Donal V.

Thirty-two year old Donal has been aspiring to become a professional firefighter since he was young. A member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation in Fort Chipewyan, he joined the Fort Chipewyan Volunteer Fire Department at the age of 16. By the time he was 25, Donal was the captain of the fire department.

In a step that was key to him achieving his goals, Donal enrolled in the Professional Firefighting Program at Emergency Services Academy, a course that was made possible by the Mikisew Cree First Nation Indigenous Skills and Employment and Training Department funding. It was an experience that he discovered provided something different every day.

“The first three weeks of the program was intensive classroom study of firefighting fundamentals and theory. After those three weeks, we applied what we had learned in a practical setting, with back-to-back days of fire drills and practicing key skills,” he shares. “During one of these days, we trained in firefighter self-rescue by breaching through walls and quickly sliding down rescue ladders. We spent a week in Vermillion in their burn tower, where we had to extinguish fires and perform searches for mock victims in dark and smoky corridors. The heat and smoke make these drills feel very real, and its excellent preparation for the real world.”

At his graduation, Donal was presented with two leadership awards. “One was a brand new award and included a $2,000 scholarship for my future studies,” he says. “I was presented with the awards by the Chief of Vancouver Fire, Darrell Reid, and it was truly an incredible moment in my life so far. I felt very humbled and honoured to have my skills recognized by the faculty and students who voted for me, and it enhanced my self-confidence to seek a full-time firefighting position in a major Canadian city.”

In 2021, Donal will be seeking full-time employment as a professional firefighter. He has been continuing his education in Emergency Services online, and is planning to complete his Emergency Medical Responder training before the end of the year.

When asked what he would tell someone who is thinking about taking the program, here’s what he says: “I would encourage anyone who is considering this field to pursue it without hesitation. It is a deeply rewarding career path and there are always opportunities for personal growth and advancement. It is essential to be physically and mentally fit to succeed in this program, which encourages you to lead a healthy lifestyle and be very disciplined with yourself.”

Service Canada-Indigenous Skill Employment and Training (ISET) supported this client though Mikisew Cree First Nation ISETS Department.