Jason Brolund

West Kelowna Fire Chief | 2023 Newsmaker of the Year

Communication Business Leaders Fresh Perspectives Leaders

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Environment & Climate Change Healthcare Leadership Peak Performance Resilience Teamwork & Collaboration

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Motivational Speakers

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About This Speaker

When organizations need a speaker who understands high-stakes leadership, they book Jason Brolund. As the Fire Chief for the City of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation, Jason has spent three decades protecting communities. He gained international attention during the devastating McDougall Creek Wildfire in August 2023. During this crisis, he led hundreds of firefighters in a battle against a “once-in-a-century” firestorm. His leadership facilitated the evacuation of over 25,000 residents and saved thousands of homes from total destruction.

Jason Brolund is more than an emergency responder; he is a master of transparent communication. During the 2023 wildfire season, his daily briefings became a lifeline for the public. He offered a rare blend of technical expertise and raw human vulnerability. This approach earned him national recognition and the title of Kelowna’s 2023 Newsmaker of the Year. Furthermore, his ability to simplify complex situations led Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to invite him to speak at the United Nations. There, he addressed global delegates on climate change and the urgent need for proactive disaster prevention.

With 30 years of experience, Jason Brolund provides deep expertise in emergency management and community safety. He currently serves on the boards of the Fire Chiefs Association of British Columbia and FireSmart BC. Jason holds a Bachelor’s degree in Technology with a specialization in Emergency Management. Prestigious honors, including the Canadian Fire Services Exemplary Services Medal and the King Charles III Coronation Medal mark his career.

As a Fire Chief, Jason Brolund offers a unique, non-corporate viewpoint on crisis, communication, and climate reality. He moves beyond traditional business theory to provide lessons forged in the heat of real-world disasters. By sharing front-line experiences, he helps leaders understand that true resilience requires both technical preparation and deep empathy. Overall, he provides a fresh perspective that challenges corporate audiences to rethink how they build trust and lead through uncertainty. Jason inspires every listener to find their “not-withouts” and lead with courage when the stakes are highest.

Videos

Speaking Topics: Jason Brolund

Leadership Inside A Firestorm

In 2023, a fast-moving wildfire, fueled by high winds and extreme drought, devastated West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation. At the height of the crisis, tens of thousands were evacuated, and hundreds of homes were destroyed. Remarkably, no lives were lost, and thousands of homes were saved. Fire Chief Jason Brolund led a team of hundreds, managing immense stress in a high-stakes environment with no margin for error, in front of the whole world. Most firefighters will go an entire career without seeing as much fire and devastation as they encountered in those intense 36 hours. Jason had built a team, not knowing when they would be called upon to perform, but knowing that it could be a life-and-death mission with no room for failure. They gained unparalleled lessons in leadership, forged in the face of doubt, fear of immense loss of life, injury, destruction, and failure on a massive scale, in a very public way. Emerging from the devastation, Jason recognized that his lessons learned directly related to the stresses we all face. For him, the disaster proved the value of investing in relationships and providing clear communication. When a crisis comes, the importance of leading from the front while enabling his team, showing vulnerability, and building empathy and trust is paramount. While those 36 hours were gruelling, preparing for the toughest, darkest days that followed proved equally critical. Join Fire Chief Jason Brolund as he shares powerful leadership lessons from the front lines. Learn Jason's 4 "not-withouts" and what it takes to lead a high-performance team through a crisis and guide a community, province, and nation from inside a firestorm.