ATCO has announced a three-year commitment to fund the County of Grande Prairie’s new Fire Cadet program.
According to the county, the program offers a unique opportunity for county high school students living in the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley to develop life skills while gaining an understanding of firefighting as a career option.
Attendees will undergo classroom and hands-on sessions and students taking the one-semester program could be eligible for high school credits upon completion.
The county adds that the program will leave cadets with a strong understanding of firefighting techniques to pursue a career in firefighting; however, the county says the skills gained during the program are transferrable to other careers as well.
ATCO has been supporting Fire Cadet programs since 2002 when they first began funding the Calgary Fire Department’s version, and has expanded throughout the province over the past two decades. Amanda Mattern, Vice President of Operations at ATCO says the company has enjoyed a “rich history” of collaboration with Fire Rescue around the province.
“With a rich history of collaboration with Fire and Rescue services across Alberta, partnering with the County of Grande Prairie’s Fire Cadet Program is our way of investing in future generations.”
Program intake is currently underway for highschoolers aged 16-18 and classes are scheduled to begin at the end of January. Interested applicants can apply on the county’s website.
