Phil Officially Joins Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services
A new chapter in mental health support for first responders began in Port Coquitlam as OSID Phil was officially welcomed as a working member of the Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services.
During a formal swearing-in ceremony, Phil officially joined the department’s Operational Stress Intervention (OSI) Service Dog Program. His placement was made possible through funding from Wounded Warriors Canada, in partnership with BC & Alberta Guide Dogs, which bred, raised and professionally trained Phil for his role.
“Today, Phil officially joins the Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services,” said Mayor Brad West. “Our firefighters carry the weight of what they see and respond to long after the call ends. This program gives them a resource that meets that need directly, and I’m proud that Port Coquitlam is leading on this.”
A resource for firefighters when they need it most
Firefighters are regularly exposed to critical and potentially traumatic incidents. While they are trained to respond in high-pressure situations, the impact of those experiences can continue long after a call is over.
Phil will provide support to firefighters following traumatic calls, during Emergency Operations Centre activations and Emergency Support Services events, and at group lodging sites. He will also participate in Council meetings and community wellness activities involving firefighters.
“We’ve watched Phil train for this role, and today it becomes real,” said Blake Clarkson, Fire Chief, City of Port Coquitlam. “Firefighters are trained to push through and keep going. What this program does is give them permission and a tool to pause, decompress, and reset — and that matters just as much as any equipment on our trucks.”
Training with a Purpose
Unlike traditional service dogs, OSI Dogs are specifically trained to support Trauma Exposed Professionals in their workplace. They are carefully selected for their temperament and ability to remain calm and responsive in environments where stress and strong emotions may be present.
“Operational Stress Intervention Dogs are professional working dogs specifically bred, raised and trained to support Trauma Exposed Professionals in the workplace,” said Mike Annan, Director of Service Dogs with BC & Alberta Guide Dogs. “Phil has been carefully selected and trained for his ability to remain calm, respond to stress and support a wide range of people through specifically trained activities and behaviours.”
“We are proud to work in partnership with Wounded Warriors Canada and the City of Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services to provide Phil as an important resource supporting employee mental health and well-being.”
A partnership making a difference
Wounded Warriors Canada has played an important role in making Phil’s placement possible through its funding support for the OSI Service Dog Program.
“We know that repeated exposure to traumatic incidents can have long-lasting impacts on members and, by extension, the organization itself,” said Scott Maxwell, CEO of Wounded Warriors Canada. “We also know the importance of being proactive and getting in front of these situations to help members feel safe, supported and understood. That’s a big part of the role Phil will play with the City of Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services.”
Port Coquitlam joins a growing number of first responder and police organizations across Canada incorporating Operational Stress Intervention Dogs into their mental health and wellness strategies.
For Phil, the ceremony marks the beginning of his working career. For the firefighters he will support, it represents another resource they can turn to as they navigate the realities of their work.
We are proud to see Phil take on this important role and grateful to Wounded Warriors Canada and the City of Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services for helping make this partnership possible.
