Recently retired Pitt Meadows fire chief Don Jolley is being recognized by the Justice Institute of British Columbia with a Doctor of Laws degree, honoris causa “in recognition of his three decades of multi-faceted leadership and service as a first responder.”
Jolley, whose career included service as paramedic and in emergency management, will be recognized at JIBC’s winter convocation next month.
“As we approach the conclusion of JIBC’s 40th anniversary year, it is our privilege to honour a leader in public safety who has dedicated himself to helping others in whichever way he can,” said Dr. Michel Tarko, JIBC President and CEO.
“From firefighter and fire chief, paramedic and emergency management leader, to JIBC instructor and mentor, Don Jolley has served the people of British Columbia and proven that there is always more than one way to make a difference. In doing so, he exemplifies JIBC’s vision of safer communities and a more just society.”
Jolley resigned as fire chief at the end of 2018, at a time when Pitt Meadows council decided to add two more full-time firefighters to its paid on-call department, with talks of bringing in four more in the future. He went on a leave of absence in early November, shortly after October’s municipal election brought in a new mayor and council, and about five weeks later announced his retirement.
Pitt Meadows CAO Mark Roberts said Tarko contacted the city about the honour, and both he and Mayor Bill Dingwall advocated for the former fire chief.
“The mayor and I fully endorsed and supported Don Jolley receiving an honourary degree from the Justice Institute,” said Roberts.
He said Jolley’s 15 years in Pitt Meadows – five as assistant chief and then a decade as chief, his work as a paramedic, instructing at the Justice Institute and leadership in emergency management make him unique.
“Take those four pieces and you’ve got a really well-rounded first responder and leader.”
He said Jolley was instrumental in establishing and maintaining Pitt Meadows’ paid-on-call fire department, which is “a robust and unique model in the Lower Mainland.”
With the hiring of two new firefighters, it remains largely a paid-on-call model, said Roberts.
The Justice Institute notes Jolley started his fire service career in 1990 as a volunteer firefighter, progressing up the ranks at the Pitt Meadows Fire and Rescue Service to deputy chief. In 2006, he moved to serve as deputy fire chief for the City of Langley before returning to Pitt Meadows as fire chief in 2008.
He also worked as a paramedic for B.C. Ambulance Service from 1986 to 2007, both part-time and full-time, retiring as an advanced life support paramedic.
“In addition, since 1991 Jolley has been influential in the success of emergency management both in Pitt Meadows and in neighbouring Maple Ridge through the Joint Emergency Program, which he helped initiate,” said a press release.
He has trained other first responders at JIBC where he has served as an instructor, facilitator, mentor, evaluator and consultant for many institute departments, subjects and disciplines for almost 30 years.
The 2019 Winter Convocation ceremony will be held at the New Westminster campus on Feb. 14, and will recognize approximately 380 graduates who have completed certificates, diplomas and degrees at JIBC.