Fleming College

 

Peterborough ON – (Sept. 7, 2017) – A team from Fleming College is taking on the “toughest two minutes in sport” this weekend, competing in the Canadian National FireFit Championships in Ottawa.

Fleming’s Fire Combat Team consists of 10 male and female Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training students along with faculty coach Shawna Coulter. Another four Fleming alumni are competing with their respective fire departments.

“Participation in this sport not only fosters a solid commitment to a very high level of firefighter fitness but also encourages our team members to approach any challenge with a newfound belief in their own capabilities,” says Coulter.  “Training and competing at this level requires as much mental strength as it does physical, directly influencing career readiness and success rates of our past members in securing and excelling in firefighter careers.”

The Fleming team is hoping to build on a winning record – in 2016, they won a gold medal in the relay race as well as a silver in the co-ed two-person relay, and the team had the second fastest rookie competitor in all of Canada.

FireFit has been dubbed “the toughest two minutes in sport” and puts firefighting skills to the ultimate test. Firefighters and pre-service firefighter students compete against the fastest, strongest and most physically fit of Canadian and international fire departments as they push past physical limits by demonstrating firefighting skills against the clock.

The FireFit Championships is a competition based on firefighting tasks commonly performed in emergency situations. A course comprised of six gruelling physical tasks tests the strength, endurance and overall fitness levels of firefighters. Competition categories are available for men and women, offering both individual and team relay competitions.

“The team is a significant time and training level commitment for our students and for the volunteer coaches. The benefits, however, are immeasurable. The physical skills and capabilities learned are directly transferable to the fire-ground. The newfound confidence that is gained in approaching the most difficult challenge, pushing past perceived personal limits… well that is something that is transferable to a far greater realm of life obstacles they may face,” says Coulter.

“The sense of camaraderie and support they receive from each other and an extensive extended FireFit family of competitors from across Canada, further encourages them to continuously set new goals and strive to reach them no matter the setback.”

Fleming College’s Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training Program
Fleming’s Pre-service Firefighter program offers two intakes each year, in September and January. Students train at the Eastern Ontario Emergency Training Academy, a real-world, live fire environment that features a burn tower, roof and door props, search and rescue maze, confined space prop, and high intensity propane training tools. Students can further gain valuable work experience while in the program by taking advantage of a unique opportunity to work as a volunteer firefighter for the North Kawartha Emergency Services or the Otonabee-South Monaghan Fire Service. No other college program in Ontario offers this opportunity to students. Faculty members are well-connected professionals from a variety of fire services who bring both their firefighting expertise and life experience to the program.

About Fleming College
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 6,000 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 74,000 alumni.

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Members of the media, for more information please contact:

Shawna Coulter
Faculty Member and Fleming Fire Combat Team Coach
905.376.9279
(Shawna is currently in Ottawa but is available to take calls.)

 

Laura Copeland
Communications Officer
laura.copeland@flemingcollege.ca
705.749.5530 x 1370