at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), one of Canada’s largest and busiest airports.

The bulk of Derek’s career was spent at City of North Vancouver Fire Department where he held firefighter, fire inspector and training officer positions. After leaving the city, Derek served as fire chief in 3 different communities in British Columbia. Additionally, over the past 30 years, Derek has been an ASTTBC Registered Fire Protection Technician.

As a founding member of FRITA, Derek has deployed internationally a total 14 times to Paraguay (4), El Salvador (4) and Peru (6). He has also deployed to two first Nations communities here in BC.