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WAPOSE EMSWapose has developed top-notch Fire Rescue Services over the last ten years, including: the development of site emergency response programs, mobilization, management, staffing of fire hall crisis management plans, fire suppression, technical rescue, confined space rescue, high-angle rescue, air- field crash rescue, and training. In ad- dition, the Wapose team is expanding its knowledge in occupational health testing, safety and security services, and online safety training.Pruden says that building such a niche business wasn’t easy at first, and being an entrepreneur meant that growth was a result of dedication and ingenuity. Pruden didn’t have a lot of financial support in the beginning, and had to go head-to-head with competi- tors. “The market has changed dra- matically in the last ten years for what we do. Originally there was only one company doing EMS when we started and now there are about 20-30 compet- itors,” he says. “But we’re still the larg- est and strongest supplier in our area.” There are many reasons that Wapose has succeeded and competitors have gone by the wayside, including lack of resources.“Other companies don’t have the equipment, the right supplies, diverse service offering or great people that we have,” Pruden comments. “We have a great fleet that enables us to work well in the field.”GROWTHThe company started with Pruden and his dedicated team offer- ing EMS services and after four years they began offering safety manage- ment. Today Wapose offers safety professionals available for all levels of field support (CRSP, NCSO, and CHSC) and all work durations, and licensed security services.The company also offers standard First Aid and CPR, WHMIS train- ing (GHS will be available this year), OSSA, CSTS, Drug and Alcohol Aware- ness, ATV, UTV, and snowmobile train- ing, and transportation of dangerous goods. “In the last five years we’ve hired lots of great professionals in- cluding paramedics, emergency staff, bought the latest equipment, and be- come licensed in occupational health,” Pruden says. The company is proud to work with the biggest names in the industry including Cenovus, Imperial Oil, Syncrude, Suncor, and Shell Cana- da. “We do so much for each company and so there is lots of room to expand. We have strong service but there is more we could be doing onsite,” he adds.For the time being, Wapose is concentrating on keeping the busi- ness strong and doing the best pos- sible work for clients and customers. But Pruden of course has his eye on growth: “we want to have more office71