Two Vancouver firefighters have been reprimanded for a sexist prank directed at their female colleagues from another department.
Two weeks ago, the members sent a package containing tampons and sexually suggestive items to the Port Coquitlam fire department, which earlier this year hired its first two female firefighters since the early 1990s.
The package was intended for a male member, but got intercepted.
Vancouver Fire Chief John McKearney would not identify the firefighters involved, but told CTV News their behaviour was “unacceptable.”
“It is certainly not the character of the men and women of this organization,” McKearney said. “All I can tell you is people, many times, don’t think before they act.”
Port Coquitlam Chief Nick Delmonica alerted Vancouver about the package, which also contained a card with undisclosed comments about female firefighters.
McKearney said the members subsequently faced an internal disciplinary hearing and received full reprimands for their actions, including letters of discipline for their files.
The firefighters have also submitted apologies to the Port Coquitlam and Vancouver fire departments. Neither was suspended from work.
In the past 10 years, B.C. courts and the Human Rights Tribunal have heard complaints from female firefighters about discrimination and infantile behaviour in the male-dominated profession.
In one noteworthy case in 2006, Richmond firefighter Jeanette Moznick claimed human feces was placed in her boots.
Vancouver Firefighters’ Union president Gord Ditchburn said the latest incident was unfortunate because the city has gone to great lengths to ensure “our members respect each other to the utmost.”
“This will stand to be a long-standing lesson not just to them but to everybody,” Ditchburn said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Lisa Rossington
