City of Maple Ridge Named Royal Roads University’s 2025 Internship Employer of the Year

Maple Ridge, B.C., January 19, 2026 – The City of Maple Ridge has been recognized as Royal Roads University’s 2025 Internship Employer of the Year, celebrating the City’s commitment to meaningful mentorship, workforce development, and excellence in emergency management. 

The award recognizes the City for providing an outstanding, career-shaping internship experience for a Master of Arts in Disaster and Emergency Management student, while also strengthening municipal emergency preparedness during one of the busiest seasons of the year. 

The City welcomed graduate student Dawn Varley for a summer internship within the Emergency Program, where she quickly became an integral member of the team. 

“When we brought Dawn on as an intern, our goal was to build capacity during a high-demand period,” said Edd Bennett, Corporate Emergency Program Manager. “What we didn’t expect was how quickly she would become a trusted colleague. It was an absolute pleasure to support her, and the internship truly represented a win for everyone involved.” 

Building Capacity While Preparing the Community

Varley joined the City as an intern-based Emergency Program Coordinator, working directly with Bennett and supporting a broad range of emergency preparedness and response initiatives. Her work included hands-on experience in the City’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), technology modernization projects, and two key volunteer-led programs: Emergency Support Services (ESS) and the Emergency Radio Communications Team. 

During her internship, Varley co-led the City’s first functional capstone exercise for its Emergency Operations team, supported a major modernization of the EOC facility, helped expand the ESS volunteer team from approximately a dozen volunteers to nearly 80 within a year, and played a leadership role in responding to more than a dozen live emergency events. 

The internship was intentionally structured to mirror real-world emergency management practice, with Varley treated as a full member of the team rather than a traditional student placement. 

“This internship strengthened our overall emergency response capability,” said Dave Samson, Fire Chief . “Dawn contributed meaningfully during active events and preparedness initiatives, and the program demonstrated how investing in mentorship directly enhances public safety and operational readiness for our community.” 

Benefits for the City and the Profession

City staff say the program delivered tangible benefits, including increased operational capacity, fresh perspectives, and strengthened partnerships with community organizations and neighbouring jurisdictions, including collaboration with a local First Nation. 

“Varley continues to work with the City of Maple Ridge in a part-time and volunteer capacity, building on the experience gained during her internship. “The experience exceeded her hopes and will help guide her path forward in emergency management,” said Varley. 

Read the Royal Roads University News Release City of Maple Ridge named Royal Roads Internship Employer of the Year | Royal Roads University 

About the City’s Emergency Management Program 

The City’s Emergency Management Program coordinates emergency readiness, response, and recovery efforts to protect residents, property, and the environment in partnership with the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. The program works year-round to build readiness for a wide range of hazards through planning, training, exercises, public education, and partnerships with internal departments, first responders, community organizations, volunteers, neighbouring municipalities, and Indigenous communities. During emergencies, the Emergency Program supports coordinated response through the City’s Emergency Operations Centre, helping ensure timely, effective, and well-managed assistance to the community.