Harassment frequent within Toronto Fire, former firefighter alleges
Jamie Wilson says she experienced nearly 10 years of bullying, abuse by her male co-workers
Former firefighter Jamie Wilson says she feels relieved after learning that her former co-worker Kevin Hughes was charged with two counts of sexual assault and another count of assault with a weapon this week following an investigation that began in August into a "historical" incident.
"This man was in contact with all the women, all the recruits that come through Toronto Fire," Wilson told CBC Toronto. "I was too afraid to come forward... but I finally did."
Wilson alleges she suffered nearly 10 years of bullying and abuse by her male colleagues since she became a firefighter in July 2006.
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Wilson said she got particularly concerned and wanted to speak up when she noticed that the recruit classes were getting younger.
"I kind of suffered in silence, but it always ate away at me thinking," she says. "I felt ... I should speak up."
Years of harassment
While at Toronto Fire, Wilson switched fire halls three times between 2008 to 2010 after she complained about her experience. In 2010, she arrived at one of the busiest stations in Toronto, and in three years she alleges she was punched repeatedly by a male colleague.
Wilson also said she was harassed by a captain at her first hall who she alleges would spy on her in the sleeping area, scare her, call her a slut and told her the only reason she was hired was because she was a woman.
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One time, she says she was left at a fire when the captain told the driver to leave.
"I was actually going to call the cops," she said, "but I just thought that would be the end of my career."
Wilson said she chose to complain to a chief on her next shift instead. While no one else backed up her story, Wilson alleges she was told she could go to another station, which is what she did.
But she alleges the old captain would visit her at her new station to spread rumours. Wilson says the captain has since retired.
The city did not respond directly to Wilson's allegations Wednesday, but spokeswoman Wynna Brown said officials are "cooperating fully" with the police investigation.
Road to recovery
Wilson said she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. And she received approval in June for assistance from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, she said.
Wilson said she is also seeing a psychiatrist, going to group therapy, art therapy and meeting with women at community centres who have experienced violence.
In total, she said she has spent three years healing.
The city offered Wilson a job with fire prevention in September, but she declined the offer, saying she no longer wanted anything to do Toronto Fire.
Wilson said that she hopes by telling her story it will encourage other people to come forward if they feel they've experienced harassment or violence.
With files from Shanifa Nasser