30 Years of WCFF

This year, Western Canada Fire & First Aid proudly celebrates 30 years in business.

Western Canada Fire & First Aid | 1996–2026

This story begins with a young man’s commitment to keeping his community safe, growing into a trusted workforce safety training company serving tens of thousands of people across Canada. As we mark this milestone, we are reflecting on where it started, how far it’s come, and the journey along the way.

Where It All Began

Before Western Canada Fire & First Aid was officially incorporated, the story started in Lake Louise.

Dean, the owner, was a local volunteer firefighter, Parks Canada equipment operator and father, began by providing fire extinguisher training to Lake Louise hotel staff, sharing practical, life-saving knowledge with local workers and community members. It was at this time that Dean was Deputy Chief and a formal fire service instructor, teaching the Lake Louise Fire Department.

As word spread, more businesses began reaching out. That local need sparked something much bigger. Soon, requests grew beyond fire extinguisher training to include first aid and WHMIS training for other hotels throughout the Bow Valley, the Lake Louise Ski Resort, and even into Calgary.

The company name was sparked from the ambition to teach Fire & First Aid outside the Bow Valley and all-over Western Canada. Who knew that today we would have outgrown “Western Canada” by offering training across all of Canada, and courses beyond just “Fire & First Aid” into all the training that we do.

The Journey of Growth

In 1996, Western Canada Fire & First Aid was officially incorporated in Lake Louise.

From there, the company continued to evolve:

• 1996 – WCFF started teaching their own first aid program, with knowledge and practical skills from the frontline experience of firefighting and being a first responder in the Bow Valley.
• 1996-1998 – WCFF advertised to it’s clients by faxing course offerings and taught using overhead projector slides. And hired it’s first 3 employees, one of which is back teaching with us today.
• 1999 – Dean relocated his family and WCFF from Lake Louise to Beaumont, operating from a home office, and joined the Beaumont Fire Department.
• 2000 – Training began in a conference space off 76 Ave in Edmonton, then a shared office space off 16st, offering fire, first aid, WHMIS, and TDG courses.
• 2001 – WCFF moved into its first commercial training centre off 16 Street in Edmonton with 2 classrooms and started offering H2S Alive.
• 2002-2003 – Expanded, giving us a total of 4 classrooms, an indoor bay for training equipment and outdoor practical area.
• 2004-2005 – Dean bought his first forklift and started training with it. Shortly after that, started teaching VRLT. Next, following his experience as an equipment operator with Parks Canada, started training skid steer, front end loader, mobile elevating work platforms. Then added confined space.
• 2006 – WCFF started teaching Fall Protection, which is now one of the most popular courses we offer.
• 2008 – To meet client demand, we grew again Construction began on our Industrial Training Location at 9519–58 Ave.
• 2009 – We officially moved in and expanded our operations to 20,000sq ft including 5 classrooms, a larger bay space and ample outdoor operating area with plenty of parking.
• 2013 – WCFF expanded again, moving First Aid Training into Millbourne Market Mall.
• 2013 – Purchased Wheel Loader #1.
• 2014 – Added a Skid Steer and Variable Reach Lift Truck to our fleet.
• 2015 – Reached a major milestone with 14,519 students trained in one fiscal year.
• 2015 – Added Wheel Loader and Skid Steer #2, and a boom lift, and a scissor lift.
• 2019 – To diversify its training methods and reach a larger audience, the Sibling company, Saga Universal Training Corp. was founded. WCFF moved program development over to Saga and the online learning management system was launched in July, now offering train-the-trainer programs.  
• 2019 – WCFF began offering online and blended training, which came just in time for March 2020….
• 2021 – WCFF held strong in one of the toughest years in the economy, keeping our doors safely open and supporting essential services in the workforce.

• 2022 – WCFF found its new Whitemud location and brought the Industrial Centre and Millbourne Mall staff back together under one roof.

Now operating out of a 30,000 sq ft climate-controlled facility, with 7 large bright classrooms, a computer lab, an indoor bay space and outdoor equipment space to provide a realistic training experience. This now makes us one of the largest comprehensive safety training facilities in Canada.

• 2023 – WCFF launched a new modern website and online booking system.
• 2024 – WCFF added an Excavator and Off-Highway vehicle to it’s fleet.
• 2025 – WCFF released its suite of confined space courses and Simple Rescue at height as per the latest CSA standard focusing on co-worker rescue both above and below ground.
• 2026 and the next chapter ahead: WCFF is going back to it’s emergency services roots and offering training to Fire Departments and First Responders, including a Medical First Response Program, Basic Life Support, Fall Protection for Fire Fighters and Fire Safety for Police in High-Risk Environments, while still supporting our current clients in our First Aid, Industrial and Powered Mobile Equipment courses.

Saga now has over 300 course offerings and multiple training partners across Canada.

Thank You for Being Part of Our Story

Thirty years in business is more than a milestone; it’s a celebration of the trust, relationships, and community that have supported us every step of the way.

To everyone who has trained with us, partnered with us, referred us, or supported us over the years, thank you. Your trust in us as your safety training provider and your confidence in placing safety in our hands have shaped Western Canada Fire & First Aid into what it is today.

This anniversary belongs to all of you. We are proud of how far we’ve come, grateful for the people who made it possible, and excited for the future we will continue to build together.

30 years strong and just getting started.