Fire Education initiatives from Seneca Polytechnic

LIVE IN-PERSON EVENT

Location:

Langara Golf Club

6706 Alberta Street, Vancouver, BC, V3K 3M6

Cost:

$40 (please pay at event)

Presentation Synposis:

Derek Gruchy, from Seneca Polytechnic, is arriving from Ontario to discuss the importance of fire protection education and the obstacles we face as an industry for obtaining qualified personnel. He will  provide insight to how Seneca Polytechnic has worked to fill these gaps since 1972, and how we can assist those looking to further their education with our flexible delivery. Derek will also provide opinions regarding potential steps industry can take to make sure the next generation is aware of our industry.

Speaker Bio:

Derek Gruchy, Program Coordinator, Seneca Polytechnic Fire Protection Engineering Technology

Derek Gruchy is the Program Coordinator for the School of Fire Protection Engineering Technology at Seneca Polytechnic, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He has been with Seneca Polytechnic since 2006 and previously worked with Morrison Hershfield as a Code Consultant.

Outside of Seneca, Derek is a Past President for the Southern Ontario Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. He sits on the Technical Committee for CSA N293: Fire Protection for Nuclear Power Plants as well as CSA N393: Fire Protection for Facilities that Process, Handle, or Store Nuclear Substances. He is also the author of Chapter 2-1 Combustion Chemistry for the 21st edition of the NFPA Fire Protection Handbook, published March 2023.

Derek studied at Carleton University and obtained his B.Eng in Mechanical Engineering and a M.A.Sc. in Fire and Life Safety. He specializes in Human Behaviour During Fire Emergencies and Fire Dynamics. He has experience in life safety analysis, exposure risk determination, building and fire code interpretation, and suppression system design.

Derek has performed research on the effects of smoke on occupant evacuation (where results were used in CUrisk and marineEXODUS softwares) as well as performing many live fire demonstrations for Seneca Polytechnic students.

Derek was awarded the Outstanding Educator Award for 2023 by OACETT. He aims to teach through case studies, and is the author of the Muskoka Heights Fire case study.