Calgary City Councillors Participate in Firefighter Training Ahead of Budget Deliberations
Nine Calgary city councillors participated in 'Fire Ops 101,' a immersive training exercise hosted by the Calgary Firefighters Association at the Fire Training Academy. Dressed in full gear, the lawmakers engaged in realistic scenarios including structure fire extinguishment, water rescue, emergency medical response, and vehicle extrication. The event aimed to provide elected officials with a firsthand understanding of the physical and mental demands faced by firefighters daily. Jamie Blayney, president of the union, emphasized that experiencing these challenges directly fosters more meaningful conversations than verbal descriptions alone. The timing is significant, occurring six months before the council deliberates on the city’s four-year budget for 2027-2030. Councillor DJ Kelly noted that this hands-on experience would help ensure adequate resource allocation for fire services. With Calgary’s population approaching two million, the union highlighted concerns that current funding has not kept pace with growth, making the upcoming budget cycle critical for addressing infrastructure gaps and ensuring public safety readiness.
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Calgary City Councillors Participate in Firefighter Training Ahead of Budget Deliberations
Nine Calgary city councillors participated in 'Fire Ops 101,' a immersive training exercise hosted by the Calgary Firefighters Association at the Fire Training Academy. Dressed in full gear, the lawmakers engaged in realistic scenarios including structure fire extinguishment, water rescue, emergency medical response, and vehicle extrication. The event aimed to provide elected officials with a firsthand understanding of the physical and mental demands faced by firefighters daily. Jamie Blayney, president of the union, emphasized that experiencing these challenges directly fosters more meaningful conversations than verbal descriptions alone. The timing is significant, occurring six months before the council deliberates on the city’s four-year budget for 2027-2030. Councillor DJ Kelly noted that this hands-on experience would help ensure adequate resource allocation for fire services. With Calgary’s population approaching two million, the union highlighted concerns that current funding has not kept pace with growth, making the upcoming budget cycle critical for addressing infrastructure gaps and ensuring public safety readiness.
Calgary Herald