Camp Courage in Halifax seeks participants [Video]

A Nova Scotia based camp that introduces young women and gender-diverse youth to careers as first responders is looking for participants.

Halifax Fire Capt. Andréa Speranza founded Camp Courage: The First Responders Society in 2006 to help create more diversity in a line of work largely dominated by men.

“With less than one per cent female firefighters, I felt that it was an underrepresented group,” said Speranza.

The free, eight-day camp gives young women age’s 15-19 hands-on experience and education in over a dozen emergency services careers.

“We have a 36 per cent success rate of girls moving on into post-secondary education and careers,” said Speranza. 

Those success stories include current firefighter recruits like Christie Webb who participated in the camp in 2013.

“It was the best week I’ve ever had in my life,” said Webb. “It really solidified that I wanted to be a firefighter. I’ve never looked back.”

Some of the activities and skills taught during the camp include self-defence, …