Deadline to apply: December 8, 2025
Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding summer job? Apply to be a crew member of the Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) student program.
What you will gain
Selected candidates will gain:
- training in search and rescue operations;
- rewarding real-world experience in delivering on-water search and rescue;
- experience participating in joint rescue taskings with multiple local agencies;
- opportunities for professional growth and leadership roles;
- development of professional networks with other students;
- access to many exciting and rewarding career opportunities with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).
What you will do
Search and Rescue operations can occur at any time of the day or night, during all types of weather and sea conditions. As part of a crew, members have the serious responsibility of responding to mariners in distress or need of assistance, including but not limited to:
- vessels that are disabled, aground, capsized, broken down, lost in the fog, taking on water;
- persons overboard;
- medical emergencies.
At minimum, each IRB crew consists of one (1) Coxswain and two (2) crew members.
When will you work?
- Summer contract period will range from the end of April 2026 to early September 2026 (may vary by location and operational needs).
- Crews operate on a rotating schedule of 14 consecutive days of work followed by 14 days of rest. During your 14 days of work, you will live and work with your crew. Regional differences may apply.
- To maintain pay continuity throughout the contract period, payment is averaged over both days of work and days of rest.
- Lodging and a shared meal budget will be provided during your scheduled work periods. The Canadian Coast Guard does not provide living arrangements or meals during off-duty periods.
Where will you work?
The Canadian Coast Guard's Inshore Rescue Boat Service operates 25 stations across Canada. To learn more about station locations, please visit the Inshore Rescue Boat Station Locations page.
Atlantic Region Stations (Dartmouth and St. John’s)
- Maritimes: the stations are located in Shediac (NB), Charlottetown (PE), Pictou (NS.), Saint John (NB), Mahone Bay (NS), and Halifax (NS).
- Newfoundland & Labrador (NL): the stations are located in Conception Bay South, Terra Nova National Park, and Lewisporte.
Central Region Stations (Québec and Sarnia)
- Great Lakes (ON): the stations are located on Gereaux Island (Britt Station), on Brebeuf Island, in Port Lambton, St. Williams (Long Point Station), Lansdowne (Hill Island Station), and on Lake St. Clair (Thames River Station).
- St. Lawrence (QC): the stations are located in Saint-Anicet, Vaudreuil, Beaconsfield, Longueuil, Sorel, and Trois-Rivières.
Western Region Stations (Victoria)
- Victoria (BC): the stations are located in Nootka Sound, Sointula, Cortes and Kelsey Bay.
Apply Early
- If you do not hear from us by the end of January 2026, you will not be considered for summer 2026 positions; we encourage you to re-apply next year if you still meet the eligibility requirements.
- A pool of qualified candidates will be established from this selection process but not all applicants will be hired.
- Candidates can expect to receive communications within 1 week of the closing date.
- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
What we are looking for
We are looking for full-time post-secondary students who:
- are reliable, calm, and able to make safe and sound decisions in a high stress environment;
- are hardworking and motivated people who are eager, willing to learn, and ready to work in difficult conditions;
- are fluent in French to work in Quebec and fluent in English to work in all other regions;
- have general knowledge of marine safety.
Are you eligible?
To be eligible for the IRB student program, you must:
- be registered as a full-time student in a post-secondary accredited academic institution, this includes persons with disabilities considered to have full-time status by their academic institution;
- meet the minimum age requirement to be employed in the province or territory of work;
- be returning to full-time studies in the next academic term, i.e. for the Fall 2026 session.
For more information on eligibility, please visit Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP).
Notes
- Proof of full-time post-secondary education will be requested throughout the hiring process.
- Preference will be given to candidates with Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status over non‑Canadians who are eligible to work in Canada. See the Directive on Student Employment for more information on the Government of Canada's requirements for student employment.
- All information collected during the selection process, including behaviour and communication, from the time of application to the end of the process, may be used to assess candidates and make hiring decisions.
Conditions of employment
You will need to:
- hold a valid Standard First Aid certification with CPR-C/AED certification;
- hold a Pleasure Craft Operator Card or accepted certificate of equivalency;
- hold a Restricted Radio Operator Certificate - Maritime (ROC-M) with VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) endorsement;
- hold a valid driver’s licence* that allows you to drive a motor vehicle in Canada.
*Note: A valid driver’s licence is a full driver’s licence. This does not include a driver’s licence with restrictions as part of any provincial graduated licencing. You will be asked to present an original, unrestricted driver’s licence.
If you are considered for the job, you must meet the following requirements (CCG will coordinate the administrative procedures):
- successfully complete the online National IRB marine knowledge exam and interview;
- obtain a government-issued reliability security status;
- complete and meet the standards of a Health Canada Medical exam which includes a:
- hearing test
- physical examination
- colour-vision examination;
- successfully complete the paid training course (approximately 16 days) on water and in the classroom, including written and practical examinations, that certifies candidates in:
- Marine Advanced First Aid (MAFA) or Advanced Medical First Responder (AMFR) (may vary depending on training location and on if you are a new or returning student)
- CCG Small Craft Training Basic Course:
-
- Marine Emergency Duties – Small non-pleasure domestic vessel basic safety (SDV-BS)
- Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP) training;
- work full-time hours and various shifts, including weekends and holidays;
- work overtime as required;
- wear and maintain the provided CCG uniform to CCG uniform standards;
- use and maintain all personal protective equipment when in the operational field as per CCG policies and directives;
- adhere to the IRB Operational Standing Orders and Standard Operating Procedures.
Additional information
- It is your responsibility to verify your email, including monitoring your junk/spam folders, for new communication regarding this selection process, and to inform us of any change of address, phone number and email address by contacting DFO.CCGStudentRecruitmentProgram-ProgrammeDeRecrutementGCC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
- Candidates can expect to receive communications within 1 week of the closing date.
- Students are compensated during training.
- Information about lodging and meals during training will be provided by regional Coast Guard staff. No employment is granted until all parts of the training have been completed.
- Upon successful completion of the training, members will be deployed to an Inshore Rescue Boat station in the region/sector where they were hired and completed their training. Assignment to a station is determined by a regional IRB Coordinator.
SELF-DECLARATION FOR MEMBERS OF EMPLOYMENT EQUITY GROUPS
Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard are stronger and most effective when we reflect the diversity of the Canadian population we serve. In support of achieving a diversified workforce, first consideration may be given to candidates self-declaring as belonging to one of the following employment equity groups: Indigenous Peoples, Visible Minorities, Persons with Disabilities, and Women. As part of your application to this student employment opportunity, we invite you to self-declare which employment equity group(s) you belong to. To learn more, visit our website on Self-declaring for Government of Canada jobs.
Giving you the best chance to succeed!
At DFO and CCG, we are committed to running inclusive and barrier-free recruitment processes.
Our selection processes are inclusive and barrier-free. At every step, from the application process to the end of the assessment process, accommodation measures or adjustments are available to you.
Tell us what you need. Examples include accessible environments, different formats, larger fonts, adaptive technology, extra time, individual testing, and more.
Accommodation measures are designed to remove barriers to a fair assessment and allow candidates to fully demonstrate their competencies.
For more information on accommodation measures, please consult the following link: Applying for Government of Canada jobs: Testing and accommodation measures - Canada.ca.
All information received related to accommodations is confidential.
To request accommodation measures or adjustments, and for any questions about the process or the position, please contact us at: DFO.CCGStudentRecruitProgram-ProgrammederecrutdetudiantsGCC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
Deadline to apply: December 8, 2025
