MELVILLE – A group of newly trained firefighters is preparing to enter Saskatchewan's emergency services sector, with many members of Suncrest College's latest graduating class already lined up for jobs or further education.
Nineteen students crossed the stage July 31 during a graduation ceremony at the Saskatchewan Emergency Response Institute (SERI) in Melville following completion of the college's Professional Firefighter Qualification program.
Dignitaries attending the event included Community Safety Minister Michael Weger, Trade and Export Development Minister and Melville-Saltcoats MLA Warren Kaeding, Yorkton-Melville MP Cathay Wagantall, Melville Mayor Joe Kirwin and Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency Fire Marshal Wayne Rodger.
The firefighter training program is delivered through a partnership between Suncrest College and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency and is designed to prepare students for the realities of emergency response work.
Over the course of five months, students are immersed in hands-on training that simulates the challenges faced by firefighters and emergency personnel. Training exercises include structural firefighting, rescue operations, hazardous materials response and other scenarios aimed at building the skills required in high-pressure situations.
Suncrest College is currently the province's only post-secondary institution offering the Professional Firefighter Qualification credential.
For many graduates, the transition from classroom to career will happen quickly.
Ten members of the graduating class have accepted positions with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency and will be involved in wildfire suppression efforts in northern parts of the province. Most of the remaining graduates will continue their studies this fall in primary care paramedic programs, including several who will stay at Suncrest College.
According to Kami DePapr, the college's vice-president of partnerships and innovation, the outcomes reflect both the quality of the training and the growing need for emergency response professionals.
"Our graduates are moving directly into roles where they will make a difference in communities across Saskatchewan," DePapr said. "Others are continuing their education and building on the skills they've developed through the program."
The demand for trained firefighters has also prompted the college to increase capacity in the coming years.
Beginning in 2027, Suncrest College plans to offer two intakes of the firefighter program each year. A second cohort will be added later in the summer in addition to the program's existing spring intake.
Applications are already being accepted for the March 2027 intake, with college officials noting strong interest from prospective students.
The expansion is intended to create more opportunities for people pursuing careers in firefighting as demand for trained emergency responders continues across Saskatchewan and beyond.
