London firefighters take their training to new heights inside Canada Life Place

London Fire Department using Canada Life Place as a training facility this week to conduct rappelling training.

High above ice level, members of the London Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Team have been honing their repelling skills by descending from the rafters inside Canada Life Place.

One by one, the firefighters were connecting their harness to the ropes, stepping over the railing, and descending to the ground below.

“These skills here could be deployed from a bridge abutment, an electrical tower, cranes, or even buildings,” Platoon Chief Jamie Britton explained.

Britton added that the ability to train indoors prevents potential weather delays.

“I can’t speak enough about Canada Life Place, allowing us to be able to use their great facility here,” he said.

General Manager Kelly Austin said Canada Life Place has a history of assisting emergency services with training.

“We’re happy to have them anytime they want to come in. We’ve had the London Police Service that have done training exercises in here too,” Austin said.