Vancouver Fire Rescue Services ends public information officer role

Firefighters battle flames at a Vancouver apartment complex in November 2024.

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services has ended its designated public information officer role, citing operational reasons.

The PIO position was held by Cpt. Matthew Trudeau since 2022, according to his LinkedIn.

CTV News reached out to the City of Vancouver for more information, and was provided a statement from VFRS.

In the statement, VFRS said it’s “refining its communications strategy to ensure a more co-ordinated, strategic approach and meet increasing demands for timely, proactive engagement.”

The statement referred to the move as an operational decision “made through a regular review process to identify opportunities for improvement.”

Trudeau provided excellent service in his role and will be returning to fire suppression duties, VFRS said.

When asked if the decision was due to cuts associated with Vancouver city council’s zero per cent property tax increase, VFRS said it was unrelated and does not affect the department’s budget.

Going forward, the city’s civic engagement and communications will be supporting the fire department.