We began to meet in 1990 as an informal network of school district health and safety managers to share concerns and solve problems concerning school district compliance with Workers’ Compensation Board Regulations.
One of our significant accomplishments was the creation of the MSDS Fetch system, which allows school districts to comply with WHMIS regulations through a central agency. This program has expanded to include over two-thirds of the school districts in the province as well as supplying a service to various municipalities.
As the group expanded over the years, the need to formalize the group into an association became evident. In 1999 the process was formally started. The result was the formation of the British Columbia School Safety Association. Our membership includes those whose duties involve management of occupational health and safety for British Columbia school districts or the British Columbia Public School Employers’ Association.
The purpose of the Association is to develop and increase knowledge, skill and efficiency of its members in the fields of health and safety, and to promote cooperation between the Association and other societies and groups working in the field of education.
The first executive members of the British Columbia School Safety Association were:
President – John Bonnet, BCPSEA
Vice-President – John Scorgie, School District #23
Treasurer – Roger Cooper, School District #79
Secretary – Nancy Johnston, School District #36
Director – Earl Billingsley, School District #69
Director – Carole Peacock, School District #36
Director – Fred Makortoff, School District #08
Director – Robert Lawrence, School District #60
Past BCSSA Presidents
- 1999–2000 John Bonnet, BCPSEA – Health & Safety Officer
- 2000–2001 John Scorgie, School District #23 (Kelowna) – Health & Safety Officer
- 2001–2002 Robert Lawrence, School District #60 (Peace River North) – Supervisor of Safety Services
- 2002–2003 Russel Roy, School District #68 (Nanaimo/Ladysmith) – Occupational Safety Officer
- 2003–2004 Russel Roy, School District #68 (Nanaimo/Ladysmith) – Occupational Safety Officer
- 2004–2005 Fred Makortoff, School District #8 (Kootenay Lakes) – Director of Operations
- 2005–2006 Ken Emmons, School District #23 (Kelowna) – Safety Manager
- 2006–2007 Ken Emmons, School District #23 (Kelowna) – Safety Manager
- 2007–2008 Collette O’Reilly, School District #39 (Vancouver) – Manager Health & Safety
- 2008–2009 Robert Lawrence, School District #60 (Peace River North) – Supervisor of Safety Services
- 2009–2010 Ken Lear, School District #35 (Langley) – Manager, Health & Safety
- 2010–2012 Will Dirksen, School District #72 (Campbell River) – Safety Officer
- 2012–2013 Mark Margerison, School District #79 (Cowichan Valley) – Occupational Health & Safety Manager
- 2013–2014 Mary Campbell, School District #36 (Surrey) – Manager Health & Safety
- 2014-2015 Collette O’Reilly, School District #39 (Vancouver) – Director Risk Management – Safety and Compliance
- 2015–2016 Collette O’Reilly, School District #39 (Vancouver) – Director Risk Management – Safety and Compliance
- 2016–2017 Collette O’Reilly, School District #39 (Vancouver) – Director Risk Management – Safety and Compliance
- 2017-2018 Collette O’Reilly, School District #39 (Vancouver) – Director Risk Management – Safety and Compliance
- 2018-2019 Mary Campbell, School District #36 (Surrey) – Manager Health & Safety
- 2019-2020 Mary Campbell, School District #36 (Surrey) – Manager Health & Safety
- 2020-2021 Megan Duke, School District #35 (Langley) – Manager of Occupational Health and Safety
- 2021-2022 Megan Duke, School District #35 (Langley) – Manager of Occupational Health and Safety
- 2022-2023 Megan Duke, School District #35 (Langley) – Manager of Occupational Health and Safety
SSABC President
- 2021-2022 Megan Duke, School District #35 (Langley) – Manager of Occupational Health and Safety