Firefighter Recruitment - General Information
The Recruitment Process
The City of Windsor Firefighter recruitment usually takes place in the fall of each year with the intent for an official hire date for the following year. While hiring can take place at any point, applications received during the active posting dates will be the only ones considered from those candidates that apply.
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 offered on this website regarding Firefighter recruitment may not be 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.
| Step | Process Description | Dates (Subject to Change) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Advertisement | Friday, October 17, 2025 |
| Friday, October 17, 2025, at 12:00 noon to Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at 11:59PM EST | ||
| 3 | Testing at Firefighter Services of Ontario | The deadline to register is 11:59PM EST on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Testing must be completed on or before Sunday, November 16, 2025. To book your appointment, please see Testing Registration (Firefighter Services of Ontario). Online application and registration for testing can be completed during the same timeline if desired. |
| 4 | Application review | Wednesday, November 19, 2025 |
| 5 | Submit resumes and application fee |
Monday, November 24, 2025, to Friday, November 28, 2025 |
| 6 | Shortlisting of candidates for first round of interviews | Tuesday, December 16, 2025, to Friday, December 19, 2025 |
| 7 | Contact candidates for interviews | Monday, December 22, 2025 |
| 8 | Interviews (first round) | Monday, January 5, 2026, to Friday, January 16, 2026 |
| 9 | Occupational Personality Questionnaire and Personality/General Mental Ability Assessment |
Monday, January 19, 2026, to Friday, January 30, 2026 |
| 10 | Interviews (second round) |
Monday, February 2, 2026, to Friday, February 13, 2026 |
| 11 | Offer of Employment |
Friday, February 20, 2026 |
| 12 | Processing of candidates offered employment |
Monday, February 23, 2026, to Friday, March 13, 2026 |
| 13 | Hire date: commencement of training program/probationary period |
Monday, March 23, 2026 |
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.
- 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 (for example, 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 time of application, applicants must have a valid and current Standard First Aid & Basic Life Support (BLS) Certificate or equivalent from an approved provider.
- Successful completion of an aptitude test, physical test, tread water test and interview(s)
- Satisfactory vulnerable sector check 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 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 are invited to register for the written testing/physical testing/tread water test during the advertised posting dates and 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 3 — Testing at Firefighter Services of Ontario
Testing will be conducted by the service provider, Firefighter Services of Ontario. Applicants can book their appointment at Testing Registration (Firefighter Services of Ontario). The deadline to book an appointment is 11:59PM EST on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Appointments are first-come, first-served.
For more information on the testing, please review the appropriate section(s) on the Windsor Firefighter Recruitment FAQ page. Payment for testing will be made in accordance with the procedures established by the service provider, Firefighter Services of Ontario (FSO).
Test results will be provided to you directly from Firefighter Services of Ontario (FSO) at the end of your appointment.
Step 4 — Application Review
The City of Windsor will receive the candidates’ test results from the approved provider and review this information.
Step 5 — Resume Submission and Application Fee
Applicants that have passed the testing phase of the recruitment process will be invited to submit their formal resume for review to the Corporation of the City of Windsor and will be required to e-transfer payment per the City’s Fee Schedule of 2025 for an administrative fee of $50.
Step 6 — Shortlisting of Candidates
Windsor Fire & Rescue Services, in conjunction with the Human Resources Department, will determine the number of candidates moving forward. The number of candidates short-listed for an interview will depend on the number of applicants, timelines, and budgetary considerations.
Step 7 — Contact candidates for interviews
Candidates that have been short-listed will be sent an email with a scheduled date and time for interviews. These dates and times are firm and will not have the opportunity to be changed.
Step 8,9,10 — Interviews and Assessments
The interview(s) will be conducted by a panel composed 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) on the Windsor Firefighter Recruitment FAQ page.
Step 11 — Offer of Employment
For more information on the Offer of Employment, please review the appropriate section(s) on the Windsor Firefighter Recruitment FAQ page.
Step 12 — Processing of Candidates Offered Employment
For more information on the processing of candidates offered employment, please review the appropriate section(s) on the Windsor Firefighter Recruitment FAQ page.
Step 13 — 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) on 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