Collingwood's fire department helped this student make career plans

Collingwood Fire Department has spent the last three weeks putting a Grade 11 student through firefighter boot camp.

And she can’t get enough.

Hanne Poulsen attends school in Oakville at St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School, but she’s originally from Collingwood and jumped at the chance to come back for a three-week co-op placement with the fire department.

In fact, the experience has inspired her to pursue a career in firefighting and come back to Collingwood Fire Department for a job.

“I love Collingwood,” said Poulsen. “Firefighting was just a thought when I first started, but being here has made it a more realistic thing to do.”

Deputy Chief Dan Thurman said the Collingwood Fire Department has been doing the three-week co-op program since last year. He said it’s a much better experience than the traditional semester-long co-op program as they can offer more intensity and experience this way.

The program is based off a recruit class boot camp, so the high school student can go through anything a typical recruitment class would, including learning the ins-and-outs of bunker gear, pump operations, fire hose operation, fire dynamics, ladders, ropes, knots, truck checks, self-rescue techniques, auto-extrication, and in-water rescue.

Thurman said he’s also trying to get more women into the program to let them know firefighting is an inclusive and diverse career option.

The fire department takes about four students per year. Poulsen is the second female student in the program, and a third is scheduled to enroll in September.

She said she hasn’t felt any different as a woman in a more male-dominant field, but she has noticed the strong physical demand of the job.

“Whether you’re a guy or a girl, there’s a physical fitness part you have to do,” said Poulsen. “If it means I have to work a little harder, then that’s what I’ll have to do.”

She’s ready for the challenge, and she’ll draw on her natural athletic abilities to help her get there.

“They say it’s a good job for athletes, because teamwork is a big part of it,” said Poulsen.

Today is her last day at the fire department for her co-op placement, and she said the program has been a really great experience. She was surprised and delighted by the number of things she was able to do alongside all three of Collingwood’s platoons.

Her favourite part was going on calls with the team.

“It’s such a rush when you hear the alarm and run to gear-up,” she said. “It’s an intense experience but I love it so much.”

She said her time at the fire department helped improve her problem solving skills, something she struggled with in school.

She’s grateful for not only the experience, but the firefighters who took her through the training for the last three weeks.

“It’s not just the opportunity, it’s their attitude,” said Poulsen. “They get excited when I’m excited.”

Her plans for post-secondary include a concurrent education program with a major in kinesiology and music, and a firefighting program. She thinks she might get into public education for a fire department, as long as she can still respond to calls.