Vice-Admiral (retired) Jean-Yves Forcier to Head Disaster and Emergency Management Master’s Program at Royal Roads University
For immediate release – Dec. 17, 2007
Victoria, B.C. – Royal Roads University announced the appointment today of Vice-Admiral (retired) Jean-Yves (JY) Forcier to head its Master of Arts program in Disaster and Emergency Management.
Forcier served in the Canadian Forces for 34 years, retiring in July, 2006. At the time, he was the head of Canada Command in Ottawa – an organization he was charged with creating and leading to undertake military emergency planning and execution of assistance to provinces and federal agencies.
“It’s an outstanding coup for the university to recruit JY Forcier given his experience, his ability and his leadership skills,” said Jim Bayer, dean of the university’s Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences. “He brings a wealth of senior national and international experience in an emerging professional field where it is crucial to balance theory and practice.”
Forcier, who has been consulting to the federal government and giving guest lectures at post-secondary institutions since leaving the forces, said he is looking forward to returning to Royal Roads University where he graduated in 2000 from the MA in Leadership and Training program.
“I enjoyed my experience at Royal Roads and I enjoyed working in the field of disaster and emergency management during the last portion of my military career so I am excited by this opportunity to combine the two,” said Forcier. “This is a fresh, new multi-disciplinary field that is expanding rapidly in Canada and I plan to take advantage of the knowledge and connections I’ve gained through the military to bring a diverse slate of scholars and practitioners before our learners.”
The MA in Disaster and Emergency Management was launched in April of this year – the first graduate program of its kind in Canada. The two-year interdisciplinary program was quickly filled and the 2008 program, which will get underway in April, has generated strong interest.
“The rising severity and frequency of disasters and emergencies, both in Canada and internationally, means managers must possess sophisticated insights and skills,” said Bayer. “This program aims to help educate a new generation of professionals capable of developing and deploying integrated multi-disciplinary approaches to the prevention and management of complex disasters and emergencies.”
The program, which targets, both existing and aspiring disaster management and emergency services professionals, teaches learners how to assess, prepare for, mitigate, respond to and recover from traditional natural environmental disasters as well as human-induced disasters such as pandemics and health risks, and new, emergent threats such as bio-chemical, nuclear and cyber-terrorism.
-30-
For media queries, contact:
Communications Officer, Phil Saunders
phil.saunders@royalroads.ca (250) 391-2526, cel (250) 812-5065 or,
Community Relations Director, Stephanie Slater
stephanie.slater@royalroads.ca (250) 391-2712, cel (250) 361-5020
