Training underway for latest Lethbridge Fire and EMS recruits

Dorothy Graham, who hails from Lethbridge, says it’s special to be back in her hometown after going to school in Medicine Hat.

“The goal for me was always to come back to Lethbridge. I’m born and raised here, so that was my plan, which meant extensively training both my EMS and physical strength to build up to the [firefighter] side, so I’m really glad to be here,” she remarks.

Graham explains they are currently in week four of fire training, which will be followed by two weeks of EMS training. She describes the experience as “a dream come true” and says it has been exciting working out different emergency scenarios.

Graham is looking forward to working on an ambulance to fine-tune her EMS skills, as members in Lethbridge are trained as firefighters and paramedics.

“We will be working on ambulance for the bulk of our first couple of years on the department, so it will be awesome to maintain those skills with our colleagues who have that on-the-ground experience,” she states.

“It will be nice to work in tandem with the department and sort of learn some of their skills and techniques as we familiarize ourselves with the city and the EMS department.”

Fellow recruit Steven Oleksyn is a primary care paramedic and says his firefighter training so far has been ‘everything he expected and more’.

“It’s been a lot to absorb but it’s what I’m passionate about and I can’t get enough of it,” Oleksyn adds.

He says he has been a volunteer firefighter for about five years in Coaldale and “that’s kind of where my passion started”.

This volunteering provided a window to pursue a full-time career in firefighting. Last year, Oleksyn says he received his primary care paramedic certification.

“Then it all worked out that Lethbridge was hiring at the right time and I wanted to stick around southern Alberta,” he says.

“Lethbridge has always been one of those departments that I’ve seen as [one] who is on the leading edge of the fire service and EMS world. They’re always trying to provide the best service they can and improve on what they’re doing consistently.”

Lethbridge Fire and EMS recruits training on May 9, 2024. (Photo: LNN)

Oleksyn says training and experience as a paramedic is beneficial.

“A lot of the fire services around, a large portion of their calls are medical and medical assists, so I think that EMS training is huge because that’s kind of where we can make the most impact, you know, there’s not a structure fire every day to go to,” he notes.

Oleksyn adds the course has helped build a strong sense of camaraderie between recruits.

“At the start I think we were all kind of a little reserved,” he says.

“Then, a couple of days in, we’re carrying each other down ladders and we’re getting pretty up close and personal with each other and you know, those walls that we had up at the start are kind of gone now. We’re doing everything, eight hours a day together, so we get to know each other quite well and build that strong bond.”

Oleksyn says the trust being built during training will serve recruits well when they eventually work out in the field.

STAFFING

Captain Sean Larkin says recruitment classes like the current group help bolster the department’s staffing levels.

“That’s why it’s so important that we have both trained up so that when we go to a fire call, the members that are on the ambulance are actually helping boost our fire response,” Larkin says, adding retirements are a reason for a shortage in staffing.

“We are hiring for the attrition as well as adding new units as we can. There are more ambulances on the road now than we had a few years ago. We’re trying to add to that all the time and [are] working with the [provincial government] on doing that, so both with retirements and growth, we’re trying to keep up.”

Larkin praises the current recruitment class.

“Everyone is super gung-ho and eager to learn. We throw new things at them and as soon they deal with it, we turn it up a notch and make it a little bit spicier for them,” he says.

“They’ve handled everything we’ve thrown at them so far.”

The recruitment class will finish their training on July 2, with graduation set for July 3.

Those looking to apply for the next recruitment class can find more information at the City of Lethbridge website.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

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by Justin Goulet with files from Joel Mendelson

Training underway for latest Lethbridge Fire and EMS recruits

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