Cochrane, the Stoney Nakoda Nation and the Kananaskis Improvement District are among the recipients of firefighter training grants announced today.
Cochrane has been awarded $6,263, Stoney Nakoda $29,305, and Kananaskis $29,749 to assist with training local firefighting crews.
The funding, provided to municipalities, First Nations and Métis settlements across the province through the grant program, will support a wide range of firefighter training.
In February, the province announced it was doubling the funding for training to $1 million with a one-time increase of $500,000. The funding is being distributed to more than 65 jurisdictions.
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Also in February, the Alberta government announced $85,000 would be provided to the Alberta Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA) to enhance its core competency tool, which municipalities can use to conduct risk assessments, develop fire service response plans and determine training needs.
The new grant builds on the government's previous $200,000 allocation to the AFCA in 2024 to strengthen provincial fire reporting.
“This investment in firefighter training is not only welcome – it’s essential,” AFCA president Randy Schroeder said in a news release. “The Alberta Fire Chiefs Association is pleased to see the government’s commitment to ensuring our firefighters are prepared to meet the growing demands of emergency response. These grants will directly support the safety and readiness of fire services across Alberta’s communities.”
In November 2022, the government announced the reinstatement of the funding and allocated a $500,000 pool for municipalities.