Ontario Investing Over $3.2 Million to Train Firefighters in Clarington 

Ontario Investing Over $3.2 Million to Train Firefighters in Clarington

Investment through the Skills Development Fund will help build firefighter training facility in Bowmanville

NEWS – September 3, 2024

Clarington — The Ontario government is investing $3,216,384 through the Skills Development Capital Stream to support the construction of a new fire training complex to help meet the community’s emergency response needs and provides effective training for future leaders in the fire department. This facility will be the first of its kind in Durham Region, and is part of the province’s more than $10 million investment to build five new state-of-the-art training facilities across the province and train thousands of firefighters for in-demand careers in fire and rescue services.

“Investments in training our firefighters are investments in the safety and resilience of our communities,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “With this new fire training facility in Bowmanville, our government is proud to partner with our municipal and fire service partners to increase firefighting training capacity, and open doors for more people who want to protect our communities.”

Firefighters and other emergency responders in Clarington and across Durham Region will have new opportunities to develop life-saving skills at the facility. This facility will feature both a drill tower and a live fire training tower, a training compound, large classroom space and a driver training track. It will provide access to leading-edge training for senior fire officials in incident command and emergency management strategies, as well as leadership training for future Fire Chiefs and Deputy Fire Chiefs, fire training certification for volunteer and career firefighters. 

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government remains committed to supporting Durham’s great first responders with state-of-the-art facilities and resources to keep our community safe for generations to come,” said Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham. 

“I am grateful to the Ontario Government for this much-needed funding for the future Clarington fire training facility. This announcement will help us better train Clarington’s firefighters and other first responders locally. This facility will be the first of its kind in the region, and its training opportunities will enhance the safety of communities throughout Durham,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster.

“Investing in state-of-the-art fire training facilities like the one in Clarington is a crucial step towards ensuring that our firefighters are prepared to face the ever-evolving challenges of emergency response,” said Greg Horton, President of Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association. “This new complex will not only provide essential training for current firefighters but will also play a key role in developing the next generation of fire service leaders. We applaud the Ontario government’s commitment to enhancing the safety and resilience of our communities through these strategic investments.”

Since its launch in 2021, Ontario is investing up to $1.4 billion through the Skills Development Fund Training and Capital streams to grow Ontario’s workforce for in-demand careers in the skilled trades, including emergency response services. 

Quick Facts

  • Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s SDF Training Stream has helped almost 600,000 workers train for in-demand sectors, including:
    • Over 66,000 construction workers
    • Over 92,000 manufacturing workers
    • Over 36,000 PSWs and health-care workers
  • SDF Training Stream Round 5 applications opened July 29, 2024, and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until October 4, 2024. Organizations including non-profits, Indigenous Skills and Employment Training agreement holders, unions, industry and employer associations, municipalities and other organizations are eligible to submit project proposals and apply for funding. Interested organizations can apply through Transfer Payment Ontario and send inquiries to skillsdevelopmentfund@ontario.ca.
  • People interested in participating in the programs announced today are encouraged to contact the lead organizations of the projects directly.
  • The Skills Development Fund Training Stream is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.  

Additional Resources