Probationary Firefighter – Calgary – 2025

If you are committed to public service, enjoy collaborating with others, share our values and have a desire to learn and grow, join The City of Calgary. City employees deliver the services, run the programs and operate the facilities which make a difference in our community. We support work-life balance, promote physical and psychological safety, and offer competitive wages, pensions, and benefits. Together we make Calgary a great place to make a living, a great place to make a life.

The City is committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive and equitable workplace which is representative of the community we serve. We welcome those who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the values of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism and reconciliation. Applications are encouraged from members of groups that are historically disadvantaged and underrepresented. Accommodations are available during the hiring process, upon request.

The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) is a workplace where all candidates are evaluated equally based on their qualifications, skills, and performance. By removing barriers to success, we ensure an equitable hiring process that upholds our high standards of excellence. We seek individuals who share our mission, values, and commitment to service excellence, recognizing that equity and merit together build a stronger team.

The CFD's vision statement is to be an international fire service leader. Our mission is to serve the community through excellence in fire prevention, education, protection, and safety. We provide fire and life safety education and prevention initiatives for Calgarians, emphasizing safe behaviors in the communities we serve. The CFD is located within the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta which is also the home of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta Districts 5 and 6.

CFD firefighters have diverse backgrounds, skills, and abilities which they utilize to serve the community in numerous ways; they respond to fires, rescues, medical emergencies, motor vehicle collisions, and various other emergencies. Our firefighters also engage with members of the community through teaching fire safety and prevention and by attending community events.

We are accepting applications for the Probationary Firefighter applicant intake from March 1-31, 2025. The process is long and intensive and consists of ten steps including application, fire service aptitude test, documentation submission, process preparation and personal history statement review, interview, polygraph, candidate physical ability testing, reference check, selection committee and conditional job offer. Successfully completing all ten steps in the process does not guarantee a job offer. Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on their performance across all steps, with the highest-ranked candidates being prioritized for selection. The most suitable candidates, based on their overall performance and alignment with organizational needs, will receive a job offer.

If you are interested in applying for the Probationary Firefighter applicant intake, please ensure you meet the required minimum qualifications before you apply. Applicants will be asked to provide proof of all qualifications.

We would like to thank everyone for their application; however, only those applicants who are being considered will be asked to move on to the next step in the process.

Collection, use, and retention of personal information will be used in accordance with relevant privacy legislation. By submitting your application and personal information, you acknowledge and consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information by the CFD to determine your suitability for employment.

Before you apply, you are required to:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Have a High School Diploma, High School Equivalency Diploma (GED), or Journeyman's Certificate.
  • if you went to school outside of North America, you must provide an assessment from the Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada with your application.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in English under stressful conditions.
• Have a valid Class 5 driver's license or provincial/territorial equivalent without Graduated Driver's License (GDL) status, with no more than six (6) demerit points and no current or pending suspensions.
• You must be at least three (3) years clear from any criminal activity. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • No criminal charges pending before the courts.
  • May include activities that authorities are not aware of.
  • Have been granted a pardon or record suspension for any criminal convictions.
• Meet The NFPA 1582 standard for medical conditions.
• Read the linked document disqualifying medical conditions.
• If you think you may have any of the disqualifying medical conditions in the Standard, bring the NFPA information to your healthcare provider to be assessed.
• Applicants with disqualifying medical conditions and those who do not meet the requirements will be removed from the competition.
• Please contact the CFD Wellness Centre Physicians if you require further clarification on disqualifying medical conditions at: (403) 873-2352.

Pre-Hire Qualifications
Candidates must obtain and maintain current certificates for the following qualifications prior to receiving a Conditional Job Offer:

• Advanced First Aid (AFA) certificate (or higher).
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation certificate at the Health Care Provider level (CPR-HCP) or Basic Life Support (BLS).
• Alberta Class 3 driver's license with an air brake (Q) endorsement (or higher), or provincial equivalent.
• Meet all immunization requirements.

Pre-Employment Requirements
After a Conditional Job Offer is sent out, qualified candidates will be required to:

• Successfully complete a pre-hire medical and fitness assessment which includes the Wellness Fitness Initiative (WFI) treadmill test and must be declared to have "no restrictions" by our medical professionals to begin recruit training.
• Submit a Police Information Check (PIC) or Criminal Record Check including a Vulnerable Sector Search (VSS).
• Submit a 5-year driver's abstract.

Note: 

• Applicants that are internal to The City of Calgary should apply as an internal applicant and ensure a personal email address is the primary method of contact on the account.
• Please submit one application per individual. Please do not apply and withdraw your application multiple times. Updates to your application can be made by emailing fire.recruitment@calgary.ca.
• The City of Calgary does not cover relocation expenses if relocating from out of town.
• Read all instructions/information prior to completing your application. Your ability to follow directions is evaluated at multiple stages of the intake.
• Conduct yourself in a professional manner and familiarize yourself with CFD's core values and conduct yourself in a way that exemplifies Pride, Professionalism, Teamwork, and Respect.
• Honesty and integrity are fundamental values for serving the community as a Calgary firefighter. Any form of dishonesty or failure to disclose information may result in removal from the hiring process.