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Municipal Affairs
October 13, 2009

Fire and Emergency Services - Newfoundland and Labrador
to Host Fall Training School in Stephenville

The Provincial Government, through Fire and Emergency Services - Newfoundland and Labrador (FES-NL), will partner with the Town of Stephenville and the Marine Institute�s Safety and Emergency Response Training (SERT) Centre to host the 2009 fall Fire and Emergency Services Training School from October 24 through November 1, in Stephenville.

"Training is an essential part of the fire protection and emergency services of our province," said the Honourable Dianne Whalen, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister Responsible for Fire and Emergency Services - Newfoundland and Labrador. "Fire and Emergency Services will offer courses that are of particular interest to local service districts, municipal councillors, and staff and fire department members."

The Provincial Government has also provided a $30,000 targeted training grant to the Municipal Training Development Corporation (MTDC) to assist municipalities with the cost of sending firefighters to the upcoming Fire and Emergency Services training school. The targeted funding provides a 50% cost-shared reimbursement of eligible actual costs within the MTDC program guidelines.

"As stated in a recent report released by the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Fire Services regarding recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters, one of the biggest barriers for rural fire departments attending our training schools is funding," said Minister Whalen. "We feel the $30,000 training grant will encourage more municipalities and their fire departments to take advantage of these very worthwhile training opportunities and bring the skills back to their communities for the safety of their residents."

The training school will run for nine days with a wide variety of courses ranging from three-hour seminars to seven-day courses on various topics. Applicants may attend as many courses as they wish during the tenure of the training school.

"Fire and Emergency Services - Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to providing high quality training that meets the needs of the ever-changing fire and emergency management services of Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Whalen. "The last training school in Clarenville during the spring of 2009 was an enormous success. I encourage all municipalities, local service districts and fire departments to consider taking advantage of this opportunity."

The 2009 FES-NL training schedules, an application and a comprehensive course listing, can be found at: www.gov.nl.ca/ma/fes/pdf/expanded_schedule_fall_2009.pdf, or can be obtained by calling 709-729-1608.

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Media contact:

Bradley Power
Public Relations Specialist
Fire and Emergency Services-Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-0857, 697-5216
BradleyPower@gov.nl.ca

2009 10 13                                                     10:35 a.m.
 


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