Hinton Training Centre – Overview

Overview

The Hinton Training Centre (HTC) opened in 1960 as a facility for training forestry officers responsible for ensuring the conservation and use of Alberta’s natural resources.

Today, the primary mandate of the training centre is to develop and deliver professional technical training programs and services for employees of the forestry division to:

• ensure sufficient numbers of knowledgeable, highly skilled workers that support Alberta's provincial wildfire management priorities
• ensure regulatory forest management compliance standards
• address safety requirements of wildfire management personnel tasked or required to work in high risk environments protecting Alberta’s natural resources, infrastructure and the public

Today, the wildfire management training program is world-renowned for developing wildfire management training, supporting the application of lessons learned, and development and deployment of practices aimed at ensuring the safety of workers, the public, and protection of resources.

To attend events offered at the training centre, participants are usually employed in either a wage or permanent role with a Government of Alberta department, or, in the case of a contracted worker of a company, attendees must be sponsored to attend by a Forest Area. Often times, participants are required to have significant previous experience or post-secondary education before attending training or workshops.

HTC also delivers professional technical training specifically to forestry and natural resource related professionals who, are required by legislation to conduct activities under a permit or certification administered by the Government of Alberta.

The training Centre sits on 14 hectares in the middle of Hinton, Alberta. It includes:

• academic building with training facilities
• 2 residences with accommodation for 166
• food services for up to 234 participants
• garage and warehouse
• self-guided museum and interpretive trail

Programs

HTC designs and delivers world-class training programs in:

• wildfire management
• forest management

Partnerships

HTC supports research and technology partnerships with:

• fRI Research

Other important partnerships include:

• Alberta Junior Forest Rangers
• Alberta Wildfire
• Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre
• Town of Hinton
• ICS Canada
• The National Wildfire Coordinating Group

Services

Hosting events

HTC gives priority to Government of Alberta forestry-related programs and events. Other groups are welcome to inquire with Client Services about availability, including:

• federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments
• post-secondary institutions offering natural resource management programs
• law enforcement agencies
• search and rescue organizations
• other natural resource or public safety agencies
• non-profit community groups

Disaster reception and operations centre

HTC provides disaster reception for the Town of Hinton and West Yellowhead. A reception centre is a safe place where people can go to get information about the disaster and assistance with their basic needs.

The Centre also serves as a regional provincial operations centre for coordination of regional emergencies when required.

Museum and archive

The Historical Training and Public Outreach Centre contains historical photographs of Alberta Forest Service operations. It also houses equipment and uniforms once used by forest rangers in Alberta. Contact Client Services if you wish to view the museum.

Gymnasium

The gymnasium is available to non-profit organizations to rent for community events. For information, please contact Client Services.

Alberta wildfire memorial

HTC is home to the Alberta wildfire memorial. This important monument is dedicated to those who have lost their lives protecting Alberta’s forests and forest communities from wildfire.

Contact

Connect with Client Services:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (Open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-865-8200
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Hinton Training Centre
1176 Switzer Drive
Hinton, Alberta T7V 1V3