Port Coquitlam, BC – August 19, 2026...The City of Port Coquitlam Fire and Emergency Services proudly welcomed OSID 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 (OSI) 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.”
“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, during Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) activations, Emergency Support Services (ESS) events and at group lodging sites, 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.”
The City of Port Coquitlam joins a growing number of first responder and police agencies across Canada incorporating Operational Stress Intervention Dogs into their mental health strategies. The ceremony was attended by Fire Department staff and retirees, representatives from Wounded Warriors Canada, IAFF and BC & Alberta Guide Dogs, and Mayor and Council.
About Wounded Warriors Canada:
Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC) is a national mental health service provider dedicated to serving Trauma Exposed Organizations, Trauma Exposed Professionals and their families. WWC specializes in providing culturally informed services that utilize a combination of education, counselling, and training approaches to support resiliency and recovery from post-trauma injuries.
About BC & Alberta Guide Dogs:
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs provides life-changing Guide Dogs for individuals who are blind or have low vision, Autism Service Dogs for children age 3-7 years old with profound autism and their families, and OSI-PTSD Service Dogs for Veterans and First Responders.
Each certified Guide or Service Dog requires approximately two years of preparation and is provided at no cost to the recipient. BC & Alberta Guide Dogs is a recognized leader in the field, accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International, and is an official OSI-PTSD Service Dog provider with Wounded Warriors Canada.
Founded in 1996, BC & Alberta Guide Dogs recently graduated its 400th team and currently supports teams across 76 communities in British Columbia and Alberta.
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