The Southern Ontario Chapter's purpose is to:

1. advance the art and science of fire protection engineering and its allied fields, for the reduction of life and property losses from fire,
2. to maintain high ethical standards on engineering among its members and
3. to foster fire protection education.

The chapter strives to facilitate sharing of sound engineering experiences and knowledge between its members, the fire protection community and the public with an active program of education, participation in public policy, charitable work and scholarship activities.

The Southern Ontario Chapter was established on November 14, 1965, hosting nine luncheon meetings with guest speakers for it members.

The Southern Ontario Chapter has a well established tradition of technical development through luncheons meetings, participation in public policy, support for education in the field of Fire Protection Engineering, and donations to worthy causes and organizations related to our field. The Chapter continues "Advancing the Science and Practice of Fire Protection Engineering".

Our membership season typically runs from September to May - with the May meeting doubling as the Annual General Meeting. Our Annual Charity Golf Tournament is held in June and then the Executive works July and August, in preparation of the next season.

Some of the highlights of our involvement in shaping public policy, for the benefit of life safety include:

1. PEO adopted the Fire Protection Engineer specialist designation after seven years of intensive lobbying
2. The Chapter was granted standing to the Inquiry into Fire Safety in High-rise Buildings in 1982 and gave a verbal presentation to the Commission.
3. Contributed draft regulations for Ontario Fire Code Part 4 - Flammable & Combustible Liquids
4. Contributed revisions for Ontario Fire Code Part 3 - Indoor & Outdoor Storage
5. Contributed revisions for Ontario Fire Code Part 5 - Hazardous Processes & Operations due to the Plastimet fire
6. The Chapter also participates in the development of UL of Canada's many Fire Alarm Standards.

Fundraising/donations have provided over $52,700 to industry-related charities. The major fundraising activities have been through our Annual Charity Golf Tournament.

The Chapter has also provided funds to the following groups:

• The Children's Wish Foundation
• Toronto Sick Children's Burn Unit
• Seneca Polytechnic Fire Protection Laboratories
• Seneca Polytechnic Thomas Chiang Memorial Award Student Endowment (self-sustaining)
• The SFPE Education and Scientific Foundation
• The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Toronto
• Guylene Proulx Scholarship through SFPE International
• Thomas Chiang Memorial Awards (donations collected annually)

To see our current charities, and how to contribute to these worthy causes, visit the Charities page.