Who are we looking for

Who are we looking for? Well, we are looking for awesome people.

Our members come from a wide-variety of backgrounds and experiences and work to be capable, qualified and confident in responding to a wide-variety of hazards in Alberta and across Canada. We are looking for members who bring passion and experience in their specialty combined with a willingness to learn.

Canada Task Force 2 membership is a volunteer position. Members volunteer their time for meetings, training, and exercises but deployments are compensated through an agreement with your employer. CAN-TF2 covers all expenses related to travel, training and exercises and provides members with all of the uniforms, equipment and tools required for their position on the team.

Members must:  

• Be a strong team-player

• Be willing to learn and teach

• Be passionate about serving their community

• Live within 4 hours of Calgary

• Be willing to contribute a minimum of 15 hours per quarter (60 hours per year)

• Pass a Criminal Record Check

• Have employer and family support for participation in the team

Specialties we will be accepting applications for

Canada Task Force 2 is made up of 7 specialties and 37 positions on the team. You will be asked to apply for a specific specialty and then you will select a primary and secondary position on the team to work towards qualification in. This will be discussed in more detail at the information session.

EOC Support Team Member

Members focusing on EOC support are members who have experience and comfort working in an Emergency Operations Centre or Emergency Coordination Centre. These members will have experience in Emergency Management principles and have experience working within Municipal or Provincial government environments with real-world experience.

Experience Examples: Emergency managers, municipal, provincial or federal government leadership positions, leadership roles in emergency services, communications specialists etc.

Command Team Member

Command positions are members who are comfortable and experienced working in an Incident Command Post or Tactical Operations Centre environment. These members often come with operations experience and have a robust knowledge of the Incident Command System and its application in multi-agency events.

Experience Examples: Supervisory roles in emergency services, previous incident, or exercise experience.

Logistics Team Member

The logistics functions of the team include the management of equipment, facilities, and vehicles while deployed on an incident. The logistics team is responsible for overseeing the establishment of a Base of Operations (BoO) that can include tent-based structures and all of the related power generation, heating, sanitation, food service, and equipment distribution related to self-sustained operations. Logistics functions can also be responsible for supporting the incident objectives through the fulfillment of resource requests through a supply unit.

Experience Examples: Public works, logistics, heavy-duty or small engine mechanic

Rescue Team Member

Rescue members make up the specialized rescue capability within the Urban Search and Rescue portfolio. Rescue members are trained in structural collapse rescue, rope rescue, confined space rescue among others and are responsible for executing tactical objectives that can include gaining access to and extricating trapped individuals.

Experience Examples: Primarily Fire and Rescue experience but members can also come from trades, construction experience etc.

Medical Team Member

Medical members are responsible for triage and treatment of individuals affected by and incident as well as those involved in the response. Medical members will be tasked with the execution of field-based medical care in austere conditions and potentially in a field clinic supporting deployment operations.

Experience Examples: Advanced Care Paramedics, Emergency Physicians, Registered Nurses

Search Team Member

Search team members are responsible for the field-based collection of information that drives incident objectives. This ranges from worksite identification, wide area search, as well as the detection and location of individuals within a collapsed structure. Search team members utilize a variety of tools and technology-based solutions including cameras, GPS, seismic and acoustic detection, UAV’s, among others in order to achieve their objectives. Search includes the live-find canine search functions.

Experience Examples: Police, Fire, Search and Rescue

Specialty Team Member

Included on the team are various specialties that are crucial elements to support Canada Task Force 2 operations. These positions can include Structural Engineers, Veterinarians, Psychologists, and many others. 

Minimum Member Qualifications

All Canada Task Force 2 members are required to maintain certification in the following courses to be an operational or deployable member of the team. Many of these qualifications are a pre-requisite for initially joining the team. This information is provided to give an understanding of basic member qualifications. Pre-requisite information will be communicated in more detail at the information session.

ICS 100

Canada Task Force 2 uses the Incident Command System (ICS) for all training and deployments so it is important for all members to have a basic understanding and knowledge of the structure, documentation, and implementation of the ICS organization.

ICS 200

Incident Command System 200 is the basic level of ICS providing a broad overview of the concepts for all responders working on an incident.

ICS 200 is available through a two-day classroom session or a facilitated online delivery. At this time on-line, self-directed ICS 200 will not be accepted.

Basic Emergency Management

The Basic Emergency Management (BEM) course is designed to provide background on emergency management principles, introduce key partners in emergency management and explain the implications of emergency management legislation. This course is available from the Alberta Emergency Management Agency and access will be provided upon acceptance onto the team.

Structural Collapse Awareness

At our core, CAN-TF2 maintains competency as a Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team. All members are expected to understand basic structural collapse principles through this online training program. Members with a higher level of Structural Collapse training are still expected to complete this module. This online training course is available through the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Confined Space 1006 - Awareness

Many of the environments that CAN-TF2 will operate or train in have to potential to include Restricted or Confined space. The confined space awareness course will allow members with the knowledge to help identify restricted or confined space and be aware of the potential hazards that exist. This course is provided and access will be provided upon acceptance onto the team.

Rope Rescue 1006 – Awareness

All members of Canada Task Force 2 should have a basic understanding of rope systems, knots, and being comfortable being lowered or raised on a rope. This course will be administered virtually upon acceptance onto the team with the practical components being covered as part of the Bootcamp training objectives.

The Working Mind

The safety of our members is paramount and that includes protecting our members from not only physical injuries but psychological injuries as well. The Working Mind is an in-person training program that promotes mental health and helps to reduce the stigma around mental illness in the workplace. The Employee training session (4 hours) is a requirement for all members which will be provided to new members.

Standard First Aid or Higher

Canada Task Force 2 members must meet or exceed as well as maintain basic competencies and certification in first aid or medical care.

Standard First Aid (SFA) courses and recertification will be made available periodically through Canada Task Force 2.

Due to the nature of response for CAN-TF2 in multiple-jurisdictions, a valid first aid certificate (or documentation outlined below) must be kept on file. Members that work for an agency that provides first aid equivalent training without a certification must also attend training that results in a recognized certificate.

Other items that could qualify in place of SFA include:

•             CARNA practice permit

•             ACP, PCP or EMR registration with the Alberta College of Paramedics

•             Physician practice permit

It is the member’s responsibility to maintain certification and ensure that a valid certification or permit is on file.

Respirator Fit Testing

All members are required to complete respirator fit tests every two years. Deployments are likely to occur to jurisdictions with low air quality and having a proper fitting respirator mask is essential for the health of our members.

Members must complete respirator fit tests for the following masks:

•             3M N95

•             3M Half Mask Respirator

•             3M Full Face Respirator (Position dependent)

•             MSA Full Face SCBA Mask (Position dependent)

Members will have to be clean-shaven for their scheduled test and be prepared to be clean-shaven on a deployment or for training events where a respirator will be required. This is a requirement for membership on the team.

Fitness Testing

As part of the Task Force team, our members are expected to maintain a minimum level of physical fitness, agility, and strength.  You may be required to carry and load equipment, work and provide treatment in awkward, cramped, and uncomfortable areas, or operate tools and machinery in confined spaces.

The minimum level of fitness required depends on the position that the team member holds. Members will recertify their fitness test every two years. A full description of the fitness test is will be provided through the information session.

Bootcamp

All members, as part of the onboarding process, will attend the CANTF2 bootcamp. This three-day exercise will introduce members to many of the parts of the team including BoO operations, camp logistics, team structure, accountability etc. This exercise will also allow for team-based exercises, scenario-based training, and an introduction to a CAN-TF2 camp-based deployment.

Through Bootcamp, members will complete the hands-on requirements for the following courses:

•             Rope Rescue 1006 – Awareness

•             Structural Collapse 1006 - Awareness

2022 PROPOSED RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

This proposed schedule may be amended.

Information Session - July 18, 2022 1900 - 2100

This virtual information session will provide information on the team, the expectations of our members and who we are looking for. This session will be recorded and made available for those that are unable to attend

Application Window - August 15 – 31. 2022

The application window is the period of time where we will be accepting applications

Interviews - September 1-14, 2022

Candidates moving to the interview phase will be contacted to schedule an interview during the first two weeks of September. The format and locations of the interviews will be determined closer to this time.

Selections - September 16, 2022

Candidates who are successful in moving on from the interview phase will be notified on Friday September 16, 2022

Bootcamp - October 20, 21, 22, 2022

All members are expected to attend the three-day new member bootcamp which will take place October 20-22 in Calgary.