Emergency Services Sector Highlights Urgent Staffing Needs at Fort la Bosse Career Expo

While many colleges and employers were represented at the Fort la Bosse Career Expo in Virden, it was the emergency services sector that stood out with the most immediate and pressing needs. NACTV spoke with six employers and educators across the sector to better understand the gaps they face and the training available for prospective recruits.

Paramedic Training in High Demand

Elite Safety Services, a paramedic training provider based in nearby Brandon, was actively recruiting for its upcoming programs—including a Primary Care Paramedic course beginning in August and an Emergency Medical Responder program starting in October.

Exhibiting alongside them, the Prairie Mountain Health Authority’s paramedic service echoed the staffing concerns shared across much of the healthcare system. The physical and emotional demands of the job are causing burnout and attrition among current staff, prompting a search for “the next generation” of paramedics. The service partners with Elite for straight-role paramedic training and with the Manitoba Emergency Services College, also in Brandon, for fire-paramedic roles.

Police Forces Offering Incentives to Attract Recruits

The Brandon City Police, which serve a population of approximately 55,000, are actively recruiting both new trainees and experienced officers. Their entry-level recruit program includes six months of paid training followed by six months of probation. Due to current shortages, they’re also offering significant signing bonuses to attract experienced candidates to the force.

Meanwhile, the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, which provides policing in 10 First Nations communities across Western and Central Manitoba, is working to expand its ranks. Headquartered in Portage la Prairie but set to move to Brandon this October, the service offers paid training and accommodations for recruits. Beyond frontline policing, the organization supports community engagement through school presentations and after-school programs. In addition to officers, they are also looking to grow their administrative team to build long-term capacity.

Behind the Scenes: Communications and Fire Services

The Brandon Public-Safety Communications Centre, which serves as the 911 hub for all of Manitoba outside of Winnipeg, is another critical service facing staffing challenges. High stress and burnout contribute to high turnover, but technological advancements introduced since the early 2000s have improved the centre’s ability to locate and dispatch emergency services efficiently across the province.

Closer to home, the Wallace District Fire Department—serving Virden and Elkhorn—is seeking to boost its firefighter roster. The department currently operates with 20 firefighters but would prefer to increase that number to 30. Like many rural departments, they offer in-house training and certification through the Manitoba Emergency Services College. Their challenges reflect a broader trend across rural Manitoba, where maintaining adequate emergency service staffing remains a persistent struggle.

A Call to Serve

Despite a range of incentives—from paid training to signing bonuses—emergency services organizations across Manitoba continue to face significant staffing gaps. The need for committed individuals to step into these demanding but essential roles remains urgent, as the health and safety of communities depend on it.