Phil the dog joins Port Coquitlam fire department to keep things chill

Meet Phil, a truly good dog.

The City of Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services proudly welcomed Phil as an official member of the department during a formal swearing-in ceremony, marking a new chapter in the department’s Occupational Stress Intervention Service Dog Program.

OSID Phil was made possible thanks to funding from Wounded Warriors Canada, which supports the training provided by BC & Alberta Guide Dogs.

“Today, Phil officially joins the Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services — not as a mascot, but as a working member of the team,” 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.”

Phill will help firefighters deal with the stress of a dangerous and stressful job.

“Firefighters are required to respond to critical and potentially traumatic incidents on a daily basis,” said Scott Maxwell, CEO Wounded Warriors Canada. “We know that repeated exposure to traumatic incidents can have long-lasting impacts on the members and, by extension, the organization itself. 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.”

Now in service, Phil will support firefighters following traumatic calls, as well as at council meetings and community wellness activities where firefighter participation is involved.

“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.”

Phil was bred, raised and professionally trained by BC & Alberta Guide Dogs as an Operational Stress Intervention Dog, through its partnership with Wounded Warriors Canada.

“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 behaviors. 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.”