SUNDRE – All of the 15 students who enrolled in the Sundre Fire Department’s largest-ever cadet class passed the nine-week course.
The program not only provides participants with insights into potential careers paths in a variety of firefighting services but also grants them with three high school credits.
Among the 2025 cadet class was Hunter Coulis, a Grade 10 student and the only female who took part this year.
“I have a friend that became a firefighter when she turned 18, and she said it was really amazing, so I wanted to just check it out,” Coulis told the Albertan during a phone interview.
Coulis, who had already previously harboured a long-standing interest in firefighting, expressed no regrets and had nothing but praise for the program, which she said gave her the opportunity to learn valuable skills while along the way building some new bridges.
“It was a very good course,” she said. “I learned a lot and made some good friends … it’s a great team, and everyone there was super nice.”
She also seemed to find appealing the possibility following a path that can have a positive impact by helping others.
“You become like a lifesaver, pretty much. I thought that was really cool.”
Although the credits were a bonus, that wasn’t the main motivating factor for Coulis, who said she intends to continue attending the weekly training sessions and is even considering a future in firefighting or the military.
“I’m still going to go for the training on Wednesdays because I really enjoyed it,” she said, adding she’s already given some thought to what she plans to do after graduating from high school.
“I was thinking of either getting into firefighting when I’m older or maybe the military or something like that,” she said.
Any other students who might have given some thought to trying out the program should not hesitate, she said.
“I’d definitely recommend it,” she said. “I think you could have a lot of fun and learn a lot and find maybe a career path that you like.”
Alex Clews, deputy chief, said the whole class – which for the first time also included some Grade 9 students – passed their exams.
“We had some extra space, so we opened it up to the Grade 9s, and they gave us more than we thought. But that’s okay!” said Clews, adding there has previously been anywhere from eight to 10 students.
“It was a good turnout,” he said. “They were all very involved and enthusiastic.”
While only those in Grades 10-12 earned credits, this year might be considered a warm-up run for those in Grade 9 since they can redo the course and take the test again next year to obtain their credits, he said.
“It’s a 50-question multiple choice exam followed by three practical scenarios or skill sets,” he said.
“We have a passing requirement of 70, and everybody was above 70,” he said, adding, “everybody did really good at the practical.”
Despite a few hurdles in figuring out how to accommodate the large class, the instructors – who are all members of the fire department with a NFPA 1041 rating qualifying them to teach – did an amazing job, he said.
“Our instructors love teaching the juniors on how we do our firefighting and how everything in the fire service works, and building that future fire generation,” he said.
“Hopefully it gives them an insight on if becoming a volunteer firefighter or a career in the fire service in general – whether it be wild land or structural firefighting or even airport firefighting – is an avenue that they would like to pursue.”
Any cadets who are close to turning 18 are welcome to continue participating in weekly practices.
“They can keep coming, and we’ll get into our more advanced training and specialized training,” he said, adding they won’t be able to respond to calls until they come of age.
“It’s kind of a foot in the door so as soon as they turn 18, they’re ready to go.”
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