Fire Watch: Volume 17, Issue 1

Member Profile with James Coones VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 1

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION

Publications Agreement No: 41203011

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION

VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 1

IN THIS ISSUE 4

President’s Message

7

Secretary-Treasurer’s Message

9

Vice President’s Message

11

Chaplain’s Corner

12

Roll the Heavy – Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Fire Department

16

Hazmat IQ – Lithium-Ion Batteries... Are They Safe?

20

5th Alarm Fire on Nashville Ave, Toronto – A photo montage by Derek Craig

22

Member Profile with James Coones

27

Behind the Mask – Welcome to the darkest time of year

30

PINK Campaign

32

Never Shall We Forget

34

War Vets – Operation – Never Forgoten

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Retired Toronto Fire Fighters’ Association

FIRE WATCH (ISSN 1715-5134) is published by the TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION 14 Cosentino Drive, Toronto ON M1P 3A2 Tel: 416.466.1167 www.torontofirefighters.org E-mail: firewatch@torontofirefighters.org

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Box 12 Association: Celebrating 75 Years of Serving Toronto Fire Fighters

40

Movember Campaign: Battle of the Bands

42

Movember Campaign: Paintball Event

CHIEF EDITOR James Reed

44

Toronto Fire Historical Society

MANAGING EDITORS Chris Sornberger, Suzanne Boss Tel.: 416.466.1167 Fax: 416.466.6632 E-mail: firewatch@torontofirefighters.org

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Fit to survive – Why you should do cardio

48

Memorial Ride to Ottawa

52

Back At It!

12

16

36

20

42

SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITORS James Coones and Ken de Jong ASSISTANT EDITORS Matthew Spagnolo, and James Kennedy DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION Bryan Middleton

Member Profile

FIRE WATCH PHOTOGRAPHER TPFFA Media Team

with James Coo VOLUME 17

CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL Agreement No: 41203011 PRINTED IN CANADA Copyright © 2023 Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association ADVERTISING Please contact Bill Monson at 416.466.1167 or e-mail monson@torontofirefighters.org

On The Cover

THE OFFICIAL

PUBLICATION OF THE

TORONTO PROFESSIO NAL FIRE FIGH TERS’ ASSO CIATION

Photo Credit from Derek Craig @photosbydjcraiggers

Merchant Card Acceptance

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise without prior written permission from the publisher.

FIRE WATCH is an official communication tool of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association.

The Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (TPFFA) does not assume responsibility for statements of fact or opinion made by any contributor. Comments made by individuals may not reflect the official position of the TPFFA. Acceptance and publication of articles, advertisements, products and services does not indicate endorsement of same by the TPFFA, and the TPFFA assumes no responsibility for their accuracy.

nes

| ISSUE 1

Publications Agreeme

nt No: 4120301

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE R ecently, the Attendance Management program was reinstated after a pause during the Pandemic. We quickly realized that many from our executive board, as well as many District Chiefs, had never participated in these meetings. We ensured that extensive training was provided prior to starting the program up again. I then realized that since the last article was written on AMP’s, we have turned over close to 30% of our membership. So, I believe it is helpful to review how we got that program and what the Association’s role was. I’ll credit President Emeritus Frank Ramagnano, who provided this short history lesson.

History of the Toronto Fire Services’ Attendance Management Program • The City first implemented the AMP without the agreement or consent of the Association in 2000.

• The Association subsequently filed a grievance on April 14, 2000, taking the position that the City could not unilaterally implement and/ or subsedates on behalf of the Association, while quently modify an AMP without the other sessions were had with no lawyers Association’s agreement or consent. from either side present.

• The matter was referred to arbitration and heard by Arbitrator Louisa Davie.

The major issues in dispute were: • The Association and the City entered 1. Whether the policy was required to be into negotiations in early 2001 regarding administered in a fashion consistent the AMP. The negotiations continued with the collective agreement. on the first day of the hearing before 2. Whether the policy should be based Arbitrator Davie on May 16, 2002, and on a rolling twelve-month period or a continued through 2002 and 2003. calendar year to more fairly examine The solicitor for the Association, Jim an employee’s attendance, which may McDonald, attended many negotiation result in inclusion in the program.

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3. Whether the proposed two-year period of improved attendance required to exit the program was appropriate or excessive.

4. Whether the proposed ‘six months or less’ period for movement through the steps was appropriate.

5. Whether Association representatives should be present at all steps and whether the Association should receive copies of all documents.

6. The appropriate standard for exiting the AMP (i.e., whether ‘exemplary attendance’ ought to mean zero absences in the twelve months or whether it ought to mean five absences or less).

7. Whether the punishments/consequences should remain in the letters contemplated in the program, to be issued at various steps.

8. How to preserve the confidentiality and security of all medical information that would be shared.

In the interim, on October 28, 2001, the Association filed two grievances: F-0154 and F-01- 64, in respect of members.

The grievances alleged that the City failed to abide by the AMP in refusing to grant an exemption as permitted under the AMP. Note that under the AMP, an employee who would otherwise be included in the AMP due to an absenteeism record that exceeds the average of the division, may be exempt from the program if an “extended absence” results from a “single, clearly identifiable cause, substantiated to the satisfaction of TFS.” The City responded to the grievance letters on October 31, 2001 and November 28, 2001, respectively. On November 23, 2011, the City concluded there was no basis to grant the two members an exemption from the 2001 AMP informal interview step that already took place on July 3, 2001. Moreover, TFS stated that they entered the AMP as a result of their sick time, which entered them into the program, as per the rules set out in the 2001 AMP. In October 2002, counsel for the City sent an amended proposed AMP to the

Association, which purported to be a “resolution of all of the issues that the parties have discussed in connection with the main policy grievance before Arbitrator Davie.”

The Association reviewed that document with counsel and subsequently sent a letter to counsel for the City dated November 27, 2002, which set out a number of objections and recommendations for improvements, deletions, etc.

Counsel for the City sent a revised proposed AMP in March 2003, which formed the basis for further discussions between the Association and City.

On or about September 3, 2003, the City sent the TPFFA a revised AMP, which incorporated virtually every one of the substantive recommendations from the Association’s November 27, 2002 letter to the City.

On October 15, 2003, the parties met again before Arbitrator Louisa Davie. The parties signed Minutes of Settlement that confirmed the agreement between the parties, as to the terms and conditions of the AMP. Arbitrator Davie issued an award on consent of the parties confirming the agreement.

On June 3, 2004, the TFS provided notification vis-à-vis Bulletin FCC 03-257 that the awarded AMP was being re-implemented effective January 1, 2004. During re-implementation, a number of issues were identified. As a result, the City and Association met on several occasions to resolve the issues as quickly as possible. The issues discussed included: the inclusion of the informal meeting within the AMP and clarification of the six-month monitoring period, both during the implementation phase and in the future. The Parties, in consultation with legal counsel, changed and clarified the AMP with respect to the informal meeting and the six-month monitoring period.

On January 10, 2013, the Association filed grievance # F12-146-14 with respect to the alleged inappropriate application of the AMP Policy, related to the granting of exemptions. In particular, six individual firefighters were denied exemptions,

which, in the Association’s view, ought to have been granted with a correct interpretation of the exemption language in the AMP. In particular, the Association grieved the City’s refusal to recognize any absence of more than one shift, which resulted from a clearly identifiable cause, as being an “extended absence” in its consideration as to whether a firefighter is entitled to an exemption from the application of the AMP. The City held that the exemptions were denied in those six cases because the absences in question did not constitute a “significant enough” portion of the total number of absences in the period. The matter was referred to arbitration to be heard before Arbitrator Gail Misra. On or about September 30, 2014, the parties signed Minutes of Settlement clarifying the exemption process and the meaning of a “single extended absence” under the AMP. As you can see from the history and several grievances, it is not a matter of the City implementing something and the Association agreeing. By law, management has certain rights, and the Association and individual members also have rights. We work with our legal and fire policy advisors to ensure our rights are not denigrated.

Our members have requested lowlevel interaction before moving items to a more formal process. That is the first step of the ATM program and now we are seeing it as the first step in many of the items that TFS is introducing. This allows innocent mistakes to be corrected in a non-confrontational manner. Without the informal step, the process would lead a member straight to the first step in a management discipline proceeding.

So, we do not believe we are enabling management but rather trying to ensure that we have the appropriate safeguards to ensure our members are treated with respect.

James Reed, President Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888

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SECRETARY-TREASURER’S MESSAGE Year-end… it has different meanings to different people.

S

ome may think of it as a fresh start or a new beginning. For a Secretary/ Treasurer, it is just that, but with numbers. October 31st, 2023, was the end of the fiscal year for the Association, which allowed us to look at the year in review and see how we did against our 2022/23 budget.

I am happy to say we successfully met our overall budget expectations, and I expect the same for 2023/24.

Budget…what is it and why do we need it.

By definition, a budget is an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time.

Ok, so we know what a budget is, but why do we need one?

It’s a great question and I will weigh in with my opinion. We have all seen what can happen to businesses and individuals who end up spending more than they are earning. In short, they face financial distress and bankruptcy. A budget helps guide you with your spending habits and can give early warning signs to troubles ahead. This holds true for both personal and business decisions. A budget can help build financial stability by tracking your income versus expenses, assist in paying bills on time, and benefit you with a savings program. A successful budget can not only be satisfying from a financial perspective, but also can be emotionally gratifying; one less thing to worry about!

How do I prepare a budget?

Let’s start with the obvious - figure out your income. We all know there are ways to buy things with little or no money (hello credit cards), but a budget could help avoid that pitfall. As firefighters, we are fortuitous.

We have a good income, benefits and pension. Like it or hate it, it’s one of the best jobs going. A steady income is a benefit when preparing a budget. Keep in mind that the preparation should use your net (after tax) income as a source.

Then make a list of your fixed expenses.

These are expenses you can expect to have every month. These expenses can include mortgage, rent, loan payments, utility bills, insurance payments etc.

Make a list of your variable expenses.

These are expenses that can fluctuate monthly. Some examples are groceries, fuel

costs, entertainment, credit cards etc.

Add up your fixed and variable expenses and compare them to your income. How does it look? If your expenses are higher than your income, then you need to readjust your spending habits. However, if your income is higher, you are on the right track and this would be a good time to figure out your goals.

A list of goals will help when factoring in a savings option into your proposed budget.

You can have short-term and/or long-term goals. Some common goals are: buying a house, paying off existing loans/credit cards, buying a vehicle, saving for a child’s education etc.

Once you have prepared your budget, it is important to review your budget regularly to see how your year is progressing. I am a spreadsheet fan and would highly recommend using a spreadsheet to track your budget.

Types of Budgets

Budgets are a personal preference and there are a few common types of budgets, depending on your lifestyle and spending habits.

50-30-20 Budget

This is a very popular budget method, but you do not need to keep the percentages as listed. They can be shifted accordingly.

This budget involves three basic categories: needs, wants, and savings.

Needs would account for 50% of your income and should include your essentials.

Wants could include such things as entertainment, dining out and personal purchases. Wants should be closer to the 30% field.

The third category would be savings.

Pretty self-explanatory, this 20% should be allocated to save for your list of goals referred to above. Another worthwhile goal that your savings amount could go toward is an emergency fund.

Zero-based Budget

This type of budget is very detailed and can be time-consuming. The positive is you would track where every dollar goes, and it gives you a great idea of exactly where you are spending your money. The zero-based budget involves listing a multitude of categories and assigning a value to each. For

example, instead of the $50 you spent at the pub going toward the ‘wants’ section, it is assigned to the ‘dining out’ line. If you are someone who wants to assign a certain amount to multiple saving goals, this may be the budget for you.

Savings First Budget

This type of budget is basically an adjustment to the above budgets. The goal here is to pay yourself first. That is a little tongue in cheek because obviously, you need to take care of your essentials prior to savings.

Once they have been paid for, your next focus is on savings. The shift to a savings first account means a decline in allowable monies for wants. You need to take a hit on entertainment, dining out and other personal expenses, but once you’ve reached your savings goals you can always shift to a spending first budget.

Spending First Budget

For the spending first budget to work successfully, you really need to have your income supersede your expenses. I call this a free for all budget, where you spend what you need throughout the month and whatever is left over you put towards your savings goals. The disadvantage here is you would not have a fixed amount allocated to your savings goals, which makes it harder to have a goal date in sight.

Create Your Budget

You have the basics of what a budget is, why you need one, and the common types of budgets. Preparing your budget can involve spreadsheets, apps and software. Don’t rule out professional help. Create your budget and start saving for goals, repairing your credit score and create healthy spending habits. As a final thought…control your money, don’t let your money control you.

Chris Sornberger, Secretary-Treasurer Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888 Vo l u m e 1 7 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH

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VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Happy New Year to all. May the year 2024 bring you and yours peace and kindness.

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et’s get down to business, as we have much to unpack.

This past September, membership participation at the Toronto Labour Day parade was yet another success thanks to all the hard work from the Ceremonial and Bereavement Committee. The committee hosted the BBQ for Toronto Fire and their families following the parade at the HMCS York and did an excellent job. Well done!

The parade is a great way to get together with colleagues and catch up with old friends. The question is, why do we participate in the parade? As we march together, we should understand what this symbolic day means and how our future was carved 152 years ago by workers passionate about their beliefs of workers’ rights.

The origins of Labour Day can be traced back to April 15, 1872, when the Toronto Trades Assembly organized Canada’s first significant demonstration for worker’s rights. The aim of the demonstration was to release the 24 leaders of the Toronto Typographical Union who were imprisoned for striking, as part of a campaign for a ninehour workday. At this time, trade unions were still illegal and striking was seen as a criminal conspiracy to disrupt trade.

Despite this, the Toronto Trades Assembly was already a significant organization that encouraged workers to form trade unions, mediated in disputes between employers and employees, and signaled the mistreatment of workers.

There was enormous public support for the parade, and the authorities could no longer deny the important role that the trade unions had to play in the emerging Canadian society. A few months later, a similar parade was organized in Ottawa and passed the house of Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Later in the day, he appeared before the gathering and promised to repeal all Canadian laws against trade unions. This happened in the same year, and eventually led to the founding of the Canadian Labour Congress in 1883.

Labour Day was originally celebrated in the spring, but it was moved to the fall after 1894, hence the 1st Monday of September.

Fast track to today, we have many labour rights and benefits. Thanks to our union brothers and sisters, we enjoy fair and equitable work hours, overtime pay, statutory holidays, vacation entitlements, and parental leave, to name a few.

Closer to home and more relevant to our profession, we are protected by WSIB and occupational disease benefit coverage for families. These benefits were only possible due to the aggressive work from your Association and IAFF through political lobbying. To be more specific, your Association lobbies all three levels of government.

Federally, the Association and the IAFF successfully lobbied for $300,000 for families who lost a loved one in the line of duty, or as a result of an occupational disease. The efforts of this benefit took the IAFF and your Association 23 years to be recognized and passed through Parliament.

The provincial government first recognized firefighters and occupational diseases in 2007, with full party support, without challenge. This was unprecedented.

At the municipal government level, we attend all council meetings and meet with councillors regularly to discuss labour management issues.

Often, if a member has a union question, they pick up the Collective Agreement or call an Executive Officer for assistance. We should recognize the history behind your Collective Agreement and the Executive Board of past and present who developed the language you as members depend on, which results in the protection of your rights and future.

When the City of Toronto first amalgamated in 1998 to become the “mega city”, First Class Firefighters earned $53,500.00 per year. Today, a First Class Firefighter earns $109,338.00 per year.

In addition, your Executive Board bargained recognition pay of three, six and nine percent. Other improvements are

the health care spending account and float/lieu days. These are just a few examples of many improvements added to your Collective Agreement. All improvements noted were achieved by collective bargaining and arbitration.

We are all aware that we are protected with a retirement plan as a Toronto firefighter, but what does it mean to you? Before you know it, you will be looking at the numbers, planning your future as a pensioner. I’ll provide an example of the protection you will enjoy in your golden years. Your Association has bargained for an indexed pension. To explain in basic terms, this means that once you retire, your pension increases with the COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) every year. This year, the COLA is 4.42 percent.

As an example, if a worker retired today without an indexed pension at $50,000.00 per year, the worker would continue to receive $50,000.00 per year for the rest of his/her life. Today, this worker may be able to live on $50,000.00 per year, however, fast track 30 years from now, $50,000.00 would not be sufficient to maintain a standard of living.

In closing, we are privileged to be a member of the Association that affords you the benefits, rights, and protection as a Toronto Professional Firefighter.

Until the next article, I wish you well.

In Solidarity,

John MacLachlan, Vice President Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888

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MY SAFETY MATTERS

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER New Year, Same Me

A

s I am still learning the role of Toronto Fire Chaplain, it has been incredible to experience the vast inclusion, equity, and diversity that makes up the Toronto Fire family. The opportunities to visit stations, help with funerals & graduations, and be a part of the Peer Support Team, I have been able to learn that a lot of fire fighters’ humour is dark humour, and that is not a diversity joke.

I love being able to joke and laugh with different crew members and hopefully when you see a Toronto Fire Chaplain, the reaction is not someone who is stuffy, boring, or judgemental. My hope is that they see someone who will support you, cheer you on, and make you laugh.

Personally, I love the Toronto Raptors and I love watching basketball, as I try to watch as many games as I can. This season, there have been many different story lines, but someone who has been in the spotlight often is Draymond Green. Between midNovember to mid-December, he has had two incidents of losing his control. He has put a player in a chokehold and has punched an opponent in the face. He also has a history of knocking out a teammate, kicking players below the belt, and recently in the playoffs, stomped on an opponent’s ribs. If you are a hockey fan, this may all seem a little soft to you, and you can make the argument that these

TEAM FIRST PERSEVERANCE

actions happen on a regular basis. At the very least, those actions are a fraction of the punishment that hockey players dish out, and you are right to make that argument.

The fact of the matter is that in basketball, the actions of Draymond Green are not allowed. He has been dealt multiple suspensions over the years, costing him a lot of money, and he has let down his teammates. Draymond Green, by many, is now looked at as a troublemaker who needs help. If you know the game of basketball, you know that Draymond is a brilliant player and an NBA Champion, future Hall-of-Famer, and adds to the winning DNA of the Golden State Warriors.

The NBA is sending Draymond Green for counselling and anger management, alongside game suspensions, and loss of game cheques. A lot of the media focus has been on the fact that Draymond Green must be going through something, because these outbursts are not usual.

I have been reflecting on some of the NBA’s responses to Draymond’s actions and I agree that there should be great attention given to taking care of your mental health. I have also admired from these situations, the ability of the players that have been punched, or choked, or kicked, to not retaliate and have the selfcontrol and the strength not to fight.

SELFLESS

LOYALTY

SELF-CONTROL

South Command Dan Chandran 647-242-9897 danieljchandran@gmail.com

“A wise man builds his house on the rock. A foolish man builds his house on sand.”

When your foundation is strong, and you use the lessons you have learned from others you trust, when the time comes to put those actions into practice, such as self-control or perseverance, it is a lot easier to implement them if they have been rooted in your foundation of who you are. When you let in attributes that corrode your foundation, like selfishness and greed, it can lead to a lack of selfcontrol.

I want to encourage you to keep building the foundation of who you are. Build into your foundation, the characteristics of team first, living selfless, perseverance, loyalty, and self-control. There are many resources you can use as you are on your career journey. The Chaplain team will be cheering you on, supporting you as best as possible, and hopefully we can make you laugh along the way. We have many different resources we can recommend to you, to help build into your foundation, and of course, we are always available if you need someone to talk to in confidence! I personally love to use the Book of Matthew to build into my foundation, which talks about the life of Jesus and the way he lived, which was all about living selfless, perseverance, loving others, and self-control.

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BY KEN DE JONG, CAPTAIN, STATION 445-A

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Fire Department Introduction

Just off the shore of downtown Toronto is an island that hosts an airport. Most of us don’t stop to consider the fire response issues related to airports, especially ones on islands!

Do they have a fire department? Does TFS have a partnership with them? This article lays out some information about the airport, the fire department and TFS’s relationship with them.

History

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (BBTCA) has a long history on the Toronto Islands. First established in 1939, the airport has served as a commercial aviation centre, a training ground for both the Royal Canadian and Royal Norwegian Air Forces during World War II, and as a hub for General Aviation and Medevac services. In October 2006, Porter Airlines began service and remains the primary commercial airline to operate at BBTCA. At the time, the fire protection was a single fire station, with one fire truck and a single firefighter on-duty, supported by auxiliary firefighters made up of the maintenance staff.

As things progressed, Porter, the airport, and the fire service, saw rapid growth. There are 10 categories of airports (Pearson is a 9) and BBTCA went from a 3 to a 6 with the expansion of Porter. Over time, the use of auxiliary fire staff was phased out because of the training levels that had to be maintained. Today, the BBTCA FD is not only equipped and trained for ARFF, but it has also expanded into structural firefighting, medical, ice and cold-water rescue, and hazmat.

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Senior Officers

The team of Fire Chief Sylvain Thériault and Deputy Chief Mark Smith is a very good one. Chief Thériault was the chief many years ago while Deputy Smith was a captain.

Chief Thériault left and worked in Dubai and Calgary, while Captain Smith rose through the ranks to become the Fire Chief. He then went to Toronto Pearson as the Lead ARFF Instructor and Chief Thériault returned as the Fire Chief once again. Mark Smith then returned as well and became his Deputy Chief. They report this long-standing relationship makes managing the fire service work very well.

Response Capabilities

The BBTCA FD has six full time firefighters on duty, operating two centre-console ARFF (Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting) vehicles, a pumper, a command vehicle, and a rescue response unit. They actually have three ARFF vehicles, but they cycle two on-duty every month, while one is being serviced and held in reserve.

Since there are no flights after 11pm, the shifts for the three platoons (or crews) are 17 hours from 6:15 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. with a supervisory Captain and the Deputy and Fire Chief available for command.

The fire department responds to the typical calls any fire department sees in terms of medicals, false alarms, small fires, structure fires, and hazardous materials. The notable differences would be ARFF training and responses and “off the plane” medicals.

They also have a few more levels of communications that they need to juggle. They have comms with each other, their dispatch, Air Traffic Control, the EOC and JES (e.g. Marine police). They also have a TFS radio pre-set to South Ops and would be advised to switch to the South TAC channel assigned if a call were to involve Toronto Fire.

Other Unique Issues of the Airport Fire Service Since time is so critical with an aircraft emergency, Transport Canada requires fire services to be on the airfield and discharge half their load within three minutes! The second vehicle must be on scene in four minutes. Every year, they are tested on this response capability. They are also tested annually on their foam and dry chem systems, to meet regulations.

A claim-to-fame that the BBTCA FD is particularly proud of is that they were the first fire service to switch from AFFF foam to fluorine-free foam.

Firefighter In Canada magazine and Airport Improvement magazine have both published articles on this. BBTCA FD is now the go-to expert on the subject, and they get a lot of inquiries from other departments on how to do it.

I did not initially appreciate the impact of this change, but there were a lot of issues, such as how to flush your trucks properly, how to make sure the ratios to water were accurate, etc. The fire chief at the time, Mark Smith (current Deputy Chief), wanted to change the brand of the AFFF foam, so he made a lot of inquiries about fluorine-free foam. Transport Canada had given an exemption to airports for using fluorine-free foam if they met the standards. Making the transition was not easy, because the viscosity of AFFF and fluorine-free is very different. The fluorine-free product they went with was like molasses, and they had to alter the trucks to proportion the mixture properly and accurately.

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Roll The Heavy...Continued from page 13

TFS Day vs Night Response

During the “daytime”, which is the 6:15 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. shift for the fire department, the ferry is operating, and it can ferry over two TFS pumpers, an aerial and a DC within minutes of their arrival at the foot of Bathurst Street. We also dispatch the fireboat, and the pumper and crew at Fire Station 335 can respond. P335 can access the airport by road, but it needs to cross the runways, so it responds to a security gate and is escorted once Traffic Control ensures the runway is safe to cross.

During the “night” is a whole different story. All the firefighters leave the island and there is effectively no fire protection. There is also no ferry. There may be a few security personnel, maintenance staff and the Ornge Air Ambulance service still operates, but if there is a fire, it’s up to TFS to respond. So, how do we do it?

TFS Night Response

I was very fortunate to join a tour, set up by Platoon Chief Bill Bygrave, who is the liaison for the BBTCA FD. It is one of the partnerships with BBTCA FD to ensure a good response and relationship.

His tour is presented as a scenario: there is a fire in one of the hangars at 3:00 am. There is no BBTCA fire service personnel and no ferry. You respond to the foot of Bathurst Street. What do you do next?

Night Plan Point #1: The Tunnel

There is a pedestrian tunnel from the mainland to the island. It is located right beside the ferry at the foot of Bathurst Street. On the mainland side of the crossing, there is a (normally public access) structure which leads you to the tunnel and eventually the terminal on the island side. It has a Fire Safety Plan box which includes a swipe card to get you into the structure. The responding crews would have to hump everything they could and follow the “TUNNEL TO AIRPORT” signs to get down to the tunnel.

On the other side, there may be security personnel to help guide you (but don’t count on it). There is a CACF room and an annunciator panel at separate entry points to the terminal. After determining the location of the fire, it’s then a matter of getting to work!

Night Plan Point #2: Fireboat 334 and Pumper 335

How do you get water on the fire? Your two main pumping options are Fireboat 334 and Pumper 335. The fireboat is said to be the equivalent of five pumpers, but it has a delay because of the travel time (but we’re also getting a new fireboat that is reported to be fast, so that will help!). P335 has the above-mentioned delay with the security gate, escort, and permission from Air Traffic Control, but it is also a great resource in a fire situation.

Night Plan Point #3: 65mm Hose Straight Off a Hydrant

It may sound a little un-orthodox, but another immediate strategy is to run the 65mm hose you humped over straight off the hydrants. The hydrants on the islands are boosted by diesel pumps and are fed right out of Lake Ontario. The private hydrant system can provide 1,750 USGPM at 145 psi. Until you get backup, this will get some “wet stuff on the red stuff”.

Night Plan Point # 4: Delayed Ferry/TFS Response

There is a provision in the plan to call in an off-hour ferry operator and load up the ferry with TFS fire vehicles. The delay can be anywhere from 90 minutes to over two hours, but if you have a large volume of fire to contend with, the Incident Commanders can set this into motion.

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Added Note on Lithium-Ion Responses

There has been a recent ELI module on Lithium-Ion responses for vehicles, charging stations, etc. One of the airport ferries, the Marilyn Bell, has been retrofitted to full electric power and soon, the shuttle buses are going completely electric, so the potential for a Lithium-Ion battery thermal runaway is there. The ferry can apparently make six trips before having to recharge, but it will likely recharge on every crossing. We should be well advised to be up on our training for such calls, because there will not only be the fire fighting issues, but also the large number of citizens to evacuate/rescue.

Conclusion

Like any fire service, most of the BBTCA’s time and effort is put toward preparedness.

The airport has seen a few minor landing gear failures and has their share of “regular” calls. However, their main concern is a significant crash of an aircraft. Through their up-to-date equipment, their continued training and testing, and their strong relationship with Toronto Fire Services, they will continue to provide high quality and professional service to the over 2.8 million passengers that travel through their airport.

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Hazmat IQ Lithium-Ion Batteries...

Are They Safe?

BY STUART WEST, CAPTAIN, TORONTO FIRE INVESTIGATIONS

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ithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become ubiquitous in our modern, technologically advanced society. Whether it’s a cell phone, laptop computer, power tool, electric bike, scooter or automobile, the usage of these batteries has become so widespread it is difficult to imagine life without them. However, unless you have been living under a rock for the last several years, you will have noticed that in the fire service, we are running into a great deal of fires where LIBs have been involved. Overall, when used correctly, LIBs are relatively safe. However, there are some legitimate safety concerns that are worth discussing.

What is Lithium?

Lithium (Li) is a silvery white alkali metal and is the third lightest element on the periodic table, with

only hydrogen and helium being lighter. Lithium is the lightest metal and is so soft it can be cut with a knife. In its pure elemental form, it is flammable, corrosive, and highly reactive with oxygen and water. Lithium is so reactive that it must be stored in an inert atmosphere to prevent any contact with air or water vapour, which otherwise would result in spontaneous, violent reactions. Lithium is not found in its pure form in nature and can only be isolated using various chemical processes. Lithium gets its name from the Greek word, “lithos” meaning stone, because its present in trace amounts in virtually all rocks, although always bonded to one or more other elements or compounds. Due to lithium’s high energy density, lithium batteries are much lighter than other battery chemistries.

Knowing these facts, you might ask the question: “Why would anyone want to use this metal in batteries?”. Fair question. The fact is that there is no pure elemental lithium in a LIB, nor do they contain any alloys of lithium. LIBs include intercalation compounds, which account for approximately seven percent of the total content of most LIBs.

What Are the Advantages?

1. High energy density (capacity) – this is

one of the greatest benefits of lithiumion battery technology, and is of prime importance for smartphones, laptops, scooters, and automobiles.

2. Lightweight (50%-60% less).

3. Long lifespans (10 times longer than

lead-acid).

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4. Fast charge times.

5. Customizable – variety of types and shapes depending

on specific needs.

6. Low self-discharge – much lower than other

rechargeable battery technologies such as nickel metal hydride (NiMH) or nickel cadmium (Ni-Cad), typically around five percent in the first four hours after charging and then 1%-2% per month after.

7. Low maintenance – lithium-ion batteries require no

active maintenance compared with other technologies such as Ni-Cad which require periodic discharging and lead acid which require battery acid top up.

3. Cost – a major drawback with LIBs is the cost factor.

Typically, around 40% more costly to manufacture than NiCad battery cells.

4. Developing Technology – still very much a developing

technology. This could in some ways also be viewed as an advantage as well. In this context it is a disadvantage due to safety concerns.

5. Are quite sensitive to temperature extremes. The

batteries don’t perform particularly well in cold conditions and can be damaged by heat. Batteries should be kept between five- and twenty-degrees C.

Disadvantages 1. Protection/battery management system (BMS) required – LIB cells are not as robust as some

other rechargeable technologies and require protection from overcharging or over discharging.

LIBs also require protection to ensure they stay within the correct current parameters. BMS systems contain circuitry to ensure that LIBs stay within the parameters and prevent them from being overcharged, etc. When a LIB charger senses that there is something wrong, it will immediately cut the power to the battery.

2. Aging – LIBs begin degrading the moment they

leave the factory, whether or not they are in use. They also have a limited amount of charge a nd recharge cycles. LIBs will generally only last 2-3 years.

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Hazmat IQ...Continued from page 17

Basic Structure of a LIB

The basic structure of the battery has not really changed much since Italian physicist Alessandro Volta first invented the battery in the 1700’s. Although the chemistry is different, rechargeable LIBs are not much different from any other battery. The basic components of a LIB are a positive anode, a negative cathode, a separator to ensure the electrodes do not touch and an electrolyte solution.

There are three main shapes that LIBs are commonly found in: 1. Cylindrical Cells – A cylindrical cell consists of a sheet like anodes, separators, and cathodes that are sandwiched, rolled up and packed into a cylinder shaped can. This shape is one of the first mass produced types of LIBs and is still very popular.

2. Prismatic Cells – A prismatic cell consists of large sheets of anodes, cathodes, and separators sandwiched, rolled up, and pressed to fit into a metallic or hard plastic housing in cubic form. The electrodes can be assembled by layer stacking rather than jelly rolling.

3. Pouch Cells – Pouch cells do not have a rigid enclosure and use a sealed flexible foil as the cell container. This is a somewhat minimalist approach to packaging; it reduces weight and leads to flexible cells that can easily fit the available space of a given product.

Failure Mode – Thermal Runaway

Conventional, non-rechargeable batteries are referred to as primary batteries, whereas rechargeable batteries are referred to as secondary batteries.

An English chemist named Stanley Whittingham, an engineering professor named John B. Goodenough and a Japanese chemist named Akira Yoshino are all credited with contributing to the invention of the lithium-ion battery during the 1970’s and 1980’s.

This was motivated as a response to the oil crisis in the 1970’s and a desire to find an alternative to oil.

All three of these individuals were awarded the Nobel prize in 2019 for their work on the li-ion battery.

Even though the components of LIBs are all the same, the internal chemistry and the form or shape the battery takes can be different. There are approximately six main intercalation compounds that can be found in LIBs. Lithium iron phosphate and lithium cobalt oxide are two of the most common.

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By now, I’m sure that virtually every operations firefighter has attended at least one fire, if not several, in which LIBs were involved. I’m also quite certain that you are also very familiar with the term, “thermal runaway,” as it pertains to exothermic reactions associated with LIBs. However, it is important to discuss the common reasons why these batteries are going into thermal runaway in the first place.

What is thermal runaway? In simple terms, it is an uncontrollable exothermic reaction that can occur within a LIB when there has been an off-nominal condition within the battery. If just one individual cell goes into thermal runaway, the reaction begins to propagate throughout the entire battery as the neighbouring cells are then exposed to an increase in temperature and the reaction continues unabated. An increased risk of thermal runaway begins at approximately 60 C and becomes critical at approximately 100 C. During thermal runaway, there is a rapid increase in temperature within the battery itself, followed by an increase in pressure. Temperatures are known to increase by as much as 20 C per minute and reaching as high as 400 C at its peak. Various toxic and flammable gases are also created during thermal runaway including methane, ethane, ethylene,

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hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and oxygen. This is immediately followed by smoke, flames, and explosions as the reaction continues uncontrollably. The conditions within any space which houses the battery will rapidly deteriorate, spreading flame and flaming projectiles. The air will also be filled with toxic and flammable gases, making egress even more challenging, not to mention making survivability questionable for anyone not able to escape. The high energy density that LIBs are desired for also contribute to the rapid onset and intensity of LIB fires. LIBs are known to be unstable post fire and have been known to spontaneously ignite weeks later. There are various off-nominal conditions that can lead to thermal runaway. Most, if not all these conditions, will result in an internal short circuit. Some of the conditions that can lead to thermal runaway include: 1. Electrical abuse - Overcharging and over-discharging.

This will result in the battery being operated outside the recommended maximum or minimum voltage limits.

2. Mechanical abuse – This refers to dropping the battery or puncturing it with a nail, or otherwise causing damage to the battery.

3. Using incompatible replacement parts that are not recommended or approved by the manufacturer.

4. Poorly constructed batteries/manufacturing defects

- Many consumers will source replacement batteries via internet suppliers. The quality control and reliability of these suppliers is not always what it should be. This is a very risky choice for consumers.

5. Environmental abuse - Charging or storing the battery in a less than ideal environment. For example, in direct sunlight or near other sources of heat.

6. Aging – Over time, after many charges and recharge cycles, the battery will become more susceptible to degradation increasing the likelihood of thermal runaway.

Despite the increase in incidents involving LIBs, this technology is here to stay.

Improvements in battery management systems (BMS) and other safety measures, including stricter regulations, should help ameliorate the current situation. One key piece to this is providing education to the public with respect to the dangers of LIBs and how the risks can be minimized. In that vein, here is a list of some measures that members of the public should keep in mind: 1. Never use replacement batteries or other parts that are not approved for your specific device by the manufacturer. All parts must also display Canadian certification markings and the manufacturer must have proof that their product has passed UN certification criteria.

2. Always charge and store your battery in a dry environment at room temperature. Never allow your battery to be stored in direct sunlight.

3. Never allow your battery to completely discharge or discharge below the manufacturer’s recommendations.

4. Never allow your battery to charge unattended, especially overnight when you’re sleeping. Never charge your battery in a bedroom.

5. Never charge your battery near an exit. There have been cases where people have literally blocked their only viable exit by doing this.

6. Never use damaged batteries. Consult your local municipality on proper disposal and attempt to get a replacement from the manufacturer.

7. Never dispose of old LIBs in the household garbage. Consult your local municipality on proper disposal.

Hopefully, as things improve, we will start to see a decline in incidents of this nature. While LIBs have made many things in life more convenient, this convenience has come at a price.However, misuse on the part of the consumer has also played a role in the frequency of these incidents. Fire crews have done a great job in putting out some very challenging LIB fires.

Keep up the good work and as always, stay safe!

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5th Alarm Fire on Nashville Ave, Toronto November 9, 2023 A photo montage by Derek Craig @photosbydjcraiggers

Member Profile with Reflecting on 31.5 Years on the Job

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I am extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to be a small part of something so important, so fulfilling, and so rewarding.

This job has given me and my family so much.

It has helped to shape much of who I am today, and it will forever be a cherished part of my life.

t’s curious how life can change and place you on a path that you weren’t initially intending to go down. As a child, like many young boys back then, I remember being excited whenever a fire truck went racing past; lights flashing, sirens blaring, and yes, firefighters hanging off the back step in petch coats. I knew that both my grandfather and step-grandfather had been Toronto Firefighters (both fought the Noronic fire in 1949), and that my dad had tried to become a Toronto Firefighter but wasn’t able to gain enough weight at the time to meet the minimum requirement. However, I’m not sure I ever genuinely thought to myself, “That’s what I’m going to do someday!”

Early in high school, at Northern Secondary, I was fortunate to have taken a graphic arts and photography class, taught by two inspirational teachers. I felt like a passion had stirred inside of me. During my Grade 12 graphic arts class, a company offered the top graphic arts graduate a four-year apprenticeship in downtown Toronto. I worked hard and accepted that offer in July of 1987. After completing the four-year apprenticeship and obtaining my journeyman papers, I was laid-off, due to a slowdown in the industry. As much as I had enjoyed what I was doing, curiously, I didn’t bother pursuing any other graphic arts companies for employment. Instead, I decided that I would set my sights on becoming a firefighter. Suddenly, every day

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was as though I was sleeping, eating, breathing and living life with that one goal in mind. I was obsessed, and I wasn’t going to stop until I was hired somewhere, anywhere!

I knew that it wasn’t going to be an easy road and that there would be tremendous competition for relatively few positions available. I started spending my savings on courses and anything that might give me some type of advantage over the thousands of other applicants. I took a SCUBA course, blueprint reading, and a Seneca pre-fire service certificate, consisting of nine credits. I also acquired my “DZ” licence, got certified in CPR and basic first aid, volunteered at St. John’s Ambulance, and spent a lot of time at the gym, training.

I submitted my application to a few departments that were actively hiring. I wrote exams for Kitchener and Etobicoke. I didn’t score high enough on my exam in Kitchener to move on to the next stage. However, in Etobicoke, I was able to progress through the written exam, the physical at York University, and finally, an interview. During the summer of 1992 I received a call from Etobicoke Human Resources, telling me that I had successfully completed the hiring process and was being offered employment as a firefighter! I would start recruit training at the beginning of November. I can say, without a doubt, that it was one of the most exhilarating moments of my life. I knew that it was a pivotal moment in my life, one that would make it better. Little did I know at the time, how much better.

I started seven weeks of training at 947 Martingrove Road on November 2, 1992. There were seven of us in that recruit class.

I was the youngest at 22 years old. The eldest was 34 years old.

Today, only two of us from that class are still actively on the job – me and someone that I have always had a tremendous amount of respect for, Trevor Crummy, at station 445-D. Now, I may have been 22 years old at the time, but honestly, I looked about 17…maybe.

This extremely young appearance led to me arriving at my first assigned hall (Etobicoke Hall 10, now TFS Station 413) and the senior firefighter, upon seeing me walk into the hall, without missing a beat, turned and yelled out to the rest of the crew to inform them that the paperboy was here and was collecting for the Toronto Star.

“Say what now? Um, no sir, I was told to report to this hall. I just graduated from recruit class!”

“Sure, you did, kid.

Sure, you did.”

Lol… About ten months after my first shift on the

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James Coones

trucks, I found myself riding the back of Pumper 10 with another recruit who had only been on the job for about four months – Paul Kwiatkowski, better known as “Kiwi” or “3K”. We caught a fire in Clairville, in Station 412’s first-run area. It was a barn, fully involved.

We could see the thick plume of smoke rising in the air as we travelled west across Albion Road. Needless to say, the adrenaline was flowing! After arriving, we pulled lines off our pump and began attacking the fire. As we began to make progress extinguishing the fire, we advanced about ten feet inside, to get a better angle and position. I was on the nozzle and Kiwi was behind me. For some unknown reason, the Captain was nowhere near. I remember Kiwi putting his hand on my shoulder and then pointing up at the timber framing and shouting, “I don’t like the look of that.” I agreed, and we decided to back out immediately…and thankfully we did. Within about twenty seconds of us stepping back over the threshold to the outside, there was a loud crack and the entire structure caved in.

There was a large pile of burning wood framing and debris located exactly where we had just been standing only moments earlier. We both stood there, wide-eyed with disbelief, staring at that spot for what seemed like a very long time, trying to process what might have been had we not exited. That was the closest call that I, or as far as I know, Paul has had on the job throughout our long careers.

After a year at 413 there was a big shake-up at headquarters (Etobicoke Hall 3, now TFS Station 445). A nine-player swap, with four leaving and five coming in. I was one of those five. Keep in mind that this was back in the days when management could transfer anyone, anywhere, anytime they felt like it (If you listen hard enough, you too will have just heard a collective, “Ahhh…the good old days!” come from 4330 Dufferin). As upset as I was at the time, it turned out to be a great move for me. I was now in a hall with a pumper and a squad, which was called a rescue at that time in Etobicoke.

This was back when squads only ran fires and extrications. The crew chemistry was fantastic. We had a lot of great times together and shared a lot of laughs. We showed respect toward one another and worked closely at some challenging calls. To this day, these are still some of my fondest memories of my time on the job.

In October of 1998, my life would change and be temporarily thrown into a state of confusion and uncertainty. It was at this time, only five days before my six-year anniversary on the job, and ten months after amalgamation, that I was hospitalized and diagnosed with Type 1, insulin-dependent diabetes (once known as juvenile diabetes). I remember laying in the hospital bed, and instead of being concerned for my health, or wondering how this had happened with no history of Type 1 diabetes in my family, all I could think about was my career as a firefighter. Was the job that I loved so much, and worked so hard to obtain, now over? What did

this all mean for my future? I was determined that I wouldn’t let this incredible career slip away from me, if there was anything that I could do to prevent it.

When I returned to work, I was assigned to ride with Chief 43, Dean Dempster. The medical office mandated it, to ensure that I had sufficient time to learn how to adjust and manage my blood glucose levels. After three weeks of this, they were satisfied with my progress and I was allowed to return to full, active duty at station 445.

Managing Type 1 diabetes can be challenging for anyone, in any profession. You must be constantly monitoring and aware of your blood glucose levels. Close attention must be paid to what you’re eating, when you’re eating, and how much you’re eating. You must have an excellent understanding of how much insulin to inject and when to inject it. You also have to consider so many other factors, such as level of activity, quantity and quality of sleep, illnesses and more.

As we all know, being a firefighter can be a very demanding job on its own, both physically and mentally. We work unconventional hours; we’re called upon at a moment’s notice to instantly, and without delay, be operating at a very high, intense level; and at times, we are required to be engaged for long periods of time without a break. Now, combine those two things together, and the challenge increases to a level at which only the person experiencing it can fully understand.

In my view, it’s a unique and special accomplishment to be able to complete a career in the fire service and retire on your own terms, after riding on a frontline apparatus for 30 years or more. One that should never be underestimated or taken for granted. I can say in all sincerity though, to do so, while dealing simultaneously with Type 1 diabetes for almost 26 of those years, without incident, and not allowing it to define me or limit me in any way, is one of the things that I am most proud of myself for accomplishing. It would be extremely satisfying for me to know that someone, especially a younger person with Type 1 diabetes, who may be feeling uncertain of their future or even depressed because of their diagnosis, could read this and be inspired to know, that if I could be a firefighter and a Captain in the 5th largest fire service in North America, that they too dream of doing.

I had been working at station 445 for just over six years when, in 2000, an opportunity presented itself in the communications division. A job posting was issued for a Captain’s position.

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Member Profile...Continued from page 23

Station 445 also housed the Etobicoke dispatch centre, and firefighters assigned to the apparatus at the hall were often required to provide relief, or occasionally work entire shifts as a call taker or dispatcher. I had a fair bit of knowledge and experience already, and I also enjoyed it! I also remember feeling at the time that it might be a choice that offered me more stability and consistency for managing Type 1 diabetes. So, with a little over seven years on the job in operations, I decided to write for the position and was successful.

I enjoyed the position for the first six months or so. It did offer me a better, more stable environment to manage diabetes. However, every time I would dispatch the crews at Station 445 and watch them go to the trucks and put their gear on, I knew it was where I really wanted to be. I applied to the Division Commander to give up the position and return to Operations.

In the end, they held me in the position for another year, until 2001, when all the dispatch centres unified at 4330 Dufferin, at which time I was able to return to the trucks at station 445.

Many of the longer serving members will likely recall the website that I created not too long after amalgamation called torontofirefighters.com. Amalgamation was a monumental undertaking and a very difficult, stressful time for everyone.

Much was changing... and changing very rapidly. There were so many rumours circulating regarding almost every aspect of the job. Remember, we were still essentially six separate departments under one umbrella, doing everything our own specific ways, for many years after amalgamation. I felt strongly at the time that neither our union, nor management, were communicating properly with the rank-and-file firefighters. So, having some skill sets with computers and website design, I decided to take the initiative to launch a website where we could all hopefully communicate a bit more effectively. My intentions were good, and I really wanted to offer a way to better disseminate information in a more timely, consistent and accurate manner across the job. I believe it did that to a certain extent. However, it also proved to be controversial as well. I could be quite harsh at times with my criticism and how I delivered it in some of my posts toward management and the union.

As well, there was a discussion forum component to the site. You needed to be a Toronto Firefighter and would register by filling out an online form with some personal information. I made the decision at the time to allow registrants to use aliases for usernames. There were advantages to this, and of course, some very big disadvantages as well. Much like today, people felt more at ease to say things that they wouldn’t normally say to someone’s face, when they are at a keyboard, hiding behind an alias. The only person who ever knew who the real registrants were was me, and as much as I was asked, I never revealed who they were. I can’t tell you how many times President Jim Lee and I yelled at each other on the phone over that website, but it was a lot! Of course, we both laugh about it now when we see each other, and we have mutual respect for one another. I will say that I believe the website served its purpose though, and forced the union to re-evaluate its communication strategies and platforms at the time.

I think it’s very important to find mentors and role models on this job. You’ll likely know who they are when you encounter them. Of course, they will be different for everyone, depending on your own morals, values, interests and personality traits. For me, I had two throughout my career that helped to shape me into not only who I am on the job, but partly, who I am off the job as well.

The first was Bill McIntyre. Bill was at Station 445 when I first arrived from 413, after a year on the job. After being transferred

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there, one of the senior firefighters at 413, sensing that I was unhappy about the move, took me aside and told me that it would be good for me and to make sure that I stuck close to Bill and all would be okay. Bill had only just turned first class about six months earlier, but already was getting the respect of someone with many more years of service. I took that advice and stuck close to Bill.

He taught me not only about aspects of firefighting, but also about how best to handle crew life in the hall. I can say that it has served me well, having some of his razor-sharp wit rub off on me, as it has always been a good deterrent against any firehall bullying attempts.

There’s nothing like being able to immediately throw back a witty verbal counter punch that stings twice as much as the original one thrown! We have been good friends for thirty years now, and remain so today, getting together often for lunches, to watch sporting events and play the occasional round of golf together.

The second mentor for me, around the midpoint of my career, when I was getting prepared to write the captain’s exam, was Steve Wallace. Steve was, and still is, a very well-respected Captain at Station 115. I was at Station 111 at the time but had filled in at 115 and had also met Steve at a few calls. There was no question in my mind that Steve knew his stuff on the fireground. He was knowledgeable, confident, and very capable. He was also a great teacher and could explain things in a way that I understood clearly.

He was patient, easy to talk to, had a great sense of humour, and seemed to offer the best advice on almost any subject, job-related or otherwise, that we had conversations about. I transferred to Station 115 and I learned a tremendous amount from him in so many different areas of work and life. I feel that I am a much better Captain today because of his mentorship.

Over the course of my career, I have spent almost the same amount of time in West Command as I have in North Command. Personally, I feel that moving around to different halls, and even Commands, is beneficial to your career. It allows you to meet new people, become familiar with different areas of the city, ride different apparatus, and learn different skills and different ways of doing things that maybe you thought you already knew well. I have worked at, in order: 413D, 445-D, 445-A, 111-A, 115-A, 433-D, 123-C, 431-D, 325-D, 411B and I am currently at 432-D, where I will retire this year at the end

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of May. I have been very fortunate to work with some incredible crews and individuals over my career, and it will be the thing, like most retirees I have spoken to, that I will miss the most.

Many of you reading this will probably recognize my name from my time with our Association, Local 3888. I started in 2002 as a Union Steward, not too long after the program launched. Following that, I ran for North Command Executive Board Officer in 2004 and was elected to a two-year term. During that term, I was assigned as Chair of the Membership Communications Committee, as well as the Stewards Committee. I was able to utilize some of my skill sets and accomplish some goals toward what I hope was considered progress for our members. In the Fall of 2005, Frank Ramagnano and I launched a new membership magazine called Fire Watch.

It was one of the first of its kind for fire Associations in Canada. We hired a company to do the initial design work and brand the publication. A separate company sold all the advertising that appeared in it. That same company would pay for all the design, printing and distribution of the magazine and then give the Association a part of the ad revenue as well.

It was a win-win situation that cost the members nothing and provided a new means of communication. Today, much of the credit for keeping Fire Watch going must go to Local 3888 Senior Executive Assistant, Suzanne Boss. She steers that ship now and steers it well.

She is very organized, proactive, and coordinates all aspects of the publication and keeps everyone on schedule. Next year will be the 20th anniversary of Fire Watch and I look forward to seeing it hit that milestone!

Near the end of my term as North Command Executive Officer, the OPFFA posted a job position for Editor of the Intrepid magazine, which was distributed to about 10,000 members across the province.

I applied for the position and was successful, being hired by then OPFFA President, Fred LeBlanc.

It was my responsibility to research and gather relevant and engaging content, write articles, edit articles submitted by others, and oversee all the layout and design as well. The position also involved attending all OPFFA events and capturing photos and video recordings for various media usage. Over the nine years that I held that position, the job evolved to include other duties, such as redesigning and maintaining the OPFFA website. It was a great experience. I learned a great deal, got to know so many incredible firefighters from across the province, and developed some strong friendships as well.

In 2015, while I was still working with the OPFFA, Frank Ramagnano, Local 3888 Secretary-Treasurer at the time, approached me to talk about doing something that had never been done in our union’s history, and hasn’t been done since. He was contemplating a run for the President’s position and he wanted me to run for the Secretary-Treasurer’s position. Not so unique you might be saying to yourself. However, he wanted us to run together, as a two-person slate. Meaning, we would develop a joint campaign together, with common goals and platforms. Both of our names would be on the

same campaign materials and we would go out and campaign the halls across the city together. The strategy was an overwhelming success, as we were both elected to the positions by a wide margin.

If Bill and Steve were my mentors at the firehall, Frank was definitely my union mentor. I’m not sure that Frank gets the immense credit that he deserves for everything that he accomplished during his three decades of union service. With no disrespect to any other former Local 3888 President’s, I believe Frank was the best to hold that position. He was masterful at the bargaining table; he was great at developing labour/management relations; and he always approached issues with the mindset of finding a solution and getting the parties to agree to terms that worked for all. Honestly, he just always seemed to be at least two steps ahead of everyone else, in any room, and it was difficult to find fault in his logic or approach to things. I feel he has done more for Local 3888 members than anyone else I know.

For me, my biggest union achievement, and what I consider to be my legacy with Local 3888, is our current union office at 14 Cosentino Drive. We had outgrown our former union office at 39 Commissioners Street. It was getting expensive to maintain, and due to being built on contaminated soil, we were unable to expand. Former executive boards had investigated selling it and purchasing a new building, but for various reasons, they had never been able to do it. The membership supported the motion to sell it and purchase a new property. It was my responsibility as Secretary-Treasurer to lead the entire project. With the help of a commercial real estate agent and a couple of members who had construction expertise, we were able to sell our former building, purchase the new building, and then completely gut it and design a custom space that suited our needs exactly. I’m really proud of that building. It was almost two years of my life that was spent making it a reality. I think functionally, it is a vast improvement over the former office. I believe that the attention to detail and the unique features incorporated into it, helps to exude professionalism. As well, we were able to accomplish this project without incurring any debt or needing to assess the members any extra union dues – a huge bonus, especially as the Secretary-Treasurer!

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Member Profile...Continued from page 25

The other thing that I am quite proud of during my time as the Secretary-Treasurer is our most recent collective agreement, which just expired at the end of 2023. It came as a complete shock to most members, as it was the first one in TFS history to be freely negotiated and ratified prior to the previous contract expiring. Other than the Executive Board and our Advocate, Jeff Nestor, nobody was aware of the hundreds of hours that we had been working and meeting with the city to get this deal done. It was a great moment when we announced it to the membership and had it ratified by, if I remember correctly, about 95%. We made some excellent gains in that contract for our members. It was the cherry on top of the sundae for me, as I prepared to step away from the union after my second term had ended, to return to Operations as a full Captain.

So, what’s next after retirement? Spending more time with family and friends, travelling more, fitness, golf, woodworking, photography and watching a lot of F1. I may take some cooking classes, learn Japanese and Spanish, try pickleball, and start playing the cello again (I played for 8 years as a child). I’m always keen to learn and try new things, and to find new hobbies and interests.

I have a deep love of dogs, and animals in general, and I would be absolutely thrilled to spend time working in some capacity in this field, as I know it would bring me much joy. I have also had this secret underlying desire to become a published author of children’s books, and I am actively planning to take some courses and dedicate time toward accomplishing that goal as well.

As I conclude, I would like to take this opportunity to first say thank you to everyone. Those who I have worked with directly and those I have not. It has been an absolute pleasure to have been part of such an incredible team, doing incredible work, for so long.

Secondly, in the words and illustrations of Paul Combs (Drawn by Fire), “This symbol owes you nothing. But if you dedicate yourself to it – it will give you everything.”

Resist the negative attitudes on the job. Stay positive and grateful for everything this job provides. Wear your SCBA – ALWAYS! And last but not least, enjoy the ride, because it’s awesome, and before you know it, it’s over.

Stay safe and stay well everyone!

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Letter from the Editor…

Lynn Sciberras

While it’s not the dark side that we typically hear about in movies or read in print, it’s a definite darkness that looms with us, most notably at this time of the year - better known as the “winter blues” or “winter blah”. Seasonal Affective Disorder, known also in its short form acronym SAD, is not a new phenomenon. It’s very real and is a form of depression. It’s what could happen to us when there is less sunlight by day, resulting from the gloomy skies that literally make us feel sad. Have you ever noticed your mood mid-winter into spring or how many people travel south at that time of year?

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), less than 5% of Canadians will experience SAD in their lifetime. Another 15% of people experience slight depression. About 10% of depression cases occur because of SAD, and like many mental health conditions, people who experience SAD are still able to function and live their life without major disruption.

Several years ago, one of my kids received a sun lamp as a work gift; something I’d not seen before, so it was new to me. The tool/aid is a form of light therapy, to help with the effects of SAD. Light is emitted and mimics doses of natural sunlight. Some find it helpful to use on its own, while others benefit from added talk therapy or medication. There are some conditions people have that are not conducive to light therapy, for example, bi-polar and glaucoma.

Given that firefighting involves mostly outdoor work and otherwise in station, to be optimally fit for duty, it’s important not to get caught in the vortex of a high degree of darkness, where possible. Not only is sunshine a source of vitamin D and good for our health, but it’s also a good preventative measure for SAD so go outside and revel in sunshine! It’s unfortunate we cannot store it in a bottle for the days we would really like to have natural sunshine. Keep reading for a great intro and details that delve deeper, from an article about Seasonal Affective Disorder, written

by Adina Kaufman.

TORONTO FIRE SERVICES EAP/CIS NEWSLETTER

VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 1 | FIRE WATCH

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It’s Winter.

It’s Dark.

I Feel Sad. Is It Just Me?

Welcome to the darkest time of year.

On December 21, 2023, a group of my Toronto neighbours gather around a small fire, carefully contained in an empty half metal barrel BBQ, on the local neighbourhood bocce court. Foil wrapped potatoes are ‘cooking’ over the fire as everyone is careful to honour Ontario Fire Code 2.4.4.4 - no illegal open air burning to see here! They gather to honour the winter solstice. The shortest day of the year. The longest night of the year.

The day when we are at our maximum tilt away from the sun. As dogs run around in the off-leash area, and people gather around the warm fire, these folks do their best to bring some light, both literal through the flames, and figurative through the communal shared experience, into the darkness.

Finding light in the darkness.

Many religious and cultural traditions have celebrations to bring light into our darkest time of year – Christmas lights sparkle from trees and homes, Chanukah and Kwanzaa candles burn bright in windows, glowing lanterns welcome the Lunar New Year, the lights of Diwali shine to symbolize the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

As the days shorten and the darkness increases, most of us notice that it can and does affect our energy and mood.

Who hasn’t felt their shoulders slump as they leave the house to head to work in the dark, or listened to a family member, who works a more traditional schedule than we shift workers, complain about the injustice of leaving for work in the dark, only to return home in that same somber reality?

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Why does this increased darkness matter?

Some of us are affected much more than others by this seasonal change in our exposure to the sun’s healing light. While for some, the darkness may be an annoyance and inconvenience, for others, it can become an almost debilitating challenge to daily life. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs during the same season each year, triggered by changes in the amount of sunlight. It is believed that this change in light exposure can affect a person’s internal biological clock (i.e. circadian rhythm) and may disturb neurotransmitter functions (e.g. serotonin, dopamine).

What are the symptoms of SAD? The major symptom of SAD is a sad, despairing mood (note how clever they were when they named this illness) that is present most days, lasts most of the day, lasts more than two weeks, and impairs one’s performance at work, school, or in social relationships. Other symptoms can include changes in appetite and weight, sleep disturbances, fatigue, feeling pessimistic, irritability, crying easily, memory difficulties and trouble concentrating. In extreme cases, SAD can lead to suicidal thoughts, which should always be taken seriously. If you are thinking of suicide or know someone who is, you can connect directly to the recently introduced national Suicide Crisis Helpline at 9-8-8.

TORONTO FIRE SERVICES EAP/CIS NEWSLETTER

VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 1 | FIRE WATCH

Who is most affected by SAD? While we can’t predict exactly who will be most affected by SAD, we do know that women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with SAD, that it becomes more common as we move further from the equator (and thus experience more extreme differences in amount of daylight), that young people are more likely to develop SAD, and that a family history of SAD or other forms of depression increases risk.

Three to five percent of Canadians experience SAD that impacts upon their ability to function in their personal and/or work lives. When the lack of sunlight doesn’t impact your work or personal life, but still results in what many informally call the “winter blues”, you may be experiencing a subsyndromal disorder, a milder form of seasonal depression that affects 10 to 15 per cent of Canadians.

How can we treat SAD? Light therapy is a proven treatment for SAD. Light therapy is exposure to artificial light through a device that mimics what you’d receive outdoors. Unlike regular lamps, a light therapy lamp delivers a brighter and broader spectrum of light, typically around 10,000 lux, which is close to the intensity of sunlight on a clear day. Light therapy is thought to affect brain chemicals linked to mood and sleep, thereby easing SAD symptoms. Light therapy should be used in the morning, as use in the evenings could disrupt the body’s internal clock and lead to difficulty sleeping. Many people with SAD are helped by light therapy, and such lamps are often referred to as “happy lamps”. There are many types of light devices, and as with most technology, they vary in their quality and effectiveness, so some consumer research is always a good idea before making a purchase. Factors to consider include size of lamp (yes, bigger is better), brightness, and brand reputation (e.g. Verilux and Northern Lights are reputable recognized brands). Some libraries, including Toronto Public Library and Robarts Library at the University of Toronto, make light therapy lamps available to their users, so it may be a way to ‘try before you buy’ to see if you find it useful. There are very few reported side effects from light therapy and when they do occur, they are generally reports of mild nausea, headaches, and eye strain.

Most people suffering with SAD also report some reduction in symptoms through increasing physical activity and spending more time outdoors. For some people these lifestyle changes can be enough to address the impacts of winter blues.

Treatments for SAD also include treatments that are proven to be effective for different types of depression including medications, talk therapy, and even brain intervention therapies such as electroconvulsive TORONTO FIRE SERVICES EAP/CIS NEWSLETTER

therapy (ECT), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and magnetic seizure therapy (MST). These treatments may be used individually or in combination.

Some people are firm believers in the use of Vitamin D supplements to relieve symptoms of SAD. While there are some studies that seem to find a link between lower levels of Vitamin D and depression, there is no conclusive research showing a causal relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and depression, including SAD. It is important to recognize that Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and thus it is possible with extreme supplementation to reach toxic levels. As with all supplements, professional medical consultation is always advised.

Are first responders at increased risk?

First responders not only have to deal with the same winter blues as everyone else, but also a phenomenon known as the holiday blues. There is a special magic to the ‘holiday season’ whether we celebrate Christmas or other winter holidays. The ‘spirit of the season’ makes people a bit kinder, a bit gentler, and as work and school commitments ease, people seem a bit more easygoing and relaxed. But it can be hard for first responders to fully experience this part of the season. Our work schedules continue and might even mean working instead of sharing special times with family and friends, with ensuing feelings of missing out and/or letting down those we care about. Additionally, there’s something harder about seeing people have the worst days of their lives on what are supposed to be the happiest days of love and sharing. I know I’ll never forget pushing aside the wrapped gifts under the tree to perform CPR on a family matriarch as the rest of the family sat in the next room, still at the Christmas dinner table. As happy holiday images crash into tragic reality, feelings of helplessness, sadness, and guilt can be more intense for first responders during the holidays. Add in some extra seasonal darkness and no wonder we might find ourselves struggling.

What should I do if I think I may be affected by the winter blues?

As with any health concern, physical or mental, chronic, acute, or seasonal, we should acknowledge what we’re experiencing and speak up. “The most important thing to know about SAD is that it should not be underestimated in terms of its severity or impact. It is a type of depression,” explains Shari Harding, a professor of nursing and an expert on SAD. “People who believe they may have SAD should absolutely seek treatment and should not rely solely on lifestyle changes to manage symptoms. Untreated or under-treated depression can cause serious problems, but sometimes people hesitate to seek treatment.”

Reach out to your family doctor or a mental health professional to find out what you can do to manage and treat symptoms. With a little assistance, we can all find a way to enjoy the magic of the season!

VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 1 | FIRE WATCH

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BY SARAH JONES, ACTING CAPTAIN TORONTO FIRE COMMUNICATIONS

A

midst the hustle and bustle of Toronto’s cityscape, each October there is a beacon of hope that stands out – a vibrant, pink-wrapped fire truck, an emblem of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association. Its pink exterior isn’t merely a display of colour; it’s a statement – a reminder of the TPFFA’s dedication to raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research. While the truck captures attention, it’s the members and volunteers behind the wheel that truly drive this initiative. Members of Toronto Fire Services, with help from pre-service firefighter students, clad in pink attire, stand alongside the truck, engaging with the community, sparking conversations, and spreading awareness about the importance of early detection and support for those affected by breast cancer. Whether it’s parked outside the Scotiabank Centre or spotted elsewhere around Toronto, this mobile symbol of solidarity embodies the essence of the TPFFA’s PINK campaign and the underlying commitment to be present in the community.

Funds raised go to the Firefighters’ Cancer Research Fund at the Princess Margaret Hospital, established on December 1, 1997, with the purpose of supporting research into cancers prevalent among

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firefighters. The TPFFA’s fundraising initiatives ar impactful, engaging the community in various wa campaign is a month-long series of boot drives, as activities, such as SWEAT for PINK, that occurs e This year, there were 16 boot drives, giving m chance to collect donations and sell TPFFA PINK which included t-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, hood and tumblers. To date, an impressive $2,498,9 raised from the TPFFA PINK campaign and othe as the Toronto Firefighter Magic Show, Ross For Golf Tournament, the Toronto Firefighter Calen Penny Slo-Pitch Tournament, monthly donations, The TPFFA’s commitment is not just about raisi about fostering a community spirit of support an It’s about recognizing that in the battle against small act of kindness and contribution adds u monumental difference. With every dollar raised organized, and every gesture of solidarity, the TPF to fuel hope and support crucial research.

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N,

re diverse and ays. The PINK s well as other each October. members the merchandise, ded sweaters, 987 has been er events such rfar Memorial ndar, the Rob , and tributes. ing funds; it’s and resilience. cancer, every up to make a d, every event FFA continues

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Retired Deaths from October 1, 2023 – February 1, 2024 Raymond Matthew Warren

October 6, 2023

Tommy Galand

December 8, 2023

Robert Allan Burton

October 6, 2023

Edward Massey

December 12, 2023

Preston Seeley

October 7, 2023

Joseph John Gallagher

December 14, 2023

James McKain

October 17, 2023

Ross Bernard Nobel

December 22, 2023

Anthony Robert Vince

October 21, 2023

Grant Alexander Bonner

December 29, 2023

Ron Almer Widgett

November 13, 2023

Ronald Mervyn Jamieson

December 30, 2023

Raymond George Houghton November 18, 2023

Edward John Conderan

January 7, 2024

James Rae Seagrove

November 25, 2023

George Stanley Wood

January 9, 2024

Brian Watters

November 27, 2023

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They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

Captain Gail Pauline Fry On November 1, 2023, Retired Communications Captain Gail Pauline Fry, at the age of 69, passed away from occupational-related cancer at Lakeridge Health Oshawa, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Gail was born on July 27, 1954, in North Bay, Ontario, to parents Metro and Giselle. Gail pursued a career with the Toronto Fire Department on November 14, 1983, and rose to the rank of Captain in Communications on Shift 4.

Captain Fry retired with over 35 years of service on July 31, 2019. Gail was married to retired Platoon Chief Larry Fry for 24 years.

In Honour of our sister, Captain Gail Fry, a Memorial Plaque will be hung inside TFS Communications Centre.

David William Mason On November 1, 2023, at the age of 55, David Mason passed away from an occupational-related cancer. In Honour of our brother, Firefighter Dave Manson, a Memorial Plaque will be hung up at a TFS Fire Station.

Pained to say goodbye but also loved every moment with David, his family shared some memories with those who were a part of his life, both inside and outside the fire service: Following the diagnosis of glioblastoma, David fought determinedly to prolong his time and, true to his nature, inspired us all with his efforts to be present and positive. More than anything, Dave valued his whole family and a very wide circle of loyal friends, including his trusted firefighter colleagues.

David is the incredibly proud and cherished father of Stefanie and Shawn and the best friend and loving husband of his devoted soulmate, Susanne. The youngest child of Fred (d.2006) and Lois (d.2005) Mason, he was raised in North York with his siblings Keith (Sally), Ruth Montgomery (Brad), Beth Frederick (Allan), Kevin and Neil (d. 2000) (Lynda) who all loved him. Oh! So much! He will be hugely missed by his nephews and nieces, Susanne’s children Keegan (Bree) and Mack, and his loved and adoring grandkids Ayla and Griffen. He was the respected and admired son-in-law of Karen and Stu Jarvis. Dave regarded his four lifelong best friends, Dave Baird, Rob Mezzapelli, Pete Rehak and Chris Manos as brothers.

Our cottage on Manitoulin Island was his favourite place to be, and his spirit of fun and resourcefulness will forever permeate that landscape. “Dave’s Trail” will be a legacy enjoyed for years to come.

Dave was an avid fisherman, a keen fan of Toronto’s sports teams, a talented athlete/coach and an outdoor enthusiast.

His creative, artistic, problem-solving mind resulted in the construction of many memorable projects. He was a dedicated, hard-working and well-respected firefighter at R225 with the Toronto Fire Services since September 2000.

A good guy who could deliver a good laugh, a good meal and a good prank, Dave taught us to ‘not sweat the small stuff’, to be kind to others and appreciate differences, and to take responsibility for one’s own happiness. He measured success by the number of satisfying memories he collected. By any standard, Dave was indeed a very successful man!

Go fishing, Dave! We’ll take care of things here until we meet again.

We will never forget someone who gave us so much to remember.

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www.tffwva.ca

3 Bridlington Street, Scarborough, Ontario M1H2L2 Wayne Bridger President

Bob Head Secretary

Eric Motton Treasurer

In the continuing support for our Military Veterans and in the interest of preserving our rich military history, the TFFWVA has embarked on a new project. In collaboration with the Toronto Fire Historical Society, the intent of this project is to document and catalogue all of our firefighters who have served in the military. This collection is NOT limited to those who were actual combatants; our collection includes members who served in ANY capacity.

The project began during the pandemic, with those who served in the various conflicts up to and including World War One. Since then, the collection has reached those who are serving in the present day. We have just surpassed the 500-member mark. We are asking our Toronto Fire Service families (including the former Metro departments) who have served themselves or have family members who served to consider sharing their artifacts with us so that we can create a Personal Diary for each member.

Once created, these Diaries will be posted on the Toronto Fire Historical Society’s Virtual Museum site once it is open for business. Once published, it will be available for all to enjoy.

The Diaries will be displayed virtually, so any shared artifacts can be reproduced for the web and returned where appropriate. In the future, we will showcase our veterans in a special section of Fire Watch Magazine. Please keep an eye out for it.

OP-NEVER FORGOTTEN’s end state will be compiled into a new and separate “Red Book” specifically for this project. Like the 1961 Hodgson Book, it will be in “duotang” form, allowing for additions as our membership changes.

Please help us remember our Veterans and ensure their sacrifices are NEVER FORGOTTEN. Further, in our efforts to keep our Association current, we are always looking for new members. If you have served, please consider being a member.

We are happy to provide whatever assistance we can in collecting any artifacts and to answer any questions you might have.

Our Email address is tffwva@gmail.com.

Thank You TFFWVA Exec.

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MOVING FORWARD TO A NEW YEAR Greetings All! We hope everyone had a good summer and is ready for the change of season and, of course, Christmas. Like our last report, our executive continues to have follow-up discussions with many of our members and we are happy to be of service.

On Halloween, we hosted our Fall Membership Meeting. It was a great event, and we appreciate all those who attended, helped out with the set-up and of course, our speakers. The attendance was just short of 60 and we have had some productive feedback.

Our meeting began around 9:00am with coffee & snacks. The morning meet & greet is an important part of the event as it allows us to interact with everyone and find out what’s at the top of their list of concerns. With this, we can ensure that by days end, we can offer some resolution, either by the speakers themselves, by our executive, or by members of 3888. A special thanks goes out to Suzanne Boss, who is always in attendance at our meetings conducting membership registration & renewals.

Our meeting began with a general update by the President, Al Thomas. He covered the on-going list of items that our executive assists our members with on a daily basis. He also covered the ever popular “retirement checklist” which is always being amended with updated information and with items not included in the original post.

After a discussion about the former, Al did some introductions of those present, our guests, and a run down of scheduled events, including some changes which are always on-going. Our first speaker was James Reed, President TPFFA L-3888. This was his first time addressing our group as president. For those attending in the past, they will remember James being a regular speaker, as the 3888 Treasurer with financial information pertaining to many things including the active retiree issue from our first days. James gave a good overview of his vision for the future of the association both for us and for TFS in general.

As mentioned earlier, our meetings are quite dynamic. Due to the nature of our business, our speakers are sometimes called upon to respond to or attend unscheduled events at the last minute. This can cause some changes to our schedule, which we are quite good at these days. We had a speaker called away, so we quickly moved up a speaker from the afternoon. Our next speaker before lunch was Dr. Marnin J. Heisel, Ph.D, from the University of Western Ontario.

His presentation was on our continuing focus on mental health. He described research being conducted with first responders, and a series of support groups, being conducted by Meaningful Life Lab (https://meaningfulgroups.com/), his group, and funded by The Movember Organization.

We broke shortly after noon for lunch and some more conversation amongst the attendees. Many thanks go to the Comtech Fire Credit Union for sponsoring the food.

Our next speaker was brother Robert Burland.

Bob is a TFS member and our Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Representative, on behalf of the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA). Bob gave us a detailed job description, his ongoing advocacy for all of us and the particular issues facing not only those who are serving, but who are also retired, with respect to our workplace diseases and the provincial presumptive legislation.

We, as an association, are in constant contact with Bob’s office, and at the risk of repetition, will state again our message to all our members!

The New Cancers Announcement is a complicated issue. There’s much discussion about the subject on many social media platforms.

The bottom line remains the same. We encourage all members, past and present, to reach out to us with whatever information you wish to share. Further, if the member has passed, we are reaching out to the families to share as well. We ask that all requests are made by the members themselves or directly from the family. Even if the cancer is not on the current list, we are asking for all members to share, so that we have case material to help add future illnesses for review. All information shared is strictly between the member and our WSIB Rep, as we completely understand the need for privacy. The address to send your requests to is active.retired@torontofirefighters.org.

Our last speaker for the afternoon was Holly Murphy from MROOVictor Insurance. She brought a colleague along with her to show them the ropes. Holly gave another great presentation of the nuances of their travel insurance packages and other pertinent insurance issues facing our members. As always, we recommend MROO membership to all our retirees. At 2:00pm, our meeting came to an end. As usual, we encouraged a Q&A session for those who wanted to stay behind.

Some Final Items

The RTFFA continues its advocacy that all our members be recognized by an obituary and some sort of Celebration of Life. It’s as much for your friends and families as it is for you. We also suggest that you leave instructions in your will to leave any and all fire service memorabilia to specific family members and perhaps our own Toronto Fire Historical Society, so our history can be better preserved. All too often we’ve seen artifacts go in the trash. (info@torontofirehistory. com)

RTFFA Membership

Our membership drive is continuous. If you’re interested in becoming a member, feel free to contact us at active.retired@ torontofirefighters.org. The dues ($25.00) are payable annually on the 1st of May and we will be holding two general membership meetings each year. One in the spring, where you can sign up and/or pay your dues in person, and another in the fall. Meetings will involve food and fellowship; what could be better! Come join us and be well.

Don’t forget to follow our social media feeds: On The web: On Facebook: On Twitter:

https://www.retiredtorontofirefighters.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TFSRetirees https://twitter.com/tfsretirees?lang=en

President Alan Thomas - Secretary/Treasurer Mike Neely - Al Falkner - Alan Hall - Ron Coates - Chuck West

Box 12 Association

Celebrating 75 Years of Serving Toronto Fire Fighters

BY JOHN MARTIN AND ARIANE HEISEY

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or some time prior to 1948, it was apparent that there were several citizens of Toronto who were greatly interested in the never-ending battle against the destructive forces of fire. Additionally, these people held in the highest esteem those who had chosen, as their vocation in life, to fight this unrelenting enemy; namely, the members of the Toronto Fire Department. These citizens were known to the senior officers, as well as to other members of the fire department, having been seen as spectators at all major fires in the city. Drawn together by a common interest they also became known to one another. They were “fire buffs”.

In November 1948, after consultation with then Fire Chief, Peter Herd, and with his approval, these fire buffs decided to formally organize themselves into a group.

In turn, they pledged to attend all multiple alarm fires for the purpose of offering assistance, in all ways possible, to members of the fire department on duty at such fires. At that point, the Box 12 Association was born. Named after the fire box which was pulled at 8:04 pm on April 19, 1904, for the biggest fire Toronto had ever seen, the group of nine charter members began their service to the department.

Their first formal meeting took place on February 2, 1949, and their inaugural dinner meeting was held on April 19, 1949, at the King Edward Hotel, on the date marking the anniversary of the Great Toronto Fire of 1904. During the dinner, the Chief brought an early version of Box 12 from King and Bay Streets to the centre of the table and, at 8:04 pm, the exact time the alarm box was pulled back in 1904, it was pulled.

Soon after, other interested citizens, on learning of this association, applied to join the group, which swelled the ranks to twenty-one members.

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Initially, members ser served firefighters from their personal vehicles, but eventually, Local 113 of the I.A.F.F. offered to purchase and equip a mobile canteen truck (a Ford panel truck). In return, Box 12 members agreed to attend all multiple alarm fires, once notified by Fire Department Alarm Headquarters, regardless of the time of its occurrence.

The new canteen truck was outfitted and painted at the LaFrance Fire Engine and Foamite Co. plant on Weston Road. As it turned out, George Fox, president of the company, was also a Box 12 member. The truck was delivered on September 15th, 1949, and was housed at Station 3 on Grosvenor Street (now Station 314). Remarkably, at 2:46 pm on the following Saturday September 17th, Box 12 responded with the new truck to the fire on the

One of the early Annual Box 12 dinners where the Box 12 alarm is always brought in and pulled at 8:04 pm, the exact time it was pulled for the Great Fire of 1904.

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Box 12 members posing in front of the third Box 12 vehicle.

steamship S.S. Noronic, moored at Pier 9. Members served firefighters continuously until 3:00 pm that afternoon. Over 40 gallons of tea and coffee were served.

Over the years, Box 12 has received and operated three other trucks, all supplied by Local 113, which became Local 3888 after amalgamation. The current vehicle (its fifth), a 2021 Freightliner MT-55, built by P.K. Welding, was purchased by the city, rather than Local 3888. It was delivered and put into service in September 2021. After initially running out of the Grosvenor St. station, the first truck was then housed at the Berkley Street station (old No. 4). On April 8, 1959, it was moved to Station 20 on Keele Street (now Station 423) and was later moved to Station 16 on Deforest Road in Swansea (now Station 425). In the mid-80s, Box 12 found a permanent home at Station 14 (now Station 345) on Dufferin St., just south of Dupont St., occupying the old ambulance quarters, where it remains today.

Local 3888, and previously Local 113, provide both hot and cold beverages, as well as snacks, to Box 12 for distribution at major incidents. Throughout the 75 years of operation, various businesses have helped to support the effort. Early on, the “Tea Bureau” offered to keep the canteen supplied with tea and furnished the association with thermos type tea urns. Also, surprisingly, Theatre Confections Limited supplied cartons of cigarettes. In the early ‘60s, Rothmans took over and supplied one carton a month to the truck, given that George Deering, a Box 12 member, was also an

employee. Cigarettes have not been carried on the truck since the ‘80s, in view of obvious health concerns. A noncarbonated orange drink was served for many years, along with a carbonated drink called “Sparkling Lemon”. For a time, Box 12 also carried socks and supplied hot food items such as chili and stew. Indeed, at one point, Pizza Pizza offered to provide pizzas at long duration incidents.

It is interesting that the protocol at fires has changed over the years. In the early years, regardless of the time the Box 12 truck arrived at a fire scene, members could not begin serving until the Chief in charge gave his approval.

Quite often, this did not occur until the incident was almost under control. Then, Box 12 members would head out with thermoses and cups to serve the firefighters on the hose lines. The concern of senior officers was that the media might photograph firefighters drinking coffee, etc. before the fire was out. By the ‘90s, the importance of and focus on firefighter rehab changed the way Box 12 operated. The group could serve as soon as its members were ready and the firefighters were directed to rehab.

Today, firefighters come to the truck rather than Box 12 going out to the fire lines.

For many years, one member was called by TFD Communications if Box12’s services were required, and then that member initiated a “fan out” call list, which required each contacted member to call two others, so that all members received notification of a fire. During the day, those members who were employed would receive a call at work and some would respond if they could get away.

Being available was paramount, even if it meant missing dinner or cancelling an engagement. An illustration of this occurred when Norm Barker moved to a new subdivision in Etobicoke that had yet to have telephone service installed in each home. However, he was fortunate to have a phone booth located right in front of his house.

Delivery of the original Box 12 vehicle to the Adelaide fire station.

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Box 12 Association...Continued from page 37

One of the early versions of the Box 12 alarm box.

Not to be deterred and to ensure he remained connected, he had a member call the phone booth when there was a run, wherein he would dash outside to answer that phone. Of course, it was necessary to keep his bedroom window open during the night, regardless of the weather, in order to hear that phone ring!

Today, Toronto Fire Communications calls one member who then contacts other members to put a crew together. As there is only room for three members on the truck, additional members will often drive to the scene of the incident.

Prior to the amalgamation of Metro Toronto fire departments in 1998, most of the calls Box 12 responded to were in the City of Toronto. However, on rare occasions Box 12 did respond to significant fires in Scarborough, Etobicoke and even the Mississauga train derailment, on a request basis.

During the 75-year history of Box 12, many members have come and gone. In the early days, quite a few were businessmen, such as Reg Shaw of Shaw Business Schools. Another was Norman Barker, advertising manager for Famous Players Theatres. Percy Bretz was City Editor at the Toronto Telegram newspaper. And J. Karl Lee was a writer for Fire Engineering Magazine, covering various Toronto fires. Honorary members included: Paxton Mendelssohn, a Fire Commissioner of Detroit Board member; TFD Chief Peter Herd; TFD Physician Dr. Robert Ralph and his wife; Toronto Police Chief

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The changeover to the fifth and current Box 12 vehicle on September 14, 2021.

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The fourth Box 12 vehicle in action in the winter.

The fourth Box 12 vehicle in action in the summer.

John Chisholm; and George Haering, U.S. Consul General in Toronto.

Of our current members, John Robinson has 53 years of service, although age has kept his participation to a minimum in the last number of years.

Jim Dunlop has 44 years of service and is currently our Chief. Don Barter, whose father was a longtime Toronto firefighter, has 42 years of service and is currently our Deputy Chief.

A number of years ago, Box 12 members decided that they wanted to do something more for Toronto firefighters and suggested a unique award to be presented at the annual awards luncheon. This award would recognize a Local 3888 member who has gone above and beyond the call of duty, in a voluntary capacity, for the direct betterment of members of Local 3888.

As a result, the Box 12 Award was born. The spirit of the award is to recognize outstanding service and volunteerism as demonstrated by the Box 12 Association.

This year, Box 12 is celebrating its 75th year of service. As we reach and push past this milestone, the members of Box 12 will continue to serve the firefighters of Toronto gladly and proudly.

Box 12 has decided to celebrate this milestone privately; however, it has created a stunning commemorative patch which can be purchased from John Hanley at box12patch@gmail.com.

Box 12 is always interested in recruiting suitable members. If you are interested, please send along a note to: box12.recruitment@gmail.com.

For other inquiries you can reach us at: box12.mailbox@gmail.com You can also follow us on Facebook at: Box 12 Association Rehab.

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BY MATT JENNISON, TORONTO FIRE FIGHTER & CHARITY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

In case you missed it…the TPFFA’s Movember Battle of the Bands had another successful year! This was the second year the event has run, and it was bigger and better than ever! More money was raised, attendance was greater, and the performers all came out swinging (and singing)!

This year, Movember Canada will receive a $15,600 cheque from this event, to help with their tremendous campaign. This money will support treatment for PTSD and research for mental health, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. Those in the crowd, on the stage, and behind the scenes helped make a difference for families.

The event sold out two weeks before the show, highlighting the need that the members of the TPFFA and citizens of Toronto have for helping out! Over 500 people were in attendance at this year’s show, and you could tell! The crowd was electric and buzzed with excitement. People linked shoulder to shoulder connecting over live music! It was a beautiful thing.

But we can’t have a sold-out show without the amazing talent from our membership! We had eight performances, all packed with TPFFA members from communications, prevention, training and operations.

Maybe next year we’ll see what talent our mechanical division is hiding! We would like to thank the following band members for the countless hours of rehearsal and the energy they brought to the night.

All bands rocked hard for the award, but only one could take it home. Our fantastic judges of Sam Reid (Glass Tiger), Dave Woods (Country Music Personality), and Tyler Watkins (Movember Canada) put their musical ears to the test and crowned a winner! The MC of the night, Chris Tessero, awarded ‘Low Hanging Fruit’ with first place. The winner then proceeded to rock the house with an amazing encore to send everyone home.

Whether you were there that night, or you supported the Movember campaign in other ways, you helped to make men a little more open to talk…so thank you! All that support made Movember a huge success! Success like this can’t be left behind, so we will have to see you again next year to top it!

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Winners: This year, the bands had even more to compete for!

Thanks to the craftsmanship of Mykhail Baehr, the bands had four different awards to groove for!

Winner - Battle of the Bands - Low Hanging Fruit (Jay Mallany, Scott Masters, Stuart Henderson, Mark Madden, Sheri Godda, Natalie Nazzer) Winner - Best Instrumental - Stephen Coda (The 11th Hour) Winner - Best Vocals - Sheri Godda (Low Hanging Fruit) Winner - Best Stage Presence - Dave Hook (Kelly’s Neighbours)

Special Thanks: The event ran smoothly due to the members that dedicated their Friday night to help behind the scenes and on the stage.

They worked tremendously hard to make the night possible! We would like to give the following members a special thank you.

Sponsors: North City Insurance - A special thank you to North City Insurance! They sponsored the equipment rentals for the event.

Meaning that even more money was able to go to Men’s Health.

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A word from the event lead: “Movember Canada is an organization about getting people to know it’s okay to ask for help. Which is exactly why this event was successful. I may have been the organizer, but it was only because I was able to reach out and find help from performers, volunteers, photographers, designers, and extremely talented people. People who actually know what they’re doing! Although I hold a lot of ownership over the show, it is truly the more than 70 great minds around me that made it a success.

So, whether it’s about metal health, physical health, or running an event, a lot of good can come from reaching out a hand for help. You’re not in this life alone.

Movember is important to me for a number of reasons. It

is heavily tied to firefighters, due to our profession being so male dominated, as well as the extra risk of cancers that we face. 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

But for me, prostate cancer runs in my family. The only reason my father and grandpa were able to beat cancer, is amazing organizations like Movember putting in the hard work raising funds and awareness.

On top of that, mental health concerns are something that runs deep through our family. So, running an event that tells even one person that it’s okay to talk is a win in my books. Suicide is the second highest cause of death among Canadian men, aged 15-44.

I’m thrilled to host this event. It felt really good to lead it for a second year in a row and watch the event (and the mustaches) grow. See you next year!

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MOVEMBER EVENT

BY DANIEL VEIRAS, TORONTO FIREFIGHTER, STATION 325-A

Greetings paintball enthusiasts and philanthropists alike! We’re thrilled to share the exciting details of our recent paintball event that not only splattered colors across the battlefield but also painted a brighter future for men’s health. This unique gathering brought together adrenaline junkies and do-gooders, all in the name of supporting Movember’s mission to tackle prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention.

The air was buzzing with anticipation as members from across Toronto Fire Services entered the paintball arena at Sgt Splatters. The event kicked off with a brief introduction to Movember and its crucial initiatives, and then after a whopping 44 paintballers were divided into their teams, everyone was ready for an epic showdown.

Players were reminded that, beyond the thrill of the

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game, their participation was making a tangible impact on men’s health around the world. Many participants were sporting Movember’s symbolic mustaches, reminding everyone of the cause they were fighting for.

The battles that ensued were nothing short of exciting.

Laughter echoed across the arena as players strategically dodged paintballs, seeking refuge behind paint-covered cars and buildings. Cheers erupted with every successful hit, fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie and sportsmanship. The unique blend of competition and compassion set the tone for a memorable day.

As we finished our last round of paintball, signaling the end of an exhilarating day, the true impact of the event became apparent. Not only did participants leave with colorful memories and splattered clothing, but they also departed knowing they had contributed to a cause

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larger than themselves. The paintball extravaganza had successfully raised a significant sum for Movember, with each paintball fired symbolizing a step towards better men’s health.

As the last echoes of celebration faded away, the success of the paintball event lingered—a testament to the incredible things that happen when a community comes together for a worthy cause. Movember had not only gained much-needed funds, but also a new group of passionate advocates, determined to make a difference in men’s lives.

In the end, our paintball event proved that sometimes, all it takes is a burst of colour and camaraderie to create lasting change. Here’s to more events that combine the thrill of the game with the joy of giving back; painting a brighter future, one paintball at a time.

Raising funds for Movember is crucial for firefighters because it directly contributes to research, awareness, and support for men’s health issues. In a profession demanding peak physical and mental fitness, firefighters face elevated risks of conditions like prostate and testicular cancer. Movember funding aids ground-breaking research, potentially saving lives and improving preventive measures.

Additionally, it supports mental health initiatives, recognizing the unique stressors firefighters endure. By actively participating in fundraising, firefighters champion a cause that resonates with their challenges, fostering a culture of care within their community. Every dollar raised becomes a tool for change, fostering better health outcomes and a brighter future for those who selflessly serve and protect.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again at 2024’s Movember Paintball event!

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SUR URVI UR VIVE VI IVE E Fit to SURVIVE

The fire fighter’s guide to health and nutrition

WHY YOU SHOULD DO CARDIO

BY ALEX BOERSMA, RETIRED TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN

C

ardiorespiratory fitness reflects a person’s ability to use oxygen to fuel cellular work. In particular, the more cardiorespiratory fitness a person has, the higher their potential capacity to sustain relatively intense activity levels for relatively long durations. For firefighters, the significance of cardiorespiratory fitness is confirmed by numerous studies indicating compelling deficits in job specific task performance for those who do not meet the NFPA standard of 12 METS or a VO2max of 42 ml/kg/min.

Unfortunately, cardiorespiratory fitness declines with age. This decline is inevitable and although it can be mitigated with appropriate training, it cannot be stopped. This means that we will all lose some of our capacity to perform at higher intensities or for longer durations as we age.

For most civilians, this inevitable decline in work capacity is of little consequence. Most people have the luxury of being able to decrease their demands as they age. Elite endurance athletes will compete with age

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matched peers in masters’ categories instead of racing against younger, fitter competitors. Recreational athletes might change to a less competitive league as they age, or switch to a less demanding sport or activity. Nonathletes will naturally decrease the demands of their daily activities to compensate for declining cardiorespiratory fitness.

Firefighters, however, do not have the luxury of reducing demands with age. We don’t get to say no to carrying 100 pounds of gear and PPE to the top of a highrise when we are 55. We can’t pass on crawling through hot, smoky basements searching for victims or fire sources. And we certainly can’t afford to lose the capacity to rescue one of our own crew members when things go horribly wrong.

These are exactly the kinds of demands that underwrite the NFPA standard of 12 METS. But as the chart included here suggests, this standard is very difficult to maintain over the course of a firefighting career. Even healthy firefighters who maintain generally accepted physical activity levels will fall below the standard by the end of their second decade of service. For less physically active firefighters, the standard is dropped by the end of their first decade of service.

To maintain our capacity to perform appropriately on the fireground, it is clear that just meeting general activity guidelines will not suffice. Instead, a careerspanning emphasis must be placed on exercise programs designed to elicit maintenance or improvement of cardiorespiratory fitness. There are, of course, many ways of achieving improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, and individual optimization will depend on many variables. However, on the next page, I have provided some general guidelines that most firefighters can use to maintain their fireground work capacity well into their third decade of work.

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HOW TO STAY ABOVE THE NFPA STANDARD UNTIL YOU RETIRE 1. Do more. If you want to sustain 12 METS over an entire career, you will probably have to do more than 150 minutes of exercise a week. Remember that firefighters must also prioritize preservation of strength, power, and muscle mass, which requires dedicated resistance training sessions. So, although 150 minutes a week of appropriately programmed training might be enough to sustain cardiorespiratory fitness, it probably isn’t enough to optimize all aspects of firefighter fitness.

2. Do longer. Increasing the total volume of moderate intensity sessions is one way of improving cardiorespiratory fitness. To realize these improvements with moderate intensity work, it seems that at least 3 sessions of at least 45 minutes of steady state, moderate intensity exercise is required.

You should be working at an intensity where it is slightly difficult to carry on a conversation, or an exertion level of 4 to 6 out of 10 (where 10 is working so hard you can only sustain it for about 30 to 60 seconds).

3.Do harder. The other way of improving cardiorespiratory fitness is by exercising at higher intensities. This method includes things like threshold training (two or three sets of 10 to 15 minutes at an uncomfortable effort level), high intensity interval training (HIIT - three or four sets of three or

four minutes of barely sustainable effort), and high intensity sprint training (HIST – four or five sets of 30 seconds of all-out effort). Doing three sessions per week of this kind of training will contribute significantly to improving cardiorespiratory fitness.

4. Do both. Although there is significant overlap in cardiorespiratory adaptations to both high and low intensity exercise, each one may also have some unique adaptations. This means that there is probably some benefit to doing some of each. Doing two longer, moderate intensity sessions and two shorter, higher intensity sessions per week is likely to optimize cardiorespiratory adaptations.

5. Do more specific. Cardiorespiratory adaptations are somewhat specific to the activity being performed. Running on a treadmill will increase fitness, but there will be limited transfer to another activity like firefighting. Going for a 45-minute jog only does so much to help you prepare for dragging hose into a burning building. This being the case, it may be advantageous to design your “cardio” sessions around circuits including things like squats, lunges, lifts, carries, pushes, and pulls, instead of just doing them on a bike or a treadmill.

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Memorial Ride to Ottawa: Why Do We Do It?

BY KEN DE JONG, TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN, 445-A

When someone hears about “the ride to Ottawa”, their first thought is probably about the bicycling. It is both an epic athletic and logistical activity to complete.

Seventy-five firefighters, from thirteen departments, ride for three days from Hamilton to Ottawa, covering over 550 kilometers. I did it for the first time this year, and I will admit, most of my initial thoughts were about biking. Can I do this? Can I complete the distance? Can I keep up with the veteran riders?

I knew full well that the purpose of the ride was to raise money for the Canadian Fallen Firefighter Foundation.

I’m not a big fan of fundraising, but in this case, I had a strong motivation for participating, because I have known many good firefighters who have been cut down

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early with occupational diseases, and I have grieved with the families at the funerals and imagined the loss they must feel every day. The CFFF uses the money raised to support the families at the various memorials, easing the burden and allowing them to experience the brotherly/sisterly support that is so strong in our profession.

Here’s the thing…

Sometimes when you are participating in such an activity, you get distracted from the true goal. During the ride, you are obviously focused on the task at hand. You must keep your pace up, focus on the road, focus on your fellow riders. You stop along the way at various fire stations to restock or have a lunch. You roll into hotels that have been arranged well in advance, have a shower

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and a meal (almost like a hockey tournament atmosphere), and then do it all over again the next day.

But as you finish the ride into Ottawa, the tone changes. While there is a celebration that resembles a “finish line” of a race, the impact of why you are there is brought to the forefront. Many of the families of the fallen firefighters have also made their way to Ottawa for the annual Canadian Fallen Firefighter Memorial, and they are at the finish line to welcome and thank you for your work in raising money for the Foundation. The finish line is a courtyard in proximity to the parliament buildings that has an impressive statue of a firefighter and a wall of inscribed names of all the fallen Canadian firefighters.

Then there is the memorial ceremony itself. I have been to the Toronto and Ontario memorial, and they have been powerful moments of reflection and remembrance for me. The Canadian memorial far exceeded them.

You gather prior to the ceremony and are trained by military officers on the proper etiquette and marching technique. You are doing this for the families and there is no room for half-hearted efforts. When the time comes, you are marched into the courtyard of the memorial and directly past the families who are there to add their loved ones to “the wall”. This whole new reality is very recent and raw for them, and you can feel the waves of energy in one concentrated place. It’s a mix of sorrow, pride, loss, and probably a dozen more emotions that you can’t define. One firefighter shared with me that he caught the eyes of one of the family members as he was marching past and she mouthed, “thank you” to him. He said it was all he could do to not break down right there.

The only comparable I can relate to is that of Remembrance Day. The difference is, on Remembrance Day, most of us are the beneficiaries of the sacrifice that the soldiers made. Here, we not only acknowledge the sacrifice of the firefighters who paid the ultimate price for their community, we also have firsthand experience with it, and we have families that may also be in this crowd someday, God forbid. So, as you can image, the ride that may have seemed to be “all about you,” is put into perspective and is corrected to be “all about them”.

The ride also has a few more layers to it that should be shared. When the riders stop at a replenishing station or a lunch, it is a smaller Fire Department that hosts and caters the stop. This is their way to be part of the efforts for the CFFF. They are donating time and money to help support their fallen brothers

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Memorial Ride to Ottawa...Continued from page 49

and sisters in this way. There is also a long list of sponsors that donate money or goods, which are essential to the success of the ride. There are police and fire department vehicle escorts to ensure rider safety. Can you imagine a bike club of seventy-five riders trying to ride along Lakeshore Avenue in Toronto, stopping at every light and not getting T-boned by the wild traffic downtown? Again, this can only happen with the generously donated time and money of many people and organizations along the way.

The memorials at the city, province and national level for firefighters is one of the special events that sets us apart from most other occupations. For it to continue to be special however, you must have everyone buy in. When I agreed to write this article, I gave some thought as to the purpose of it. Was it to recruit more riders? No. Dave Cossitt, Toronto Fire Fighter Celtic Society President, has now capped the maximum rider number and usually has a waiting list. Was it to urge the members to donate to the Foundation? Sure, that would be appreciated, and all the money raised goes directly to support the families of the fallen firefighters (the ones you may have worked along side and still miss today). But I think the best answer is to remind the membership that the amazing and magical bond we have here in the fire service comes with a responsibility from every one of us to put energy back in. If you can, please attend the funerals, attend the memorials, connect with a fallen firefighter’s family member from time to time. They did it for someone before them. You do it for them. Someday someone will do it for you. That’s how the brotherhood/sisterhood works.

Be safe, and be kind to one another.

A First-hand Experience of the Support of the CFFF Honouring District Chief Chris Cauchon, our husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and great friend.

Our CFFF Memorial weekend started on Wednesday September 6, 2023, in Hamilton. Chris’ sister, Kim, and her husband, Bill Scanlan (both retired police officers), sent off the Toronto Fire Fighter Celtic Society Memorial cyclists on their journey to Ottawa. Later that afternoon, Chris’ wife Bess, daughter Zoe, niece Cassidy, retired TFS firefighter and friend, Jan Ford, and I, Chris’ brother Alan, greeted the cyclists on their stopover in Whitby.

It was an honour to meet the riders who gave their time and heartfelt effort to raise awareness and significant funds through donations and sponsors, under extreme heat conditions, for this great cause.

After arriving in Ottawa, we settled in and checked the itinerary: family meeting, family dinner, visit to the memorial site, as well as some other relaxing events.

Meeting with other Canadian families and being able to share stories of our common loss was very comforting.

Listening to the Pipes & Drums throughout the weekend was incredibly emotional and it touched our hearts. We enjoyed a beautiful ceremony on Sunday morning.

With the Canadian flag flying high above the memorial site, the Pipes & Drums played and marched along with hundreds of firefighters from across the country. Chris’ son Jonathan and daughter Zoe accepted the helmet and medallion in his honour.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank David Sheen and the CFFF Organization, Dave Cossitt and the Toronto Fire Fighter Celtic Society, Gerlando Peritore and the TPFFA Executive, and all those involved in honouring our fallen brothers and sisters at the 2023 CFFF Memorial. Sharing stories of our loved ones with other Canadian families was very comforting. It’s an honour to be associated with the firefighting community.

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December 2023 New Recruit Graduates

TPFFA Movie Night Firefighters gathered with their families and enjoy a night under the stars while they watched the ‘80’s classic and pirate-themed treasure hunt action fantasy, The Goonies, at the drive-in movie theatre.

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TPFFA Annual Children’s Christmas Party On Saturday December 2, 2023 the TPFFA Entertainment Committee put on our Annual Children’s Christmas Party at Variety Village. This year was one of our most successful Christmas Parties with close to 2000 guests attending. With unlimited popcorn, sno-cones, candy floss and Tiny Toms Donuts, our guests were excited to socialize, jump on inflatable slides and castles, and of course, get a photo with Santa & Mrs. Claus.

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