Fire Fighter Recruitment

This is a guideline and is intended for reference purposes only. All dates and stages are subject to change at the discretion of the town. Only a select number of candidates will proceed through each stage of the recruitment process.

Commencement of recruitment

• Tuesday, August 4, 2026
• Applications will only be accepted online.

Deadline for applications

• Friday, September 4, 2026, at noon

First interviews

• September 16 to October 9, 2026 
• Interviews will be conducted over this period by a selection committee who will interview selected candidates based on qualifications. The Town will also consider such factors as, but is not limited to, work experience, education related to fire fighting and community volunteer service.

Second interviews

• October 19 to November 13, 2026

Additional screening, testing and/or assessments

• November 25 and 26, 2026
• Select candidates will be invited to attend to FPAT, technical skills and behavioural assessments. In the afternoon of November 25, 2026, candidates will be required to complete the Oakville Fire Department administered swim test at a designated Town facility. Invitations for the assessments will also be issued by November 16, 2026. Any additional screening, testing and/or assessments deemed necessary by the Selection Committee will be conducted over the period of November 16 to December 4, 2026. 

Conditional offers of employment

• Week of January 12, 2027
• Candidates selected for employment will be notified the week of January 12, 2027, with a conditional offer of employment.

Confirmed offers of employment

• Once candidates have successfully met all conditions of employment, candidates will receive a confirmed offer of employment.

Employment start date

• Wednesday, April 1, 2027 (tentative)

All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the Town

This is a guideline and is intended for reference purposes only. Only a select number of candidates will proceed through each stage of the recruitment process.

Fire fighter recruitment is now open

The guidelines for applications were as follows:

• Applications must be submitted electronically through the Town’s website. Applications will not be accepted in person, by email, mail or fax. 
• Applications must include a resume and cover letter (please upload as one document). Applicants will also be required to complete an online questionnaire as part of the application process.
• Do not include copies of your certificates with your application. Copies of certificates are not required at time of application; however, they may be requested at any point in the recruitment process.

After applying online, you will receive an email confirmation that your resume and cover letter has been successfully received by the town. 

Remember to check your junk or spam folder if you do not see this confirmation email in your inbox. 

Please do not call the town to confirm that your application has been received.

If you have applied for a Probationary Fire Fighter job opportunity in previous campaigns, you will need to reapply. Each recruitment campaign is unique.

Do not include copies of your certificates with your application

Copies of certificates are not required at time of application; however, they may be requested at any point in the recruitment process.

It is important that your certifications meet the following criteria:

Ontario Fire Administration Inc. (OFAI) Candidate Testing Service Certification

Successful completion of the OFAI Candidate Testing Services Stages as listed below are required to be considered for this recruitment:

Stage one

 Expired valid certificates will be accepted.

• Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test

Stage two

Certifications must be current and valid at time of posting closing date: September 4, 2026.

• Hearing Assessment
• Vision Assessment
• Encapsulated Treadmill Test

Swim test

A certificate demonstrating successful completion of either the Lifesaving Society’s Canadian Swim to Survive Standard or OFAI swim test will be accepted. In addition, applicants must successfully complete an Oakville Fire Department administered swim test to be considered for an offer of employment.

Expired or expiring certifications

All other required certificates, including Standard First Aid, must be current at time of application and throughout the recruitment process. 

If it is determined that you did not have all the requirements at time of application, you will be eliminated from the recruitment process.

Selection

The selection committee will review the applications and select candidates to move to the interview stage of the recruitment process. 

• Only those applicants selected to participate in the recruitment process will be contacted. 
• Selection will be based on required and preferred qualifications as well as the online questionnaire.

Fire fighter recruitment attracts a high volume of applicants and as a result the town is unable to provide individual feedback. 

Generally, the Town of Oakville's new fire fighter recruitment is initiated based on the need and subject to budget approval. Vacant positions are a result of attrition; therefore, it is not always known how many positions will become available from year to year and during a given recruitment period.

Interviews

The interview process consists of a formal interview with the selection committee – first interview. The number of candidates who will participate in the interview process will depend on the number of potential new recruits to be hired.

• Interviews will be conducted by a selection committee who will interview selected candidates based on qualifications.
• The Town will consider such factors as, but not limited to: work experience, education related to fire fighting and community volunteer service.

After the first interviews, a select number of candidates will be invited back for a second formal interview with the selection committee. 

• Additional testing or assessments may be conducted at the discretion of the selection committee.

Recruitment

Candidates recommended for a position of Probationary Fire Fighter will be contacted and presented with a conditional offer of employment. 

Candidates who are interviewed but not selected for hire will also be advised.

Wait lists

If it is determined that a Wait List or Hiring List will be created, those selected will be notified at the end of the recruitment process.

If you have received an offer, congratulations! 

At this stage of the recruitment the following conditions as outlined in your offer letter must be met in the required timeframe. 

Please note, a candidate may have their conditional offer of employment withdrawn if any of the conditions are not successfully met within the required time frames.

Reference checks

With the authorization of the candidate, a representative of the Town of Oakville will complete reference checks with the candidate’s present and past employers regarding their work record. The candidate’s work reference checks will be used to assess the candidate’s suitability to a position of Fire Fighter.

Pre-employment medical

A candidate recommended for employment will also be required to undergo a pre-employment medical examination completed by a medical practitioner.

Immunization

Candidates recommended for employment are required to provide documented proof of vaccinations at the Conditional Job Offer stage. Acceptable forms of documentation are:

1. Yellow immunization cards (copy)
2. Test results indicating immunization
3. Letter from your doctor on letterhead indicating immunization

Please note that the date of immunization is important therefore ensure that dates are legible and included with documentation.

Education and other certificates

At the conditional offer of employment stage candidates will be required to provide copies of all education and other certificates for verification. These include, but are not limited to degrees, diplomas, certifications, certifications and other training.

Police record check with vulnerable sector screening

A satisfactory police record check with vulnerable sector screening, at the candidate’s expense, is required to be submitted. 

Driver’s abstract

Candidates must have a valid and unrestricted Ontario Class DZ driver’s license. Candidates must have a driving record that demonstrates responsible and safe driving behaviour and those with six or more demerit points are ineligible for consideration. A driver’s abstract will be required at the Conditional Offer of Employment stage and must be dated within the last 30 days of that date.

A new employee hired within the Town of Oakville’s Fire Service will be required to serve a 12-month probationary period as per the Oakville Professional Firefighters Collective Agreement.

Performance appraisals are conducted at different intervals throughout the 12-month period. Once the employee has successfully completed the 12-month probationary period they will be confirmed as a fourth Class Firefighter.

Forming part of the probationary period, the new employee will be required to participate and successfully complete the Oakville Fire Service Recruit Program. The Recruit Training Program commences on the first day of employment and is for a period of time established by the department.