With her enthusiasm and excitement, Squamish volunteer firefighter Joanna Johnstone is arguably the perfect spokesperson for the volunteer Squamish Fire Rescue recruitment drive.
Johnstone graduated from the program last year and is now helping recruit and welcome prospective volunteers into the program.
She peppers her sentences about the experience of training and becoming a firefighter with adjectives such as “awesome” and “life-changing.”
Applications for the volunteer firefighter program are being accepted until Oct. 9.
Just before she turned 40, Johnstone was feeling she had never quite found the thing she was meant to do – the passion she could pursue that would fill her deep desire to help others.
“I hadn’t found my extraordinary thing,” she explained. “And then all of a sudden this opportunity showed up.”
The “opportunity” was attending an information session about the Squamish program. At first, she wasn’t sure she had the right stuff to be a firefighter, she said, citing her age and gender.
But she showed up and at each stage of the process – various interviews, as well as written and physical tests – and kept moving forward.
Everything fell into place, she said. Coincidentally, a year prior she had ramped up her workouts at the gym so was ready for the physical test, which she described as the hardest and most rewarding experience of the process.
Once accepted to the program, with about a dozen other recruits, she said the original five months of training was simultaneously intense, rewarding and a total blast.
“A lot of laughter,” she recalled.
The recruits she trained with are now “family,” and she loves each one, she added.
For anyone sitting at home wanting to apply, but hesitating, Johnstone has a message.
“You owe it to yourself and those around you to maximize on every opportunity that lands in your lap,” she said. “For once just say, ‘If I were successful, how would this change my life?’ and if you are not successful, that is fine, but at least you gave it a shot.”
According to the District of Squamish, the fire department currently consists of two chiefs, six full-time firefighters, and approximately 50 paid on-call volunteer fire fighters.
The program is an unparalleled opportunity to learn and develop skills that can be transferred from the department to everyday life, Johnstone said.
Extensive training is provided and there is no cost to the student.
Recruits must commit to the five-month program that runs from January to May. Training takes place two days a week: one weeknight and one weekend day.
Full attendance to all training sessions is required and successful applicants must make a three-year commitment to Squamish Fire Resuce.
For more information or an application go to squamish.ca/recruitment.
