Firefighter Recruitment - General Information

The Recruitment Process

Generally, City of Windsor Firefighter recruitment takes place on a two-year cycle; however, this is dependent on need. Hiring can take place at any point. Applications are only considered from those submitted during the most recent designated recruitment period.

Please note:

• The information contained on this website is meant to assist candidates interested in applying for the City of Windsor Firefighter recruitment. It is subject to change pending various factors involved in the recruitment process, budget, etc.

• The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) have recently been updated to reflect the upcoming Firefighter Recruitment Process. Information previously contained on this website regarding Firefighter recruitment may not have been applicable to the current recruitment process and should be disregarded.

The following outlines our anticipated process and the order in which we will complete this recruitment. Note that we have anticipated dates for each stage, providing applicants with a frame of reference on the anticipated recruitment. The City of Windsor's recruitment process is subject to change.

Please note, failure to complete or pass any step will eliminate an applicant from the current competition.

Step 1 - Advertisement

The City of Windsor will advertise on the City of Windsor website online for the period of application.

Step 2 - Application Available Online

In order to apply for the Firefighter recruitment, applications will only be accepted online for the period of application availability as indicated in the table above. No late applications will be accepted.

Step 3 - Application Review

Basic requirements:

• At the time of application, must be 18 years of age or older
• At the time of application, must have proof of an Ontario Secondary School Graduation Diploma or Ontario Ministry of Education equivalency and any other education documents deemed necessary by the Corporation at time of hire
• At the time of application, applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada (i.e., Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, legal permanent residence, birth certificate or landed immigration documentation)
• At the time of application, applicants must have proof of a valid and lawful Class "D" Ontario Driver's Licence (or higher) with "Z" endorsement, in accordance with the Highway Traffic Act, for the purposes of operating a City of Windsor vehicle and provide a driver's abstract as a condition of employment
• At the time of application, applicants must have a valid and current Standard First Aid and Basic Life Support (BLS) Certificate or equivalent from an approved provider
• Successful completion of an Aptitude Test, Physical Test, Swim Test and interview(s)
• Satisfactory police clearance at the applicant's expense at time of hire
• Satisfactory driver's abstract at the applicant's expense at time of hire
• Satisfactory reference check, including references from current and/or previous employers at time of hire
• Satisfactory medical assessment as outlined by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards 1582 for Firefighters at the Corporation's expense; and any other testing and/or examination, which may be required by the medical practitioner and/or determined by the City of Windsor at time of hire
• Compliance with the Family Relationship Procedure and the Employment Policy
• Satisfactory completion of a 12-month probationary period of employment
• Observance of the rules, regulations, instructions, benefits and any conditions governing employment with the Corporation as may be in effect at the time of recruitment and/or employment, or established by the Corporation of the City of Windsor at any subsequent time

All applications will be reviewed to ensure that the minimum eligibility requirements are met in order to move forward in the process. Those applicants who meet the initial requirements at the time of application will be contacted by the City of Windsor informing them of the next step(s) they will have to undertake in the process in order to continue in the competition.

Step 4 - Applicant Registration/Payment - Written Testing

The Cooperative Personnel Services (CPS) Entry Firefighter Test (Aptitude) will be conducted in the time period as indicated above.

Step 5 - Written Testing

Testing will take place according to the time schedule above. For more information on the CPS test, please review the appropriate section(s) in the Windsor Firefighter Recruitment FAQ page.

Step 6 - Post Written Test Results

Test results will be posted to the Firefighter Recruitment Test Results page as they become available.

Step 7 - Resume Submission

Applicants that have passed the written testing will be invited to submit their formal resume for review. 

Step 8 - Shortlisting of Candidates

Windsor Fire & Rescue Services, in conjunction with the Human Resources Department, will determine the number of candidates moving forward to the Physical Fitness Testing. An invitation may not be offered to all candidates who have successfully passed the written test. The number of candidates short-listed for an interview will depend on the number of applicants, timelines, and budgetary considerations.

Step 9 - Contact Applicants Eligible for Physical Fitness Testing

Step 10 - Applicant Registration/Payment - Physical Fitness Testing

Step 11 - Applicant Physical Fitness Testing

The Physical Fitness testing will take place during the dates indicated in the table above. The test will be the York University Firefighter Fitness Test developed by Dr. Norman Gledhill and will only be conducted at York University. Physical Fitness Testing will not be provided in Windsor. For more information on the Physical Fitness Test, please review the appropriate section(s) in the Windsor Firefighter Recruitment FAQ page.

Step 15 - Interviews

The interview(s) will be conducted by a panel comprised of both Windsor Fire & Rescue and Human Resources personnel. Interview(s) will be conducted during the dates shown in the table above. In this process, an Occupational Personality Questionnaire and General Mental Ability Assessment may be involved and administered by a City of Windsor approved service provider. For more information on the interview, please review the appropriate section(s) in the Windsor Firefighter Recruitment FAQ page.

Step 16 - Offer of Employment

For more information on the Offer of Employment, please review the appropriate section(s) in the Windsor Firefighter Recruitment FAQ page. 

Step 17 - Processing of Candidates Offered Employment

For more information on processing of candidates offered employment, please review the appropriate section(s) in the Windsor Firefighter Recruitment FAQ page.

Step 18 - Hire Date - Commencement of Training Program/Probationary Period

For more information on the commencement of the training program and probationary period, please review the appropriate section(s) in the Windsor Firefighter Recruitment FAQ page.

Windsor Fire & Rescue Services may select and recommend a certain number of applicants as Probationary Firefighter recruits. There is no guarantee that any given number will always be selected during each recruitment period. In fact, Windsor Fire & Rescue Services may not hire Probationary Firefighter recruits depending on budgetary and other factors.

For general information, contact 311.

For detailed inquiries, contact:

Human Resources Department
400 City Hall Square East, Suite 408
Windsor, Ontario, N9A 7K6
Phone: (519) 255-6515
Fax: (519) 255-6504
TTY/Teletypewriter: (519) 255-6685
Email: recruitment@citywindsor.ca