Manager, Emergency Planning, Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service, Emergency Planning, City of Vaughan

Sharon Walker is the Manager of Emergency Planning for the City of Vaughan.  She has over 25 years of experience in the field of Emergency Management in the municipal government and non-government organization sectors. She holds a Bachelor Degree (Hons) in Public Administration from York University, Nursing Diploma, Certificates in Management/Labour Relations, Human Resource Management and Volunteer Resource Management. She is a certified Associate Business Continuity Professional and Certified Municipal Manager III (3) – Emergency Management Professional. 

Her work in the public service is focused on the safety and wellbeing of citizens. She started young as an instructor/lifeguard, then as a Registered Nurse in progressive neurological diseases research and long-term care. She made a career change from nursing to emergency management by becoming a branch manager with the Red Cross than onto the City of Vaughan to her current position. She has managed many types of disasters including multi-unit fires, ice storms, tornadoes, humanitarian evacuation of refugees, floods, hazardous materials releases and currently the COVID-19 pandemic. She has mentored over 60 students in emergency management and public administration through experiential learn opportunities with her department.