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Spring 2026 Intake: Application Deadline Dec. 15, 2025 (Apply with the “Spring 2026” application attached below)

Fall 2026 Intake: Application Deadline July 15, 2026 (Apply with the “Fall 2026” application attached below)

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The Yellowhead County Fire Department (YCFD) Work Experience Program (WEP) is designed to offer opportunity to new graduates from accredited fire schools the opportunity to gain firefighting experience that will help bring them closer to a career in firefighting. New graduates must have graduated within the last 24 months. All experience levels welcome to apply.

• Position Details

   

  

  WEP Firefighters are remunerated at the rate of $27.67/hr. + 4% holiday pay for hours worked in 4-days-On and 4-days-Off rotation working 12 hour shifts, this is paid out every 2 weeks.

  There will be the opportunity to complete accredited certification programs, enhanced training and education for career development offered to the WEP. The program also offers mentorship and personal development including resume writing and interview techniques.

  YCFD covers an area of 22,000 square km responding to a variety of fire and rescue related incidents. YCFD call volume each year ranges from 550-600 incidents.

  Being a WEP Firefighter provides knowledge and experience that fire departments will be looking for in a new recruit’s application.

  WEP firefighters are placed on a platoon where they join existing fulltime staff in a scheduled rotation covering Yellowhead County 7 days a week. In the WEPs off hours there will be opportunities to attend incidents and functions as a Paid On-Call Volunteer firefighter.

  The Work Experience Program offers a 12-month term, with daily duties balanced between but not limited to fire suppression, technical rescue, medical first response, fire prevention, public education, preplanning, maintenance of equipment and the fire station, as well as participation in community events throughout the year. As part of the program, WEP firefighters will be asked to volunteer within the community, in schools and during community events as they occur.

• Why the YCFD Work Experience Program?

  A career in the fire service is exciting, challenging, diverse and fulfilling.

  It truly is the “BEST JOB IN THE WORLD”, which is within one of the most competitive job markets. Those who aspire to become a career firefighter are unique individuals that thrive on teamwork, helping others and contributing to their community.

  Large career departments receive thousands of applications of aspiring firefighters, and in most of the cases, these applications lack any job-related work experience. There also becomes a gap between graduating from a fire academy and application intakes that let your skills diminish.

  Our program is designed to give fire academy graduates some additional training and experience working as a full-time firefighter. This experience builds not only additional firefighting skills but provides life skills that become crucial to being able to present yourself as the best candidate during the interview stages.

  

  You get to work full time as a firefighter, perform daily shift routines, live at the fire station and have the opportunity to respond to approximately 500 incidents County wide per year.

  WEP firefighters will be given the opportunity to have physical and nutritional training that builds habits that become important in obtaining a career in the fire service. Career fire services strive to find the “Best of the Best” firefighters and they place heavy emphasis on lifestyles and having a healthy work force.

  As a WEP Firefighter, you will have an edge on the competition in the recruiting process when you begin applying for career positions. Recruiters in other large centers, such as Vancouver Fire Rescue, have emphasized the value of having candidates who can show relevant experience and demonstrate their commitment to the fire service. The combination of obtaining work experience and personal development through the program will assist you in becoming a noticed candidate during recruitment processes.

• Requirements & Assets

  ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS (required at the time of application):
  🗸 Accredited Fire Program Graduate;
  🗸 Age 18+;
  🗸 Valid and current Canadian Driver’s License;
  🗸 Commit to the 12-month duration of the Work Experience Program. Individuals hired by a career department during this Program will be relieved of this commitment;
  🗸 Completed Medical Checklist BY CANDIDATE (page 12);
  🗸 Cover Letter must include information not provided in your resume. We want to know your passions, goals, interests, and why you want to be a part of the YCFD WEP; and
  🗸 Detailed resume

  A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:
  □ 5-Year Driver’s Abstract;
  □ Doctor’s Medical Clearance or Certificate of Fitness; and
  □ Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector

  ITEMS CONSIDERED ASSETS (not required)
  □ Advanced First Aid Training
  □ Previous firefighting experience or other related work or volunteering
  □ Class 1 or 3 Driver’s License
  □ Air-Brake Endorsement
  □ Post-Secondary Degree(s) or Diploma(s) (provide copies)
  □ Technical, Trades, or equivalent level of certification (provide copies)
  □ Considerable Mechanical Aptitude

• Application & Submission Details

  The YCFD Work Experience Program is accepting applications.

  Application Deadlines:
  Spring 2026 intake cut off : December 15 (or sooner if there is a vacancy)
  Fall 2026 intake cut off : July 15 (or sooner if there is a vacancy)

  Please indicate in your application whether you would be interested in future intakes if not chosen for the current intake. Your application would be held for up to 12 months.

  HOW TO SUBMIT MY WEP APPLICATION

  1. PREFERRED AND REQUESTED SUBMISSION METHOD: 
     Using “SUBMIT” Button in application: To submit application, hit “SUBMIT” on the bottom right corner of the application. The application form is fillable. Hitting “SUBMIT” will generate an email. Please attach all additional copies of certifications, education, training, and relevant information prior to sending the email.
     Email should be sent to: ycfdadmin@yhcounty.ca.
     Use the subject line YCFD WEP 2025 Application [Your LAST NAME, FIRST NAME].
     NOTE: Please download the application to your device to enable use of the “SUBMIT” button.

  OR

  2. IF SUBMITTING ELECTRONICALLY IS NOT POSSIBLE:
     Return to attention of:
     Yellowhead County Work Experience Program
     YCFD Head Quarters Staff
     2716 1 Avenue, Edson, AB T7E 1N9ALL INFORMATION MUST BE ATTACHED AS REQUESTED ON PAGE 1 OR YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

   

  There may be times throughout the year that WEP applicants may be reviewed to fill temporary term positions in the Work Experience Program

  We thank every applicant for their interest in the Yellowhead County Work Experience Program – only successful applicants will be contacted

• WEP Intake Dates & Timelines

  Spring 2026 Intake Dates

  July 16 to December 15, 2025: Application Submission Period
  December 16, 2025 to January, 2026: Review and Interview WEP Applicants
  Early February, 2026: Offer to successful candidate(s)
  March, 2026: Tentative Start

  Fall 2026 Intake Dates

  April 1 to July 15, 2026: Application Submission Period
  July 15 to August 31, 2026: Review and Interview WEP Applicants
  Early September 2026: Offer to successful candidate(s)
  October 2026: Tentative Start

  *Dates above are subject to change depending on operational needs*

NOTE: Please download the application to your device to enable use of the “SUBMIT” button.