Important dates
- Last day of extension/course change requests: April 1, 2025
- Last day for courses to be delivered: May 31, 2025
- Final reporting documents and any unspent funds due: June 30, 2025
Overview
The Fire Services Training Program (FSTP) Grant provides funding – of up to approximately $10,000 (per application) – to assist communities in ensuring their local fire services are adequately trained to respond safely and effectively to identified community risks.
Key outcomes of the program include:
- preserving public safety in Alberta
- ensuring local authorities are effectively managing community risks
- ensuring fire fighters are able to receive training in alignment with best practices
For more information, read the Fire Services Training Program Grant Guidelines 2024 document.
Funding
Funding is allocated to help fund the approved training. Not all applicants will receive funding, and not all recipients will receive the entire amount of their funding requests. The recipient must agree to contribute any outstanding funds for the training.
Funding is made as a lump-sum payment to the hosting municipality or First Nation.
Eligible entities
- Alberta municipalities, including municipal corporations and regional services commissions
- Metis Settlements in Alberta
- First Nations communities in Alberta
- partnerships of the above
- partnerships with a municipality as the primary applicant
Ineligible entities
- individuals
- for-profit business/corporations
- applicants with overdue FSTP Grant requirements from a previous year
Eligible costs
Eligible costs include, but are not limited to:
- fire services course fees
- cost of facility rental for the purposes of offering training
- training materials
- instructor expenses
- reasonable costs for student travel and meals
- in-house instructor fees (training is not intended to subsidize an employee’s full-time salary, but may be paid to volunteers as contractors)
Ineligible costs
- capital or equipment purchases, repairs, upgrading or maintenance
- wages, stipends, or honoraria for students (costs for student travel and meals, based on the Government of Alberta’s travel, meal and hospitality expenses policy, are eligible)
- training delivered outside Alberta
- Incident Command System (ICS) courses
- training completed prior to receiving Minister approval
- rental of owned classrooms and equipment
How applications were evaluated
Applications were evaluated based on the following criteria:
- alignment with strategic focus of the training:
- training aligns with the specific needs of the community and its identified fire risks or its community risk assessment
- quality of the training:
- training is based on industry best practices and/or curriculum
- instructors and evaluators are qualified and experienced
- overall completeness of the application:
- training application information is legible and provides information necessary to fully assess eligibility
Successful applicants
Municipality / First Nation / Metis Settlement | Amount Received |
---|---|
Athabasca County | $10,595 |
Beaver Emergency Services Commission | $4,300 |
Big Lakes County | $10,065 |
Camrose County | $8,741 |
Central Peace Fire & Rescue Commission | $4,683 |
City of Airdrie | $7,056 |
City of Camrose | $9,355 |
City of Chestermere | $6,092 |
City of Lethbridge | $9,186 |
City of Medicine Hat | $10,065 |
City of Spruce Grove | $9,355 |
County of Minburn No. 27 | $7,236 |
County of Newell | $9,976 |
County of Stettler No. 6 | $8,649 |
County of Two Hills | $10,595 |
Cypress County | $8,119 |
East Prairie Metis Settlement | $8,656 |
Enoch Cree Nation | $5,911 |
Lac La Biche County | $10,065 |
Lac Ste. Anne County | $7,640 |
Lamont County | $8,571 |
Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 | $10,595 |
Municipal District of Taber | $9,266 |
Municipal District of Willow Creek No. 26 | $10,595 |
Municipality of Jasper | $9,355 |
Northern Sunrise County | $8,646 |
Red Deer County | $9,266 |
Rocky View County | $10,595 |
Starland County | $5,000 |
Strathcona County | $6,979 |
Sturgeon County | $8,300 |
Town of Banff | $4,500 |
Town of Bow Island | $7,943 |
Town of Carstairs | $9,719 |
Town of Coaldale | $8,737 |
Town of Coalhurst | $9,451 |
Town of Crossfield | $9,447 |
Town of Edson | $8,741 |
Town of Gibbons | $9,978 |
Town of Hanna | $7,946 |
Town of High Prairie | $7,943 |
Town of Nobleford | $8,250 |
Town of Okotoks | $8,741 |
Town of Olds | $10,065 |
Town of Penhold | $8,741 |
Town of Picture Butte | $10,595 |
Town of Slave Lake | $8,656 |
Town of St. Paul | $10,595 |
Town of Taber | $7,946 |
Town of Vegreville | $7,946 |
Town of Vermilion | $6,629 |
Town of Wainwright | $8,476 |
Town of Whitecourt | $10,595 |
Village of Boyle | $7,766 |
Village of Linden | $10,065 |
Village of Stirling | $10,595 |
Vulcan County | $7,236 |
Woodlands County | $9,190 |
TOTALS | $500,000 |
Successful applicants are required to sign the Conditional Grant Agreement (CGA) to receive funds. Training cannot start until after the Minister (or their delegated representative) signs the CGA.
The terms of the agreement include:
- the use of the grant for approved purposes only
- eligibility
- reporting and accountability requirements
- the Minister’s right to audit any project
- the Minister’s right to require a refund of any grant funds not used in accordance with the agreement
The Minister’s decisions regarding grant funding are final.
First Nations applicants
First Nations must submit a Band Council Resolution along with the signed CGA.
Reporting requirements
A reporting document is provided to successful applicants. Funding recipients must submit documentation to demonstrate that:
- the total grant received was used in accordance with the CGA
- receipts and invoices were provided and paid
- the training provided matches the information provided in the application
- the municipality or First Nation did not use any portion of the grant to carry out training before the original CGA was signed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs (or their designated representative)
- course(s) were completed by May 31, 2025 or by the completion date as stated in an amended CGA
Extensions and course change requests
Extension or course change requests must be received prior to April 1, 2025.
Any material changes to the training plan, schedule or budget approved under this grant will require notification to, and approval by, Alberta Municipal Affairs.
Contact
If you have any questions about the program or these guidelines, contact the grants coordinator:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 1-866-421-6929
Email: [email protected]