St. Catharines Fire is Hiring Firefighters!
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Fire Fighter (Probationary)
Division Fire Services
Employee Group Fire Fighters Association Local 485
Position Type Permanent Full Time
The City of St. Catharines is currently recruiting for Probationary Firefighters and will be maintaining a twenty-four (24) month eligibility list.
The following qualifications must be met to become a Fire Fighter for The City of St. Catharines:
Grade 12 Diploma.
Valid Class "D" Ontario Driver's Licence with "Z" Endorsement.
OR other Licence Classification that allows driving in Class D including Class A, B, C with Z Air Brake Endorsement.
Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider (continuously valid certification and non-expired no later than date of application).
Standard First Aid Level C (continuously valid certification and non-expired no later than date of application).
NFPA 1001 Standard for Firefighter Professional Qualification Firefighter Level 1 & Firefighter Level 2 Certification.
Additional education or training related to fire or emergency services and/or post-secondary education, trades qualifications are considered assets.
Please refer to the Fire Fighter Recruitment Guide 2025 (available in the Careers section of The City of St. Catharines website at www.stcatharines.ca/jobs) for a full explanation of each phase of the recruitment process including an outline of some of the duties and responsibilities of the position of Fire Fighter for The Corporation of The City of St. Catharines (the “Corporation”).
Please read the information in the Recruitment Guide as well as the following steps carefully as failure to follow directions or meet minimum qualifications at any stage of the recruitment and selection process may result in your application being disqualified. Any costs associated with The City of St. Catharines Fire Fighter Screening Test and application process will be incurred by the applicant.
ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FROM JANUARY 20, 2025, TO FEBRUARY 3, 2025.
Applicants who have successfully completed Phase 1 (Fire Services of Ontario screening) of this process are required to apply online by visiting The City of St. Catharines website at www.stcatharines.ca and clicking on ‘Careers’ at the top of the home page The online application will guide the applicant through a list of questions related to their qualifications and experience, and will require applicants to include the contact information for three (3) supervisory work references. At the time of applying, applicants will be required to attach a resume to the online application. The deadline for applications is FEBRUARY 3, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
We thank all applicants for their interest however only those advancing through the recruitment process will be contacted. Only those applicants being considered for participation in the next phase of the recruitment process will be contacted by the Human Resources Division and that contact will be made through email.
Personal information is collected under the authority of The Municipal Act and will be used to determine suitability for this position.
The City of St. Catharines is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes and work environments. We will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. Please advise the Human Resources Division to ensure your accessibility needs are accommodated throughout this process.
Process
Phase 1: Screening Test
All applicants will be required to attend Firefighter Services of Ontario (FSO) to have their qualifications verified and to participate in the FSO Screening. Applicants can attend any date provided they have their screening completed by Feb. 2, 2025.
The FSO Screening Test will include all of the following components:
Clinical Assessment
CPS Aptitude Examination
Medical Examination
Tread Water Test
Acrophobia Test
Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)
Emotional Stability and Resiliency Assessment (ESR)
You must register for one of the dates scheduled for this Recruitment Process by visiting https://register.fireontario.com/. The deadline to register is 11:59 p.m. EST on Dec. 31, 2024. All screening must be completed by the last testing date: Feb. 2, 2025.
Already completed FSO testing?
Candidates who successfully completed the core four tests in one day (Clinical, CPAT, Tread Water and Aptitude), on or after Feb. 2, 2024, you would be required to successfully complete:
Clinical Assessment (if expired, valid for six months)
Medical, Acrophobia, and/or Emotional Stability and Resiliency Assessment (if expired, valid for one year)
Submit your application package to FSO by mail or in-person
Please contact info@fireontario.com to confirm your eligibility.
Please bring your valid Standard First Aid and Basic Life Support certificates with you to your appointment. You will also be required to present your valid DZ driver’s licence (OR other Licence Classification that allows driving in Class D including Class A, B, C with Z Air Brake Endorsement), original Grade 12 diploma and NFPA 1001 Standard for Firefighter Professional Qualification Firefighter Level 1 and Firefighter Level 2 Certification for verification. There is a $40 application processing fee required, payable to Firefighter Services of Ontario.
FSO assessment fees, application fees and transportation costs will be the responsibility of the applicant.
Applicants should visit http://fireontario.com for more information and the fee schedule.
Phase 2: Application Process
Online applications will be accepted from Jan. 20, 2025, to Feb. 3, 2025.
Applicants who have successfully completed Phase One of this process are required to apply online by visiting the City of St. Catharines careers website. A link to the job posting will be available on Jan. 20, 2025.
The online application will guide the applicant through a list of questions related to their qualifications and experience. At the time of applying, applicants will be required to attach a resume to the online application. As part of the application, you will be required to provide references.
Phase 3: Interview Process
Interviews are expected to commence in mid to late Feb. 2025. Only applicants who are being considered will be contacted by the Human Resources Division for interviews. All contact with applicants will be made through e-mail. Additional interviews and or testing may be requested at any stage of the process.
Phase 4: Pre Employment Conditions
Offers of employment will be conditional upon receipt of a current satisfactory driver’s abstract, satisfactory criminal record check (including vulnerable sector screening), and verification of employment references. Qualified applicants will also be required to satisfy a Pre-Employment Medical Examination arranged by The Corporation. Medical examination fees will be incurred by The City of St. Catharines, however, transportation will be the responsibility of the applicant.
Phase 5: Offer of Employment
Offers of employment will be made to successful applicants to fill current vacancies once pre-employment conditions and medical examinations are completed to the satisfaction of The Corporation.
Eligibility List
Successful applicants not offered employment will be contacted and offered the opportunity to be placed on an Eligibility List which will remain valid for a period of 24 months. Should future vacancies arise, candidates on the Eligibility List will be contacted and may be required to participate in additional interviews / testing. Offers of employment will be made to successful applicant(s) from the Eligibility List, once any / all interviews, pre-employment conditions and medical examinations are completed to the satisfaction of The Corporation.