volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention strategy

Mechanisms that can be used to unique target this group include: posters on community billboards in supermarkets; providing literature at local yoga studios or fitness studios; presentations to school councils (parent councils); networking and making presentations to community groups; articles and advertisements in the community newsletter.Immigrant PopulationsOne particularly strong motivator for immigrants to volunteer is the opportunity to give backto their community. Immigrant populations also appreciate opportunities to establish socialconnections in their new communities. Volunteer firefighting should be positioned toimmigrants as an excellent and dynamic opportunity that serves both these goals.All recruitment documents need to make clear that good English-language skills are arequirement for volunteer firefighting. The safety issues involved in firefighting make this aparamount concern. As such, an English language skills testing process for all applicantshas been included in the Volunteer Screening Process Guide.Immigrants with less developed English-language skills should not be discouraged fromvolunteering at all. Instead, they should be encouraged to participate in other volunteeropportunities in the fire hall that are just as important, such as administrative positions andchild care. These can be presented as opportunities to improve their English skills, whichcan then lead to firefighting roles.Some targeted mechanisms that can be used to reach immigrant populations include: Local ethnic publications, such as a newsletter; Presentations to local cultural groups; Advertising on local ethnic radio stations (if available); Leaving literature (brochures, posters, etc.) at ethnic grocery stores; Community engagement (especially if the immigrant group has a communityassociation); Encouraging existing volunteers to recruit from friends and coworkers that aremembers of immigrant populations; Encouraging immigrant volunteers to recruit fellow members of their communities.First Nations PopulationsThe majority of the populations in First Nations communities are young people.Communicating to this group is therefore especially important. A main focus of recruitmentmessages should be the benefits firefighting brings to the individual. In addition to personalbenefits, emphasis should be placed on the social aspect of the fire hall, as this is a keymotivator for younger audiences.Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention Strategy & ToolkitPrepared by Volunteer Alberta for the Alberta Fire Chiefs’Association18