Firefighting grad emerges from pandemic focused on dream job

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After graduating with a degree in geology during the peak of the pandemic in 2020, Mackenzie Millward was at a crossroads.

There were no jobs available in related fields and she found herself with time on her hands.

“It really gave me time to think of what I really wanted to do and what would make me happy day-to-day in a career. And I realized that helping people was a big part of what made me happy.”

Fire program key to career goal for Vancouver Island grad

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Since Danielle Nellestyn was 12 years old, when she started bussing tables at a café, she’s always set big goals for herself.

In her teens, to save up enough money to travel the world, she held several part-time jobs, including flexible ones like lifeguarding, so she could quickly return to work whenever she returned from her travel adventures. By her mid-twenties, Danielle had backpacked to nearly 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Firefighter secures dream job after JIBC program

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Ashley Long has always wanted to be a firefighter, to be able to help someone on what could be one of the worst days of their lives.

But straight out of high school, Ashley thought she would be too young to be considered seriously for a firefighter job. So, in the meantime she decided to pursue her other passion ­– cooking. She completed the Culinary Arts program at The Art Institute of Vancouver and went on to earn her Red Seal in the field.

Part-time firefighter program at JIBC aids pursuit of dream career

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Chantal MacLeod has always been interested in pursuing a career in firefighting but found it difficult to take time off work to do so.

For several years, Chantal has worked full time as a lifeguard and swim instructor at a local community centre. The job has given her the opportunity to use her first aid skills and to work in an environment that fosters teamwork.