On Friday, August 9, Lakeland College’s Emergency Training Centre (ETC) hosted a Program Information Session, drawing 35 prospective students and their families from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories. The event provided a comprehensive overview of Lakeland’s industry-leading fire and emergency services programs in firefighting, emergency services technology, and bachelor of applied business: emergency services.
Danielle White of the college’s marketing and enrolment team kicked off the morning with a brief introduction to Lakeland, followed by President Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart’s warm welcoming address. The ETC’s Chair Lyle Lawrence then provided an overview of the fire school’s 65-year history, highlighting the strength of the local community and the ties that brought what was formerly the Alberta Fire Training School under the umbrella of Lakeland College. It became a subsidiary corporation in 1997, then fully integrated with Lakeland in 2004.
Lawrence emphasized the quality of Lakeland’s firefighter certificate program, which adheres to National Fire Protection Association standards and offers internationally recognized Firefighter I and II certifications. Each of these certificate programs lasts 12 weeks, with time spent equally in the classroom and in hands-on training. Lawrence also spoke about the Emergency Services Technology (EST) program, an accelerated 12-month diploma course with specializations in firefighting and emergency medicine. The EST program provides students the foundation of the Firefighter I and II certifications but then builds on those skills, offering courses in professional writing, aerial apparatus training, and fire training instructing, as well as an off-site practicum that bolsters students’ employability. In addition to these certificate and diploma programs, the ETC also offers an applied business degree in emergency services, which is delivered entirely online.
On top of having access to a world-class training facility at Lakeland, students have also had the opportunity to experience learning in action, serving at the Jasper and Parkland County wildfires over the past few summers. Some of these students were on hand at the Program Info Session, ready to talk to prospective students about their own experiences with the school.
White acknowledged that the variety of programs may feel overwhelming, but that she and other staff were on hand to help prospective students to look at their timelines, and encouraged them to look into the requirements of the departments they were hoping to get hired into.
Representatives from Lakeland’s Financial Aid office shared options for funding, highlighting that the certificate and diploma programs were both eligible for full-time student loans as well as awards and bursaries.
The ETC’s head of Logistics, Wayne Rose, then introduced the 50 acres of fire training props at the Vermilion campus. Participants were divided into three groups for tours that concluded with a demonstration of the loading dock prop, where a controlled flame grew to an impressive size to show an example of the hands-on learning Lakeland is so well known for.
Walking back to the main building from the prop field, prospective students and parents had the opportunity to talk to faculty and enrolment specialists about the ETC’s programs. Upon their return, they were greeted by EST students, who had prepared a barbecued lunch for the visitors.
After lunch, guests took part in optional activities, including tours of the Vermilion campus residence and recreation facilities, assistance with program applications, asking questions about financial aid, and learning about the college’s support services.
The ETC will open again to the public on October 18 and 19 for the college-wide Open House, running from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. For more information about programs, visit https://www.lakelandcollege.ca/fire
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