Firefighting program available to students

NorQuest College has partnered with Living Waters School Division in Whitecourt to offer their students a professional firefighting program. Ed Kohel, Manager, Public Safety and Health Programs and Business Development for NorQuest College said, “We knew there was a need in industry to have a firefighting program and high school students were looking to pursue this career pathway. We matched the need of industry and the community through the Business Support Network and put the pieces together with the support of the Living Waters Catholic School Division and the Whitecourt Fire Department.” The program is approved by the Office of the Fire Commissioner and meets an international standard.

On July 5, 2019, the Fire Department and NorQuest College held a demonstration for their Industry partners Strike Group and New Venture Safety who sponsored the students. Donna Wesley, Director of Curriculum and Technology, from the Aspen View Public School Division, also attended the fire training event to gather information about the program. “Our superintendent heard about the program being offered in Whitecourt and as our school division offers dual credit programs, we are interested in possibly setting up something similar around the Athabasca region,” she said.

The NorQuest College Firefighting Program offered to the students is like RAP (Registered Apprenticeship Program) as there are many practical skills and firefighting theory components. This program is no different than in any large city in Canada or the US as the program is recognized internationally,” says Kohel.

Living Waters students applied for the program in November 2018 and after an intensive recruitment process by the school division, industry, and the fire department, 11 of the 23 students who applied were selected and began the program in February 2019 with a completion date of September 2019. The firefighting program is very intensive because students are training to become professional firefighters and the program is no different than in any other major fire service in North America. A portion of training also consists of live fire training, search and rescue in buildings, and vehicle extrication of patients.

Most of the program students are returning for an additional year of high school after having graduated and are attending a post-secondary college as well. The program has turned out to be a win/win for everyone as students have already been picked up by industry and promised jobs after completion or are currently working now.

Art Bauer, Educational Consultant with NorQuest College, has been responsible for promoting community partnerships and off-campus education and is an advocate for bringing programs such as the firefighting program to Whitecourt. “We wanted to start small for this program and continue to build on good results. Next year will be based on the successful results from this year as this is our first group,” Bauer said.

NorQuest College will be offering the First Medical Responder program in Whitecourt with an information session and registration night on July 31, 2019. This program is the minimum requirement for anyone entering municipal or industrial services and approved through Alberta Health Services. Any students or adults within the community who are interested in either Industrial Firefighting, First Medical Responder, or Professional Firefighting are encouraged to contact Art Bauer at 780-779-6158 or art.wbauer@gmail.com.