Welcome to the Voices of EFS Students


Voice of Student Evaluation | Everything Firearms Safety



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ammunition

WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING

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female shooting at the range

★★★★★

For anyone on the fence about taking this course, take this as your sign to book with Jim! I have 0 experience with firearms and wasn't sure what to expect with the course but am so thankful we booked with Jim. He may be a retired officer, but I think he was a teacher in his past life. After spending one day with Jim I felt much more confident with firearms and everything that comes with them. He kept the class engaged and ensured everyone understood the content before moving on to the next subject. He took time for people to write notes and thoroughly answered any questions. He managed to watch everyone while practicing on the firearms, and helped those who needed it (me) to ensure everyone felt confident and comfortable. While I only signed up for CFSC, I am already looking forward to returning to complete my CFRSC. Thanks again for everything, Jim!

BROOKE

★★★★★

Jim is the best! The course is a fantastic experience and it will teach everything you need to know.

THOMAZ

★★★★★

This training course is billed as a "full day" and that is a very true statement. However, Jim's knowledge and engagement in the classroom and during the hands on exercises made the time pass effectively. Jim's experience and personal approach made everyone feel confident in building skills, asking questions and learning. It was clear from the start we were in good hands and that Jim wanted us to be successful in learning and developing safe practices when if comes to firearms handling.

ALLEN

★★★★★

Had a very educational and positive experience. I get testing anxiety and Jim took the time to explain everything, made it so that my second day was so smooth and a better experience. Lots of helpful information and hands on opportunities to get comfortable. Highly recommend!

STEPHANIE

STUDENT FEEDBACK

What have the students who have attended firearms safety training at Everything Firearms Safety saying?

For more than a year and a half, students completing the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC), the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC), and the Back-to-Back combined course at Everything Firearms Safety with Jim as their instructor have shared individual feedback. The numbers tell a clear story: across 139 students who provided their feedback, the average overall satisfaction score is 9.67 out of 10, and 96% would recommend the course to someone else. Here is what students said about the courses themselves, about Jim, and the full results below.

TThe Courses

The part of the course students talk about most is the hands-on time: real firearms, real practice, and enough repetition to turn first-day nerves into real confidence. Many students arrive with little or no experience and leave saying they feel genuinely ready. The course is held at the Elgin Military Museum, which students describe as an added bonus, a chance to see historic firearms on display as part of the learning experience. The one-day format is a full day, but students consistently describe it as well-paced rather than rushed. If there is one thing students ask for, it is more of what is already working: additional hands-on practice time, and for some, the option of spreading the course over two days.

TThe Instructor

Every student surveyed, 100%, said Jim created a supportive and inclusive environment and that their questions were fully answered. Nearly all rated his knowledge of firearms safety and his engagement with the class as 'Very Satisfied'. What comes through again and again in students’ own words is Jim’s patience: his willingness to slow down for anyone who needs it, his real-world experience, and a teaching style that lets people make mistakes without feeling judged. For students walking in nervous, or with no firearms background at all, that combination made the difference.

The Resuts

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Everything Firearms Safety logo
Student Feedback Analysis
Voice of the Customer
August 2024 – April 2026  •  55 course sessions
CFSC • Back-to-Back • CRFSC  •  Ages 14–66  •  Mean age 38.6
139
verified
students
9.67 /10
Overall satisfaction
77.7% gave a perfect 10
9.73 /10
Likely to recommend
89.2% gave a perfect 10
9.45 /10
Applied confidence
Post-course self-assessment
Promoter-equivalent rates — scores 9 or 10 out of 10
95.0%
of students rated overall satisfaction 9 or 10 out of 10
96.4%
of students rated likelihood to recommend 9 or 10 out of 10
Instructor & course delivery — all respondents (n=139)
96.4%
Instructor knowledge rated Very Satisfied
95.0%
Instructor engagement rated Very Satisfied
100%
Supportive & inclusive environment created
100%
Course adequately addressed concerns & questions
97.8%
Hands-on time was adequate
98.6%
Adequate time for breaks & meals
Overall satisfaction score distribution (n=139)

Number of students per satisfaction score

0 30 60 90 120 1 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 6 1 7 5 8 24 9 108 10 Score (1–10)

108 of 139 students (77.7%) awarded a perfect score of 10  •  132 of 139 (95.0%) scored 9 or 10

What students are saying

Students were asked to describe what they valued most about the course. Three consistent themes emerged across the full response set.

Hands-on learning

Direct engagement with real firearms during the practical component was the most frequently cited driver of satisfaction and the primary mechanism through which students converted theory into felt competence. Students described handling multiple action types, performing ACTS and PROVE repetitions, and leaving the course with a confidence that did not exist when they arrived. Those who entered with no prior experience specifically credited the practical sessions for transforming an unfamiliar and intimidating subject into something they felt they could manage safely.

The instructor

Students consistently described Jim’s technical authority and his interpersonal approach as inseparable. His credibility as a subject matter expert was cited alongside his patience, his use of real-world stories to anchor theory, and his ability to read the room and slow down for students who needed more time. Anxious and first-time students in particular noted that his non-judgmental correction style made it possible to make mistakes without embarrassment. Several students said they noticed Jim tracking every participant simultaneously during hands-on exercises — and that this attentiveness made them feel safe.

Environment & structure

Students noted the Elgin Military Museum as an unexpectedly enriching venue, with historic firearms in display cases providing context that a standard classroom cannot. The one-day format, while acknowledged as demanding, was frequently described as well-paced and purposeful. The rhythm of theory followed immediately by hands-on application was cited as an effective learning structure, and the consistent repetition of the ACTS and PROVE frameworks was recognized as a deliberate confidence-building technique rather than repetition for its own sake.

Improvement suggestions
% of improvement corpus, n=139
No improvement needed
52.5%
More hands-on time
12.2%
Update slides & videos
7.9%
Pre-course communications
5.8%
Pacing / two-day option
5.0%
How students found EFS
Classified open-text, n=137 responses
Google / online search
27%
Government / FSESO portal
14%
Friend / word of mouth
11%
Sporting club / range
4%
Employer / workplace
4%
Everything Firearms Safety  •  everythingfirearmssafety.com
Analysis prepared by SNJ Associates  •  Sarena L. McLean, MSc  •  June 13, 2026
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A Note From Your Evaluator
Why Is This a Voice of Customer Evaluation and Analysis, Not Just a Student Survey?

Plenty of organizations collect feedback. Fewer evaluate it. A form built in SurveyMonkey or Google Forms, an average score, and a folder of comments is not the same thing as a Voice of Customer evaluation, even when both get called feedback or a survey. The distinction is methodology, not the tool, and it determines whether the result can be trusted and acted on with confidence. Every response in this report was checked for consistency, cross-referenced against related questions, and verified before a single statistic was calculated, the same standard SNJ Associates applies across its evaluation work.

What students wrote in their own words was read in full and coded into recurring themes across all 139 responses, so the themes in this report reflect what students actually said. The result is a structured analysis built on a methodology designed to be transparent and repeatable, the same approach SNJ applies to evaluations reviewed by hospitals, school boards, and government-funded programs.

The difference, side by side
A Student Survey
Collects opinions and moves on
Open comments skimmed for a few good quotes
Reports a simple average score
Result sits in a spreadsheet or folder
A one-time snapshot, methodology varies each time
A Voice of Customer Evaluation
Every response verified and cross-checked before reporting
Every open response read, coded, and counted across all 139
Reports rates, distributions, and statistical context (e.g. 95% promoter rate)
Becomes evidence for accreditation, regulators, funders, and the public
A standardized, repeatable methodology applied consistently over time
Everything Firearms Safety  •  everythingfirearmssafety.com
Evaluation by Sarena L. McLean, MSc  •  SNJ Associates  •  June 14, 2026
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A note from SNJ Associates


It was a pleasure doing this project for EFS. This evaluation was built using SNJ's Evidence to Capacity™ methodology, the same applied research framework SNJ brings to small businesses, nonprofits, government programs, and institutions.  Explore the methodology → https://snjassociates.net/applied-research-methodology/

Jim has been listening and learning from his students for over a year as we hit the mid point of 2026


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Introducing Your Instructor


Jim, a member of the FSESO, holds certification from the Chief Firearms Officer of Ontario to instruct and examine both CFSC and CRFSC courses. His unwavering commitment ensures the highest standards of safety and knowledge, backed by his extensive experience as a firearms instructor, his expertise in adult education, and his role as an Educator and steward of The Elgin Military Museum's firearms collection. He collaborates with the Executive Director of the Museum to assist estate executors and family members in preserving the historical significance of firearms, providing an alternative to their destruction.


Jim is participating in the RCMP pilot project in Ontario, which tests the direct electronic submission of Students' Course reports. Previously, it could take 4-6 weeks to receive paperwork for the PAL application. However, in Jim’s first class where he submitted the Student Course reports electronically to the RCMP, students were able to initiate their applications in under a week after successfully completing the course.

Our Location

The Elgin Military Museum

Our venue offers students the chance to explore historic firearms, enriching their educational journey. We strive to provide you with an exceptional learning experience. Students can also enjoy access to a microwave, refrigerator, and refreshments.