Issuu

Rumour Has It...… VOLUME 19

ISSUE 1

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION

Publications Agreement No: 41203011

Offer expires Dec 31, 2025 Offer expires Dec 31, 2025 Offer expires Dec 31. 2026 Offer Dec 31, 2025

Offer expires Dec 31, 2025

Offerexpires expiresDec Dec 31, 2025 Offer 2025 Dec 31, 2025 Offer expires Dec31, 31. 2026

Offer expires Dec 31, 2025

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION

VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 1

IN THIS ISSUE 5 President’s Message

7 Secretary-Treasurer’s Message 9 Vice President’s Message 11 Chaplain’s Corner 12 Rumour Has It...

15 Toronto War Vets - Changing of the Guard 19 Behind The Mask – Rethinking Vulnerability, Resilience, and Strength 24 Never Shall We Forget

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 CHIEF EDITOR Michael Smith MANAGING EDITORS Chris Sornberger, Suzanne Boss Tel.: 416.466.1167 Fax: 416.466.6632 E-mail: firewatch@torontofirefighters.org SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITORS James Coones and Ken de Jong ASSISTANT EDITOR Matthew Spagnolo DESIGN AND ART DIRECTION Bryan Middleton

26 Retired Toronto Fire Fighters’ Association 28 Camp Bucko 32 Toronto Fire Historical Society - Yorkville: 1876-2026 36 A Coach, A Mentor, A Peer, A Cheerleader and A Friend

42 3888 Recent Happenings

FIRE WATCH PHOTOGRAPHER TPFFA Media Team CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL Agreement No: 41203011 PRINTED IN CANADA Copyright © 2026 Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association ADVERTISING Please contact Bill Monson at 416.466.1167 or e-mail monson@torontofirefighters.org 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.

Rumour Ha

s It...>

On The Cover Have you been to the Association Office at night; enter if you dare…

VOLUME 19

THE OFFICIAL

PUBLICATION OF THE

ISSUE 1

TORONTO PROFESSIO NAL FIRE FIGH TERS’ ASSO CIATION

Publications Agreeme

nt No: 41203011

My Mortgage Service is Free My Mortgage Service is Free Call for all your Mortgage Needs My Mortgage Service isNeeds Free Service CallGreat for allRates yourGreat Mortgage Service CallGreat for allRates yourGreat Mortgage Needs Great Rates Great Service

Retired Toronto Firefighter Robert Posa, AMP Mortgage Broker #M08005247 Retired Toronto Firefighter Cell: 416-931-7672 Robert Posa, AMP robert.posa@mortgagetrain.com Mortgage Broker #M08005247 Retired Toronto Firefighter www.mortgagetrain.com Cell: 416-931-7672 Robert Posa, AMP robert.posa@mortgagetrain.com Mortgage Broker #M08005247 www.mortgagetrain.com Cell: 416-931-7672 robert.posa@mortgagetrain.com Tango Financial Ontario # 13691 www.mortgagetrain.com Tango Financial Ontario # 13691

HOME AND AUTO INSURANCE

OUR FIREFIGHTER GROUP PROGRAM

INCLUDES: Tango Financial Ontario # 13691

SAVE UP TO

40%

Exclusive Group Insurance Rates – savings up to 40%! Superior claims counselling and support Personalized service by dedicated insurance experts After-hours claims service

We can also insure your: Motorcycle, Condo, Cottage, Rental Property, ATV, Snowmobile, Watercraft, Collector Cars, Mobile Homes, RVs, and more! CALL TO GET A FREE QUOTE AND RECEIVE A BONUS $20* GAS CARD! For CURRENT clients, you will also receive a FREE $20 Gas Card* for any qualified referral who receives a quote.

PROTECTING THOSE WHO PROTECT US FOR OVER 40 YEARS

*Terms and conditions apply.

SCAN FOR MORE INFO

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Understanding Our Bargaining Process

s we prepare for our next round of collective bargaining, it is important that every member understands how the process will work and, most importantly, how your voice matters in that process. Collective bargaining is a process that belongs to the entire membership. The Executive and Bargaining Committee have important responsibilities when it comes to seeking improvements to our collective agreement, but the bargaining demands we bring forward must ultimately reflect the issues, concerns, and ideas of our members. Step 1: Membership Input

The process begins with you. As in the past, a survey will be made available to each member. The answers you provide will assist in determining our bargaining priorities. The survey is an important step in the process to ensure that EVERYONE gets a say. In addition, if there are issues that you feel may not have been covered by the survey questions, you will have the opportunity to forward specific suggestions by following the directions at the end of the survey. These suggestions can relate to wages, benefits, working conditions, language in the collective agreement, workplace issues, premiums, scheduling, staffing or any other matter you believe should be considered. We want to hear from you. Whether it is an issue that affects you personally, something you have seen affecting your colleagues, or an improvement you believe would benefit the membership as a whole, this is the opportunity to bring it forward. Step 2: Proposals You Suggest

Any suggested proposals that are received through the survey will be compiled and reviewed by the Bargaining Committee. The Bargaining Committee's role will be to consider all proposals, identify common themes, assess how those proposals may interact with the existing collective agreement and determine which should be developed into formal bargaining submissions. Some issues may overlap, some may

require further information, and some may need to be combined or refined. Members who submit specific suggestions will be contacted as necessary during this review process to discuss their proposal. The Bargaining Committee will ultimately debate each member suggestion and vote on whether to recommend approval or rejection of that specific proposal at a “Bargaining Submissions” meeting where the full membership will then have an opportunity to vote on it. Step 3: Review by the Executive

Once the Bargaining Committee has completed the preparation of a formal proposal package, and prior to convening the “Bargaining Submissions” meeting for the full membership, the proposed bargaining package will be presented to the Executive Board. The Executive Board will have an opportunity to review the proposed bargaining package and provide its input, ensuring that the proposed bargaining strategy is consistent with the broader interests and responsibilities of the Association. Step 4: Membership “Bargaining Submissions” Meeting

Once the Bargaining Committee’s proposed package has been reviewed by the Executive Board, there will be a membership meeting. This meeting is an important part of the process, as ALL members will have the opportunity to hear the proposed bargaining submissions, ask questions, discuss the issues, provide feedback, and vote on whether to approve the bargaining package. Nothing will be submitted to the employer until our membership has had the opportunity to discuss and approve the proposed bargaining submissions. This meeting is to ensure that members understand the issues being proposed and have an opportunity to provide meaningful input before the bargaining process moves forward.

with the employer, beginning with a date for the formal exchange of bargaining proposals. On this first bargaining date, the Bargaining Committee will present our bargaining package to the employer, and at the same time, the employer will present its bargaining proposals to the Association. From that point forward, the bargaining process becomes a negotiation. Both sides will discuss, challenge, and negotiate the issues. Moving Forward We do not have firm timelines established at this point. However, our intention is to move the process forward as quickly and efficiently as possible, while making sure we do it properly. There is a balance between moving quickly and making sure we get meaningful input from our members. We believe both are important. This is your collective agreement, your workplace and your bargaining process. We encourage every member to have their say by completing the survey, bring forward ideas, and attend the membership meeting to vote on what we will take to the bargaining table. The stronger the participation from our membership, the stronger our voice at the bargaining table. Over the coming weeks, members will receive more information about the above noted bargaining survey, upcoming meetings, and the next steps in the bargaining process.

Step 5: Presenting Our Proposals

Once the Association bargaining proposal package has been approved by the membership, dates to begin the bargaining process will be confirmed

Michael Smith, President Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888 Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH

SECRETARY-TREASURER’S MESSAGE Remember the Fallen

he International Association of Fire Fighters’ biennial convention was held in Arlington, Texas this year, and it came with some interesting discussions surrounding the IAFF’s handling of those members eligible for the Line of Duty Death Memorial in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Before I get into the debates that came to the floor, let me share the history that the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association shares with the IAFF with respect to the IAFF LODD Memorial. I first became involved with the IAFF Memorial procedure in 2016, when I was the Ceremonial and Bereavement Chair. However, the TPFFA and the IAFF had a fairly fluid relationship regarding the eligibility of Local 3888 members to be added to the memorial wall in Colorado Springs long before that. The introduction of recognized occupational diseases in firefighters around 2007 opened the door to many of our members, over 300, who would not otherwise have been eligible. The procedure to add a name to the wall involved the TPFFA vetting the cause of death, usually relying on a WSIB diagnosis of an occupational disease. Once it was confirmed that our member had passed as a result of a recognized LODD cause, we would submit the name to the IAFF, which would then add our member to the list of names to be honoured at the IAFF Memorial in Colorado. This was a successful practice and allowed hundreds of our members the honour of being recognized for a LODD across our two nations. Fast-forward to the 2024 IAFF convention in Boston, where an LODD montage was being displayed that included many long-retired members of advanced age. A Canadian Local’s member’s picture may have stood out among the others, as he was long retired and an older gentleman in his late 80s. Some members on the Boston con-

vention floor raised concerns about how someone of such advanced age would be eligible for the wall. You should understand that many American Locals did not have recognized occupational diseases in their respective states, and some still don’t. The member brought their concerns to the General President of the IAFF, who was also attending the Boston convention, and an investigation was opened into the procedures for eligibility for the IAFF Memorial Wall. The IAFF language states that a member, active or retired, is eligible for the memorial. However, this is where the IAFF took a turn from past practice and determined that an active member is defined as a dues-paying member. Therefore, for the purpose of memorial eligibility, a retired member is also defined as a “dues-paying” retired member. It is important to note that an individual cannot pay their own active-retired dues; the dues must come from the Local. Therefore, the Local would have to pay those dues for every retiree in perpetuity, regardless of whether it could collect the money from the individual retiree. There was also never a clear means of addressing the thousands of current retirees who would not have been covered under this interpretation. The rule appeared to be that if you did not sign up as an active retiree immediately upon retirement, you could not do so later. For the record, a retired active member’s dues would be half that of an active member, which currently would be approximately $121 per year. Not a great deal of money, but the only real advantage to a Canadian retiree is eligibility for the IAFF wall. Our member is therefore paying $121 a year as an insurance policy should they succumb to a recognized occupational disease. Just think about the amount the IAFF would accrue if every retired member paid these dues. Those who know me will not be surprised to find that I created a

spreadsheet and ran the numbers for 10 years. The IAFF would receive an additional $836,000 over a 10-year span from Toronto retirees alone. I am sure that when the number crunchers, knowing the cost of the memorial every year and seeing the potential income they were not collecting, decided to implement the “dues-paying” portion of the language immediately. When the respective Locals were informed that, in order for a member to be eligible for the IAFF Memorial, they must be a dues-paying member, even though that practice had not been enforced for years, it sparked some heated discussions, and many took offence to the decision. Spearheading the debate were our former President, James Reed, Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association President, Greg Horton, and a few other presidents of larger Ontario Locals. Our Canadian representatives showed a lot of passion and fortitude regarding our fallen members, and after many debates and an in-person meeting with the IAFF General President in Chicago, the IAFF decided to keep things status quo and open the debate at the 2026 convention. Arlington, Texas - August 11, 2026 Resolution 42, IAFF Fallen Firefighter Memorial Recognition and Eligibility, was brought to the floor. The Canadian Locals were prepared for this resolution, and we had our multiple testimonials and arguments teed up and ready to go. What we were not expecting was the number of American Locals, including Chicago and New York, that had similar viewpoints and were just as upset as we were, calling this a money grab at the cost of a fallen brother or sister. Continued on next page... Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH

Secretary-Treasurer's Message...continued from page 7

Our position has been, and will continue to be, quite simply put: our member paid dues for their entire career, retired as a member in good standing, and acquired the occupational disease while they were a dues-paying member. Therefore, they should be eligible for the Memorial Wall at no cost to the member. This opinion was echoed throughout the convention floor, and the General President heard it. The resolution went back to the committee for an amendment. We understand that active retired dues bring benefits to many retired members in the way of discounts or extended retiree benefits for our American brothers and sisters, but that should not be an expense to a member who has fallen due to the job.

The IAFF is obviously concerned about the costs and potential cost increases when American Locals begin to receive presumptive legislation, which is coming faster than they may have anticipated. The resolution that came back to the floor was a hybrid solution to be adopted until the matter can be addressed further at the 2028 Cleveland convention. The solution: Locals can continue to register non-dues-paying active retired members for the IAFF Memorial, but the Local will bear the cost of the related memorial expenses, including the flag, flag box, medal, and wall etching, approximately $1,000 USD per name added to the wall. While not our ideal solution, the floor felt this was an agreeable compromise

in the interim until we address this again in 2028. What is ironic in all of this, is that the 80-plus-year-old retiree whose picture may have started this whole debate in Boston, was actually a dues-paying member. Sometimes, you just have to laugh. Maybe the IAFF will take a page from Jessie J…”it’s not about the money… Forget about the price tag.” Remember the Fallen.

Chris Sornberger, Secretary-Treasurer Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH

VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE O

ur current Collective Agreement isn’t fully inked yet as I write this, but I want to address one of the most talked about issues I hear from the membership: our benefits. I hope the new Agreement will be finalized and printed by the time this issue is published, but it won’t change this discussion much, since we saw virtually no changes to benefits in last year’s Arbitrator’s Award. The two main improvements we did see were: (1) removal of the prescription requirement for massage, and (2) elimination of “prior authorization” requirements by Green Shield Canada (GSC), our benefits administrator. In short, “prior authorization” meant GSC could deny coverage for a prescription or treatment unless you first tried a cheaper alternative. Now, GSC must cover whatever medication or treatment your doctor prescribes, so long as the doctor marks it “no substitutions.” I want to be clear that the Association never traded off benefit increases during the arbitration process. That decision was made solely by the Arbitrator, as a way to balance out his decision to grant us the 3% allowance. The Association pushed for stronger health benefit entitlements throughout the entire process. Arbitrator Stout was well aware that the 3% premium is a significant increase to our compensation and wrote in his Interest Award that it must be considered in terms of “total compensation.” Given the significant cost of that allowance, he did not grant any of the other benefit increases we pushed for. But he wrote that he had no doubt firefighters would seek additional increases in the next round of collective bargaining. So, now we have a chance to renew our pursuit. It’s no surprise that we’ll again be tabling items like better mental health coverage, occupational disease screening, and post-65 benefits. The same things we asked for in 2023. I want to give assurances that our

health benefits are front and centre in this upcoming round of negotiations and provide a little context on our asks. There is a lot of room to make improvements this time around. I can’t speak to every single type of coverage where we’re seeking improvements, because we’re essentially seeking improvements to every type of coverage. The two I want to focus on are mental health coverage (currently $3,500 per year, per claimant) and our post-65 benefits (currently a Health Care Spending Account, or HCSA, of $3,000). On mental health, our ask, like last time, is for completely unconditional, unlimited psychotherapist or psychologist coverage, similar to what Oshawa Fire and the OPP already provide their members. As former Fire Chief Matthew Pegg notes: in Toronto, our mental health and occupational stress injury claims are outpacing occupational cancer claims by three to one right now, which he called “profoundly impactful” and “the unfortunate truth.” That statistic alone makes the case for why this remains a top priority for the Association. To be blunt, this is not an area where our members can afford to be shortchanged. With all of the information we have now regarding the importance of mental health, it’s time to ensure that our members have enough coverage to get the help they need. Our benefits have to keep up with the cost of treatment. Similarly, for post-65 benefits, we want to increase the HCSA above its current $3,000. We know that if members use the HCSA to purchase health coverage post-65, that $3,000 no longer affords anything near our pre-65 entitlements. The difficulty is that $3,000 is already very near the top of our closest comparables, and comparables are usually the most straightforward way of justifying our asks during arbitration. With that said, if we can avoid arbitration in this next round of bargaining, it may be possible to negotiate a larger increase directly with the city. Toronto Police saw a significant ex-

tension of their post-65 benefits, from age 65 to age 75, for members retiring in, and after, 2028. This would be an incredible gain for our members if we could achieve something similar. However, there are two important caveats. Firstly, post-retirement benefits are frozen for the police. Regardless of what age you retire, your benefits will never increase after your retirement. Secondly, police benefits are less generous than those enjoyed by firefighters, particularly around massage, physiotherapy, and vision. The Association isn’t willing to sacrifice entitlements under any individual head of coverage in order to extend the length of coverage. Our goal is to maintain, and increase, coverage for our pre-65 benefits, while also securing an extension of our post-retirement entitlements. At the end of the day, we’re hopeful that we can achieve a negotiated settlement with the city and avoid arbitration altogether. It would be only the second time in TPFFA history that we’ve been able to do so. However, we are not willing to accept less than what we believe we can achieve in arbitration just to make a deal. There’s a lot of work still to be done, but both sides remain optimistic that we’ll reach a mutually agreeable, and beneficial, new Collective Agreement. The Association will continue to provide updates on our progress as we go. Stay tuned.

Justin D’Aloisio, Vice President Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH

IS YOUR INSURANCE STILL AFFORDABLE? You could be saving BIG on your Auto & Home Insurance with the OPFFA Special Insurance Program and the discounts below: Group discount for OPFFA members No payment plan fees - save 3-6% Snow tire discount Anti-theft discount Multi-policy discount Alarm discount DON’T DELAY, CALL TODAY FOR A FREE QUOTE!

905-238-0668 / 1-800-243-9379 x 2300

info@insuranceland.ca

www.insuranceland.ca

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER Second-hand Dementia

ne million by 2030. That’s the estimate from the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada of how many people in Canada could be living with dementia by 2030. Numbers are strange things. We can hear them, repeat them, understand them intellectually—and still feel nothing. Until the number enters your life. Until it has your mother’s face, your father’s voice, or your spouse’s hand. Until the number becomes the person you love. As firefighters, you know how to respond when the alarm sounds. But dementia is a different kind of emergency. There may be no fire, no smoke, and no visible wound. As part of my chaplaincy work in long-term care, I have sat with families carrying this kind of unnamed grief and uncertainty. For many families, uncertainty begins with the diagnosis. What do we do now? What help will we need? How do we prepare for what comes next? As the disease progresses, the questions and losses change.

John used to visit his father, who was living with dementia, every day after work. Daily visits became weekly and eventually became rare. “He’s not my dad. He’s a stranger who looks like my old man,” he told me. He missed the father he knew—one who told dad jokes, talked baseball, and shared life with him. “Every time I see him, his face reminds me of my dad—and it hurts.” Then there was Shelly. Her mother lived with dementia, and for more than ten years, Shelly walked alongside her. Her mother no longer remembered who Shelly was. “She doesn’t remember who I am,” Shelly said, “but I remember who she is. And that’s enough.” When her mother died, Shelly was surprised by her reaction. “I’m not sad. Is something wrong with me?” As we talked, she realized she had been grieving for years—not only the death that eventually came, but the memories and pieces of her mother that dementia had stolen along the way. To protect privacy, I have changed

East Command Chaplain Tahseen Gill 647-568-6050 tallahseen@gmail.com

the names and identifying details—including pronouns, gender, and family relationships. John’s and Shelly’s stories are not uncommon. Perhaps it is your story too. Dementia isn’t your diagnosis, but it becomes part of your life. As I sat with people who had experiences similar to John’s and Shelly’s, I found myself looking for words to describe what I was witnessing. I started calling it second-hand dementia. Not as a medical diagnosis, but as a way of describing what happens to those who love, care and walk alongside someone living with dementia. Sometimes, giving a name to what we are experiencing helps us recognize that we are not the only ones carrying it. That is where Second-hand Dementia Support began—a monthly online community for people whose loved ones have dementia. It is a place for practical questions, resources, grief, frustration, uncertainty, and simply being with those in the same boat. We can do hard things, but we don’t have to navigate this alone.

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 11

Rumour Has It...…

BY SUZANNE BOSS, TPFFA SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

s the autumn weather is upon us, the colour in our gardens will begin to fade, the leaves will fall from all the trees, and our days will become shorter as the darkness of the sky slowly consumes us. It is no wonder that this time of year is associated with the whispers of spooky stories or haunted tales over a campfire or late-night shenanigans; the very essence of a warm and colourful season that brings happiness to its end and transforms it into something cold, dark, and quiet. Many of our members share stories and experiences of their time spent working in various halls throughout their careers and have contributed to some of the rumours regarding unexplained activity. No evidence has ever been documented or photographed, but strange feelings

and noises in certain fire stations have been claimed by many Toronto Fire Fighters. Who is to say these stories aren’t just myths or fictional encounters to feed the gossip in the halls, but rumour has it… Fire Station 312 – This fire station, which is also known as the Yorkville Fire Hall, is one of the oldest working fire halls in Toronto, being built in 1876. With architectural and structural restoration repairs completed over the years, it has been the topic of conversation when it comes to eerie feelings of a paranormal presence. Perhaps it’s the old Victorian-style design, or the surviving hose tower and the Coat of Arms relocated to the hall from the Yorkville Town Hall fire, that gives people goosebumps? Fire Station 226 – This Leslieville fire station was completed in 1911 and has an

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 12

interesting folklore involving a gentleman named Leo. No one really knows the who or why about it, but the story is that many years ago, Leo died in the fire station and has haunted our members ever since. There have been reports where the TV will turn on at the same time each night, and on more than one occasion, a member has been shaken awake. When they look around, they are alone. At this fire station, there is an area that was an old hayloft, which is not a functioning space but can still be utilized, if needed. Over the years, the crews at 226 have learned to NOT go in the hayloft, as eerie things happen when they do. Fire Station 435 – Also referred to as The Lone Wolf, this station was built in 1929 and is often associated with Hurricane Hazel, which on record, might have been their busiest night. Hurricane Hazel and its destruction took the lives of many civilians, including fire fighters. Today, unexplained activity randomly happens at this hall. There have been incidents of balls bouncing across the bay floor, or the sounds of footsteps walking around the dorm in the middle of the night. Creepy noises come from the restroom and members are very cautious when it comes to exploring, or sleeping in, the south side of the hall. And funny enough, after amalgamation in 1998, the new patch for the station said, “On Shore Patrol, protecting the southwest corner of Toronto”. Perhaps that is a coincidence, or perhaps there is something paranormal going on in the south side of the hall. Fire Station 431 – This Etobicoke fire

station has had whispers of strange noises and feelings of drastic temperature change within the hall since its completion in 1959. It has also been reported that an image and the sounds of a man, who some call Frank, sweeps the station floors at night. To date, there has been no further details on the uneasy feeling some of our members feel, and some don’t experience anything at all, but we should all note that the hall is across the street from the Park Lawn Cemetery, which has been around since 1892. One could say being so close to the souls in a cemetery could create a paranormal experience, or maybe, just a feeling of paranoia. TPFFA Association Office – It was the fall of 2017 when the long-awaited renovations were complete and the TFFWVA officially moved from Commissioners Street to its new office location on Cosentino Drive. Since the Association took over this building, there have been reports of creaky noises, drafts, and a particular door randomly opening when individuals know for a fact, they closed said door. Most occurrences seem to happen after hours when Executives or staff are there alone. It could be debated that the building is just old, and after all the renovations, things are just settling. Or perhaps something was disrupted with all the renovations, and we are now working in a space with unexplained incidents. Not everyone is a believer, but is it a coincidence that once the sun goes down and the darkness is among us, most don’t linger at the office; they lock up, and head home?

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 13

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 14

www.tffwva.ca

3 Bridlington Street, Scarborough, Ontario M1H2L2 Wayne Bridger President

Paul Moffatt Secretary

Eric Motton Treasurer

CHANGING OF THE GUARD Greetings All! We hope that everyone is having a good summer season. The weather and the economy have certainly been challenges for many, but we hope all are fairing well. Many who read this column are members of Voluntary Organizations (only one? lol) and will relate to this edition’s article. The Toronto War Veterans Association is 90 years old this year, and that’s a big deal. It has only survived because of the care and dedication of its members. Many organizations rely on their regimes that come to the executive level and remain for many years. They remain because they have members that they enjoy working with and there’s a synergy within the group that works. As life (many years) goes by, many members become focused on different parts of the game and look to do different things, thinking it might be time to move on. And so, as the title describes, several of our executive members are all moving on. The complete executive list can’t be reported here, because we still have two more election processes to conclude, one for the Secretary and the other for the Vice President. Going forward, the top three positions are moving on, as are a number of long serving executive members. Wayne Bridger has decided to retire as the long-standing President, Paul Moffatt has not stood for re-election, and Eric Motton has also decided to retire from his longstanding position as Treasurer. In addition, Robin Wight and Steve Mogford have also decided to retire from their long-standing executive positions. There have been other changes within the executive membership as well, which will be mentioned in later articles, after the September election process is concluded. With the intent not to repeat that which has already been stated, it is an appropriate time to

state that our beloved Association would not be as it is without these members. They have weathered many storms inside and out, as many similar organizations have survived, and we owe our very survival to this group. Wayne Bridger, and his partner Diane: Wayne’s steadfast leadership has served us well for over 15 years as President. Eric Motton has been the pillar of our financial stability, also for many years, a job which few would take on at the best of times, and his focus on the details has kept us in the black during these uncertain times. The position of Secretary, certainly the most time consuming, has been a bit more fluid of late. The current Secretary, Paul Moffatt, has decided not to run for re-election. His predecessor was Bob Head, and Bob’s predecessor was Robin Wight. Again, to restate the obvious, our Association would not be where it is without their collective care and dedication. We hope that they all remain as active members and that we can rely on their collective experience as time goes forward. Our final election process will conclude at the adjournment of the September Members Meeting. This will finalize the executive members, will declare the Secretary’s position “open” (for possible interim appointment), and elect the Vice President. We will swear them all in for the next term including our new President, Alan Thomas (your author), and our new Treasurer John Allard. At the conclusion of all the above, which will be significant, there will be the requisite “Hand Over” of the portfolios to two of the new positions. This will take some time, and because all are the team players that they are, will be a seamless process. The good thing about this process is that the outgoing are not leaving us, just their appointments, so we will still see them at events as we navigate the future.

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 15

Protection that shows up

For everday life, all year long. Learn more about exclusive group rates on home and auto insurance.

Available to all active and retired TPFFA members.

Call or visit our website for a quote: 1-844-999-7687 | westlandmygroup.ca/tpffa

I SPECIALIZE IN HOARDER PROPERTIES Hoarded homes can feel overwhelming. I bring 58 years of real estate experience to help families through the entire process — with dignity, privacy, and proven results. RE/MAX Hall of Fame broker Founder, Seniors Real Estate Advisors (SREA) Recommended by several Toronto fire inspectors

Barry Lebow, Broker barrylebow.com

416-399-2852 hoarderstoronto.com

TFFWVA Changing of the Guard…Continued from page 15

Hopefully, we have given enough praise and admiration to our outgoing executive. It can’t be overstated how much we appreciate their dedication. Going forward, there are some major challenges in front of us. We will need to find a new Secretary, a pivotal member of any organization. Plus, some may be aware that the Fire Chief’s “Four Groups”: Pipes & Drums, Honour Guard, Historical Society, and us, have all begun the process of incorporation as a not-for-profit. The four are all in various stages with some being officially completed. Your Association has begun the process but have had some challenges getting the process off the ground. This will be priority number one for the new executive. Once the incorporation process has been completed, there will be some new funding for us, and that will allow us to replace some tired equipment, such as regalia and unforms. Further, upon being passed by the executive and the membership, we will have a yearly budget and an increased presence on the internet. Our growth is paramount, and we need to crack the membership nut by figuring out how we can get those currently serving, and those who have retired, to join us. That solution has been illusive for some time, but we will never give up extolling the virtues of membership. Agreed, that the reduction of meetings to four each year has been a tough transition. The addition of a guest speaker has helped in maintaining the attendance, but we can and will do better. We are still in search of a Guard Commander. We will remain vigilant in searching out the right person for the job. The guard continues to

work hard with revolving commanders which is not easy for any group. My hat is always off to our guard as it evolves, for their care and constant dedication makes us proud. We undertook a new project this year, by creating a new Order of Dress. We have created a Short-Sleeve Order, which was a big change. It hasn’t been officially adopted yet, as that decision will be that of the Clothing Committee. We have participated in three parades so far with the ShortSleeve Order: the Korean Veterans Memorial, the Peacekeepers Parade, and the Warriors Day. There are still some bugs to work out, but I believe that it has been a positive introduction and that it might be a regular thing in the future. We have several events coming up, the most important of which are the events around the 11th of November ceremonies, and our 90th Remembrance Dinner, which will be held on Thursday the 5th of November. It was a big hit last year, with the addition of our “guests” and we hope to continue making it better each year. Please consider attending. Our future remains bright, we are where we are because of the strength of our Association members past and present, and we are all looking forward to the challenges and successes of our future. The Next TFFWVA membership meeting will be announced early in the new year. Please watch for the updates. Our meetings are always held quarterly at the Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 527 Wilson, 948 Sheppard Ave W, North York, ON M3H 2T6. All are welcome.

TFFWVA Membership

Our membership drive is continuous, if you’re interested in becoming a member, feel free to contact us at tffwva@gmail.com. The dues ($25.00) are payable annually, Consider becoming a member! Don’t forget to follow our Social Media Feeds: On The web: On Facebook: On Twitter: Instagram:

www.tffwva.ca https://www.facebook.com/groups/TFFWVA @TFFWVA https://www.instagram.com/tffwva

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 17

Ultimate Security Services Inc. Tony Dileo, President 7 Oak St. York Ontario M9N 1R7. Canada 416.399.1550 EXT 222

Conventional Clear & Coloured Anodizing 2-Step Electrolytic Bright Acid Etch Caustic Finishes Chromate Conversion Coatings

Since 1989 ISO 9001:2008 Registered

Letter from the Editor…

BY Iyana Phakira, Toronto Fire Communications Shift 1

Let’s be honest, fire service personnel are not exactly known for their willingness to sit around and discuss their feelings. We’re much more comfortable talking about the truck, the call, the weather, whose turn it is to clean the kitchen, or who finished all the ice cream! How does the conversation go every time you come back on shift and say to your crew member, “Hey, how are you?” I’ll tell you how it goes. Their answers are almost always, “good”, “fine”, “living the dream”, “just peachy” etc. But what if those answers aren’t always the whole story? This issue’s Behind the Mask takes on a topic that can feel a little uncomfortable in the fire service: vulnerability. Before you close the magazine, give it a read. It isn’t suggesting we all need to gather around the kitchen table and share our deepest secrets. Instead, it asks us to think a little differ-

TORONTO FIRE SERVICES PEER SUPPORT NEWSLETTER

ently about what strength and resilience actually look like. We spend a lot of time being told to be tough, keep moving, and to get the job done. And there’s a reason for that. Sometimes you absolutely do need to put your head down, focus on the task and deal with everything else later. The problem is when “later” becomes “never”. This article explores the idea that the masks we wear can actually be useful. Just like our firefighting masks protect us when conditions get dangerous, our psychological masks can help us function when the situation calls for it. The trick is knowing what’s happening underneath and knowing when it might be safe to let someone see a little more. So, as you read this edition’s Behind the Mask article, take a minute to think about your own mask. Are you wearing it because it’s protecting you right now? Are you wearing it because you’ve gotten so used to it that you forgot it was there? Or maybe you’re ready to answer, “How are you?” in a different way. No group therapy circle, no ELI training, no sit down with our staff psychologists required. Just a little honesty, a little curiosity, and maybe a willingness to ask someone, “How are you?” and stick around for the real answer.

VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 1 | FIRE WATCH

Rethinking Vulnerability, Resilience, and Strength BY: DR. LORRAINE PATTERSON, TFS STAFF PSYCHOLOGIST

When I first joined Toronto Fire Services, I knew I was entering unfamiliar territory. I was a clinical psychologist stepping into a culture with its own language, traditions, humour, hierarchy, and ways of doing things that in the past has not always prioritized mental health. I also was a Black woman entering an environment that is mostly made up of White men. For this reason, before even applying for the position of staff psychologist, I immediately found myself wondering things like “Will they accept me?”, “Will they believe that I have something useful to offer?”, “Can I bring my full self into this space, and if I do, how will I be received?”. In short, I felt incredibly vulnerable and to be honest, I didn’t particularly like it! At the same time, the motto of TFS really spoke to me: Courage, Compassion, Service. These words are values that I try to live by, and since joining the service I have started to think that maybe these words can be used to rethink notions of vulnerability, resilience, and strength. What follows are some of my reflections on the matter, and it seems rather fitting to share them in a section of Fire Watch called "Behind the Mask". Indeed, in the fire services, a mask is a critical part of your personal protection. You would never discard it to show how brave you are. You wear it because you understand the risks of not wearing it. What if our psychological masks serve a similar function? What if the objective is not to get rid of them, but rather to figure out what is happening behind them, and whether, and with whom, it is safe enough to let someone see it? Maybe We Are All More Vulnerable Than We Think

Merriam-Webster defines vulnerability as being “capable of being easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally” and “open to attack, harm, or damage”. Who the heck wants to sign up for that? In TFS, where competence, readiness, reliability, and the capacity to function under pressure matters, it makes perfect sense that some might cringe at the idea of being vulnerable, especially when the definition makes it sound like vulnerability and strength are opposites. In fire services, there also is the familiar notion of being “bulletproof”. In other words, we take the hit, keep moving, and don't let it show. I think that kind of toughness can be useful. In truth, however, nobody is actually bulletproof. We use masks and other PPEs precisely because we understand that we are not invulnerable. From this perspective, then, danger can arise when we confuse strength with being invincible, unbothered, or unaffected. By contrast, Brené Brown offers a different way of looking at vulnerability. She defines it as the feeling we experience when faced with uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. In so doing, she challenges the idea that vulnerability is weakness, and she draws a direct connection between vulnerability and courage. Courage is not the absence of risk. Courage exists because of the risk.

I like this alternative definition, and yet I do not see the point in telling myself, or you, to “be more vulnerable”. We already are! Over the past six months, for example, I have watched members enter burning structures knowing that their training, experience, PPEs and crew can reduce risk but never eliminate it. I have spoken with inspectors who are repeatedly exposed to human suffering and the threat of being physically harmed, yet who still choose to hold on to their compassion. I have seen people show up for work after the sudden death of a beloved colleague, and then show up again at funerals and memorials to honour them. Throughout this organization I have also seen people of various ranks lead, accept feedback, help when asked, and actively participate in courageous conversations about mental health. Then there are the things that make us all vulnerable, regardless of where we work: a family member gets sick, a relationship ends, a parent dies, a child struggles, money gets tight, or we experience bullying or discrimination. Given these realities, maybe the challenge is not being more (or less) vulnerable. I think the question is whether we can (a) recognize vulnerability when it shows up and (b) decide what to do with it when it does. Behind the Mask: What TFS Members Had to Say

To get curious about these concepts, I sent an anonymous survey to members of TFS. I asked them to respond to two prompts: 1) “How do you describe vulnerability?”, and 2) “Please share an example of a situation (personal or workrelated) that made you feel vulnerable?”. About 35% of the people I polled responded, which is considered an excellent response rate. More importantly, their answers expanded my thinking about vulnerability. Like Brené Brown, several members described it as being open when you cannot be sure what will happen next: “Being willing to be open with someone when you don't know how they will respond.” Others talked about being real, sharing something that is not common knowledge, or letting someone see something about you that isn't perfect. One member connected vulnerability to making a mistake. Another described the vulnerability they feel telling people they regularly see a therapist. These responses reminded me that vulnerability does not necessarily involve a trauma or crisis. Sometimes it is simply letting another person know something real about you. For other members, vulnerability was about having little or no control. One person wrote: “Vulnerability is the state of being when you acknowledge that you are not in control of the situation.” Their example was having a spouse in the ICU and having to accept that they had no control over what happened. Other responses made a point that we cannot ignore when it comes to the idea of “being real”: sometimes the issue is whether it feels safe to be yourself in the first place. Some members wrote about masking parts of themselves, hearing

TORONTO FIRE SERVICES PEER SUPPORT NEWSLETTER

VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 1 | FIRE WATCH

inappropriate comments about race or sexual identity, and not knowing whether speaking up or confiding in someone would bring support, judgment, or unintended consequences. That added an important insight—namely, that vulnerability does not exist in a vacuum. Who we are matters. Who has power matters. What has happened before matters. Whether we can trust the people around us matters. All these things can shape how safe—or unsafe—it feels to let ourselves be seen and heard. Name It to Tame It

One word used by a member really stood out to me: acknowledgement. Psychiatrist Dan Siegel first introduced the phrase “name it to tame it.” Naming something does not magically make it disappear. Indeed, saying “I'm scared” doesn't remove the threat. Saying “I'm overwhelmed” doesn't reduce the workload. However, putting words to what is happening gives us something to work with. For example, once we can acknowledge to ourselves, “I think that comment was offensive”, or “I'm exhausted”, or “I'm drinking more than I used to”, or simply, “I'm not myself lately”, then we can take the next step in doing something about the situation. This brings us to an important distinction. There is a huge difference between asking, “What's wrong with me?” and asking, “What's happening with me?” The second question leaves a little room for curiosity and a little less room for judgment. It also leads naturally to another useful question: What do I need right now? Going behind the mask can start there. It does not mean telling everyone everything. Sometimes it simply means being honest with ourselves about what is happening underneath the mask or armour. The Mask Can Protect Us

I do not think psychological masks or armours are inherently bad. There are times when we need to compartmentalize, focus, and do what the moment requires. Similarly, sometimes people protect parts of themselves because experience has taught them that opening up is not always safe. In this respect, the mask protects us, and yet choosing to mask the things that hurt or outrage us can also come at a price. One member provided this example: “One occasion where I felt vulnerable is when I did not speak up after inappropriate language was used to describe a black patient. I left myself vulnerable by not speaking up to prevent an incident like this from happening again to me or someone else.” If we accept that the masks we wear are important and necessary at times, perhaps the real threat is when we have worn the mask for so long that we even stop noticing what is going on behind it and when we start believing we must be bulletproof 24-7. Vulnerability Is Not the Opposite of Resilience

We sometimes talk as though vulnerability and resilience are opposites: if you are vulnerable, you must somehow be less resilient. In my view, that is not how resilience works. To me, vulnerability is our capacity to be affected, whereas resilience is our capacity to respond to being affected. Exposure to trauma, loss, exhaustion, uncertainty, failure, rejection, and change affect people. That is part of being human. Resilience is not pretending they don't. It is noticing what is happening, figuring out what we need, responding, adapting, and finding our way forward. In that sense,

TORONTO FIRE SERVICES PEER SUPPORT NEWSLETTER

vulnerability gives us information. Resilience is what we do with that information. Sometimes the right thing is to push through. Other times it may be to change course, set a boundary, talk to someone, or accept some help. Knowing the difference is critical. True strength, then, is not about proving that nothing gets to us. It is knowing that we can be affected without being defeated by what affects us. Going Beyond the Mask: Six Things We Can Try

Instead of telling you to be “more vulnerable”, I invite you to try the following: 1) NOTICE. Pay attention to what is happening behind the mask. Notice any changes in your body, mood, thinking, relationships, or behaviour. 2) NAME. Describe to yourself whatever you notice. Try to be more specific than saying “I’m fine” or “I’m stressed”. Am I angry? Embarrassed? Afraid? Worried? Overwhelmed? Put some words to it. 3) ACKNOWLEDGE. Accept “this is affecting me” long enough to learn something from it. Acknowledgement isn't surrender. 4) CHOOSE. Ask yourself what the situation requires right now. Push through? Pause? Rest? Solve the problem? Set a boundary? Get some support? Express myself? 5) CONNECT. You don't have to tell anyone everything. Maybe let a person who has earned your trust see 10% more of what is really going on. Saying, “Actually, it's been a rough week” or “That’s not ok” may be enough. 6) RECEIVE. And when someone lets you see behind their mask, pay attention to what you do next. Have the courage to listen with compassion. Don't minimize it, ridicule them, or turn their story into workplace gossip. Sometimes “I'm glad you told me” is enough. Courage, Compassion, Service

This brings me back to the TFS motto. Maybe courage is sometimes being able to say what is true: “That call is sticking with me.” “I made a mistake.” “I'm not doing well.” “I don’t feel safe enough to open up with this person”. Maybe compassion is being able to respond to those truths without shame or judgment, whether they come from us or someone else. And maybe service includes remembering that a career spent taking care of other people also demands us all to take some responsibility for the person doing the serving. One member described what happened when they started giving their crew real answers to questions like “How are you?” and “How are you feeling after that call?”: “It was contagious and it made us all closer.” I keep coming back to this response. I agree that vulnerability can be contagious. I think safety can be contagious too. This means the way we respond when someone shows us something real teaches them (and the people around us) whether it is safe enough to do it again. I also think that resilience is less about being bulletproof or never needing a mask. Instead, resilience means knowing what is happening underneath the mask, being able to acknowledge what is true, and having enough flexibility and compassion for ourselves and each other in order to figure out what comes next.

VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 1 | FIRE WATCH

2027 TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS' ASSOCIATION JANUARY M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

FEBRUARY M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

MARCH M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

APRIL M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1516 17 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

MAY M T W T F

JUNE M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

JULY

S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

AUGUST M T W T F

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

OCTOBER M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

NOVEMBER M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

SEPTEMBER M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

DECEMBER M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2

RED: A WORKING GREY: B WORKING BLUE: C WORKING YELLOW: D WORKING FIRE PREVENTION : A SHIFT OFF : B SHIFT OFF Jan 1 - New Year’s Day • Feb 15 - Family Day • Mar 15-19 - School March Break • Mar 26 - Good Friday Mar 29 - Easter Monday • May 9 - Mother’s Day • May 24 - Victoria Day • June 20 - Father’s Day • Jul 1 - Canada Day Aug 2 - Civic Holiday • Sept 6 - Labour Day • Sept 30 - National Day of Truth & Reconciliation • Oct 11 - Thanksgiving Nov 11 - Remembrance Day • Dec 20 - 31 - School Christmas Break • Dec 25 - Christmas Day • Dec 26 - Boxing Day STAT

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 22

Name

Lynn Sciberras Iyana Phakira Candice Roulette Sean O'Connell Gary Wharton Neil Beveridge Vallery Black Adina Kaufman Angelo Tagarelli Rodney Johnston Hugh Doherty Asad Rastagar Dave Camplin Cecil Law John Malcolmson Marcus Martyn Jones Jocelyn Bourrie Jenna Wulff John Pagnotta Trayce Shaw Cary Stather Brian McAlinden Louise Chen Kent McDonald Kevin Hosier Greg Duncan Chris Pallister Sidney Zigah Kevin Scragg Darren Taylor Tony Mellozzi Louis Chow Chris Rodrigues Lorraine Patterson Robert Jackson Bernie Leufkens

TORONTO FIRE PEER SUPPORT TEAM CONTACT LIST Call 24/7/365: 416-338-9327

Station

Shift

Email Address

Chaplain Chaplain Chaplain Chaplain

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

ted.leck@toronto.ca tahseen.gill@toronto.ca daniel.chandran@toronto.ca todd.riley@toronto.ca

Tech Ops Days lynn.sciberras@toronto.ca HQ Comms /1 iyana.peerteam@gmail.com TFA Days candiroulet@gmail.com 233 FP/B sean80446@gmail.com 225 A gary_wharton@hotmail.com 114 A neilr.bev@gmail.com 333 A valleryblack@gmail.com 342 A adina_kaufman@hotmail.com 421 A angelo.hamtac@gmail.com 332 A rj3111@hotmail.com 231 A hugh.doherty@sympatico.ca 231 A asadullah_rastagar@hotmail.com 433 B dcamplin104@gmail.com 235 B cecil.law@rogers.com 222 B johnmalcolmsonpeerteam@gmail.com 332 C m.martynjones@gmail.com 227 C j.bourrie@live.ca 227 C jennakwulff@gmail.com 244 C johnpagnotta@hotmail.com 315 C traycegshaw@gmail.com 324 C cstather@sympatico.ca 114 C bmcalinden@me.com 321 C louise.deanne.chen@gmail.com 132 C kentmc6@gmail.com 226 D kevin.hosier@hotmail.com 333 D greg.duncan@outlook.com 333 D chrisapallister@gmail.com 143 D smkz45@hotmail.com 324 D kevintfspeersupport@icloud.com 341 D darren.taylor@rogers.com 325 D tonymellozzi@gmail.com 313 D chowl@live.com Mental Health Professional chris.rodrigues@toronto.ca Mental Health Professional lorraine.patterson@toronto.ca Retired firejackt333@gmail.com Retired tapemeasure92@hotmail.com

Chaplains Ted Leck Tahseen Gill Daniel Chandran Todd Riley (Coordinator) Call 24/7/365: 416-338-9327

Phone #

647-409-3135 647-784-2129 416-624-9452 905-510-2673 416-735-5845 905-466-8510 416-994-5276 416-949-5359 905-929-8548 647-223-2121 416-433-0446 647-606-3056 705-441-5418 437-869-2126 416-553-6046 416 873-0954 416-476-4219 647-678 1077 905-424-1113 519-331-4943 289-314-8100 905-391-5118 416-919-8098 289-208-1226 416-320-7573 416-525-4995 905-741-5396 416-990-0044 416-540-6222 416-697-7842 416-562-0253 647-401-0821 416-338-9557 416-338-8776 905-419-4545 905-449-3047 647-461-4047 416-737-2127 647-518-9750 416-318-9167

Last Updated: May 2026 Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 23

June 18, 2026 to September 22, 2026 Gordon Johnston

June 18, 2026

Donald Jackson

John Crawford

June 19, 2026

Eric Collins

July 9, 2026

Paul Martinak

June 20, 2026

Gordon Douglas McVeen

July 10, 2026

Michael Bailey

June 20, 2026

Gilbert “Bud” Thompson

August 1, 2026

Stanley Bator

June 23, 2026

Charles Bernard Houston

August 16, 2026

Arthur Alan White

June 25, 2026

Ron Britton

August 16, 2026

June 29, 2026

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 24

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.

Marty McRae On January 3, 2026, Retired Toronto Fire Captain Marty McRae passed away very unexpectedly from a short battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia at the young age of 61. Brother McRae was a truly spectacular person always joining in, a natural group player, and simply wonderful to be around. He had a way of bringing people together and lifting those around him with his presence, humour, and generosity of spirit. He dedicated his life to public service and helping others. Marty served as a Captain with Toronto Fire Services for 30 years (1984 –2014) as a firefighter and as a valued member of the HUSAR (Heavy Urban Search and Rescue) team. He later continued his career as Deputy Fire Chief for the Township of North Kawartha, and then as Safety and Training Coordinator for the British Columbia Search and Rescue Association. His commitment to service extended well beyond his formal roles. Marty was also a volunteer member of Comox Valley Search and Rescue (CVSAR). Firefighting and rescue work were truly in his blood, and he remained actively involved—always willing to help, advise, and support others with training and mentorship. Marty will be remembered for his leadership, dedication, kindness, and team spirit. His legacy lives on through the many lives he touched and the countless people he trained, supported, and inspired. In Honour of Captain Marty McRae, a Memorial Plaque will be hung at a TFS Station.

Bruce James Titus On the morning of Sunday, March 15, 2026, Toronto Fire experienced a loss with the passing of Retired Captain Bruce James Titus. Brother Titus passed away peacefully at the Providence Villa palliative care unit in Scarborough Ontario at the age of 83. Born and raised in Toronto, Bruce joined the Toronto Fire Department in October of 1966 through to June 1997. Bruce was very passionate about being a firefighter which spanned over 30 years. He retired as a Captain. The joy in his voice when he spoke about his adventures on the job, left you wanting to hear more about the life of a firefighter. His favorite quotes were "if you love your job, you never work a day in your life" and "knowledge is power". Bruce took on a second career in 1986. He started working for Ontario Correctional Services as a Correctional Officer. He worked out of The Toronto Jail until they relocated to Toronto South Detention Center in 2013. What a legacy Bruce has left us with. Love of family, kindness and generosity, knowledge and work ethics. He will be remembered for his lasting impact on us. In Honour of Captain Bruce James Titus, a Memorial Plaque will be hung at a TFS Station.

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 25

A MILESTONE DECISION Greetings All!

For generations, the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado Springs has honoured firefighters who lost their lives because of the work they performed. That recognition has never been limited to deaths that happen at an emergency scene. Cancer and other occupational diseases may take years or even decades to appear, often long after a firefighter has retired. That is why Resolution 42, adopted at the 58th IAFF Convention in Arlington, Texas, is so important. The resolution restores the IAFF’s long-standing practice of recognizing both current and former members whose deaths are determined to be line-ofduty deaths under IAFF policy. Simply put, retired firefighters who die from recognized occupational illnesses can continue to be honoured on the Memorial Wall in Colorado Springs. Retirement does not erase the exposures they experienced, and it should not erase the recognition they have earned. For members and families, very little changes, and that is the best possible news. The process for determining whether a death qualifies as a line-of-duty death remains. The Local still submits the member’s name and supporting information, and it must meet the requirements of IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial policy. The only meaningful change is financial and will not affect the member or the member’s family. When a Local submits a member for recognition, the Local will now be responsible for the associated memorial expenses. These may include the cost of engraving the member’s name on the wall, flags, shipping, the LODD medal and other related costs. Previously, those expenses were covered by the IAFF. That is a modest cost when measured against what the recognition means to a family. A firefighter’s occupational illness does not check a membership card or retirement date before it takes hold. The exposures occurred while the member was protecting the public, working beside fellow firefighters and serving the community. Their sacrifice 26

remains connected to the job, whether the illness claims their life during their career or many years afterward. This resolution grew out of the 2025 Canadian Policy Conference and was spearheaded by our own Local 3888 President Emeritus, James Reed. James brought something especially valuable to this effort: the experience and relationships needed to connect every level of the labour movement. His ability to engage IAFF leadership, and grassroots labour members across North America helped champion this meaningful resolution forward. Changes like this rarely happen because one person sends one email or makes one phone call. They happen because of an understanding on how to build support, bring people together and keep an important issue moving through the system. James did exactly that. His work demonstrated how effective labour advocacy should operate. It begins with an issue affecting members and families. It builds support at the Local level, moves through provincial and national organizations, and ultimately reaches the convention floor, where members can turn an idea into real labour policy. This one deserves a tip of the helmet, to President Emeritus James Reed. Resolution 42 is about more than names engraved on a wall. It is a reminder that our responsibility to one another does not end when a firefighter works their final shift. Retired firefighters remain part of our fire service family. They built our Locals, negotiated the agreements we benefit from and helped establish the health and safety protections we rely upon today. Many are now living with the delayed consequences of workplace exposures that were not fully understood during their careers. Recognizing their occupational deaths is an acknowledgement of service, sacrifice and the true cost of our profession. This resolution also reminds us why participation matters. Our unions remain a cornerstone of the labour movement, but they only work when members stay involved. Progress happens when firefighters attend meetings, raise concerns, support one another and remain engaged, even in retirement. The result from Arlington is positive: qualifying retired members will continue to receive the Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 26

recognition they deserve at the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial. The Local will assume the cost, but the honour remains unchanged. Retirement may mark the end of a career, but it should never mark the end of our commitment to one another. Robert Burland TPFFA Executive The Bottom Line! Regardless of the claim, preferably before the receipt of the goods or services, Make a pre-authorized claim though Green Shield Canada ON-LINE!

Keep all documents, get hard copies! G et a yearly prescription beforehand, if possible, it’s easier to chat with your doctor S hould the claim be approved, then follow the process as required. S hould the claim be denied, download all of the documents Find the 3888 TPFFA webpage (https://www.torontofirefighters.org) You need not log in! Locate the Make the selection and follow the prompts! T his is the ONLY WAY to get one-on-one representation from a benefits rep. The rep will advocate for you as best they can!

MROO Membership We recommend everyone join The Municipal Retiree’s of Ontario (MROO). Its $25 for life, it offers all our members and their families many benefits regardless of which retirement stream Christopher Love they are in. MROO Annual Zone Meeting, April 30, holds 1988 - an April 12, 2026 for all members, where you can attend at no cost and get all the pertinent OMERS/MROO updates. (www.mroo.org)

WSIB and ILLNESS TRACKING We encourage all members, past and present, to reach out to us with whatever information you wish to share. Further, if a 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. Anyone who contacts us, will be forwarded to our WSIB Group. 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. The next RTFFA membership meeting will be held in October 2026, at the Union Office. We will be holding elections, should any of you want to join our executive. Please keep an eye out for the notice and consider attending.

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 January 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. Your RTFFA Executive! Don’t forget to follow our Social Media Feeds:

On The web: https://www.retiredtorontofirefighters.org/ On Facebook: Nasteha Beinah https://www.facebook.com/TFSRetirees September 7, 1996 – June 10, 2026 On Twitter: https://x.com/tfsretirees

President Alan Thomas - Secretary/Treasurer Mike Neely - Al Falkner - Alan Hall - Ron Coates - Chuck West Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 27

Camp Bucko 2026 was a resounding success!! Our camp theme this year was “Under the Sea” and we had a great time with decorations and special guests for the kids. Camp Bucko had 54 young burn survivors attend camp this past August, all between the ages of 7 and 17, from every corner of the province! Most of our campers take a coach bus up to camp, provided by Camp Bucko, and this year, we had Squad 445, Pump 445, and Pump 441 (thank you) all at the pick up site to show the kids the trucks before the threehour journey up to camp. An OPP motorcycle unit escorted the bus all through Toronto and up the 400, where he was joined by a group of bikers from all around the GTA. The kids loved it!! Thank you also to Pump 142 and Aerial 142 for staging over the 400 and waving to our campers from the overpass. We held Camp Bucko at a camp near Dorset, Ontario, named Moorelands Camp on Lake Kawagama in Algonquin Highlands muni28

cipality. This camp is water access only, so our buses dropped our campers off at a local marina and then all the gear and kids were shuttled over to the camp. What a great start to the camp week, as kids and volunteers got a boat ride right off the hop!! There were lots of smiles and hugs from old friends and new friends, as we were finally at Camp Bucko 2026!! Once we sorted out luggage and everyone had a chance to meet everyone in their cabin, we had our first meal as one big group. During our first evening at Camp Bucko, we organized a special treat for the kids after the sun set - a light up drone show! The drone show was amazing and included massive images of whales, sharks, octopuses, mermaids, and fish to name a few, which filled the sky! It was such a great way to get our amazing week started, and the fun and Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 28

surprises did not end there! Monday morning everyone woke up with the sun shining. Kayaking, low ropes, stand up paddle board, archery, fishing, arts and crafts and sports all started after breakfast! But a surprise was incoming: it was not a plane, it was not a bird, but it was a massive Chinook helicopter circling just over the treetops with the crew waving to the kids! Soon after, it just hovered over the sports field and low and behold it slowly descended and landed right in the middle of camp! The kids all filed over once it was safe to do so and each camper got a tour and a chance to sit in the pilot’s seat. Such a special treat for all! Just as we were finishing up the Chinook tour, another sound was heard up in the sky. It was the Search and Rescue team from CFB Trenton with their helicopter! All the campers were escorted down to the main beach where the SAR Techs

circled low over the water and then dropped two rescuers into the water from the open door on the helicopter. One of them was none other than Toronto Firefighter Brad Power, who then swam to shore to say hello to the campers. So cool! On Tuesday it was our sponsor appreciation day. We had many visitors, who donated funds to help Camp Bucko operate, come and see where their donations were being used. We had representatives from Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association and Toronto Fire Services, up to see our amazing camp for child burn survivors! We also had some special guests come up to camp from Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto, to talk to the kids and educate them on all things “Under the Sea!” Ripley’s education and outreach team did a great job teaching the kids about aquatic sea life and how important it is to protect such Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 29

Camp Bucko...Continued from page 29

a delicate ecosystem. Thank you to APC Daryl Gage for driving the Ripley’s team to and from Camp. Later in the week, we had two massive Hercules airplanes do a low flyover and wave to the kids out the back door as they passed overhead. The kids loved it! We had one last, but not least, visitor drop in and visit the kids on the last full day of camp. The O.P.P. helicopter from Orillia landed and gave each camper a chance to sit in the back of it and chat to the pilot and the officer assigned to it. On this day, the O.P.P. Marine Unit motorboat also stopped by and gave our campers a little lesson on water safety and showed them their boat. It truly was a special week for these very special children. Some other highlights were senior campers canoe out-trip, camp wide evening games, Camp Bucko dance and dress up party, campfires with skits and songs, beach ice cream party, beach games and popsicles every afternoon! Camp Bucko can only operate if we have 30

donations/sponsorships and volunteers to help run the camp. Without these two supports, there is no Camp Bucko. We at Camp Bucko would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Toronto Fire Fighters that took the time to give back and volunteer for the week at this very special camp: Shane Hall, Station 142 John VanGoethem, Station 445 Sydney Hauer, Station 332 Will Stroud, Station 313 Sarah Howard, Station 344 John Braid, Station 341 Cooper Barben, Station 142 Eyglo Thrastardottir, Station 133 Leo Fang, Station 245 Aaron Alt, Station 213 Natalie Dean, Station 413

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 30

We would also like to thank the Toronto Fire Fighters who stepped up to help cover shifts for these camp week volunteers. Anyone who worked for our Camp Bucko volunteers was entered into a draw to win 1 of 12 $100 Amazon gift cards! Without you, we could not get the much-needed help to operate the camp: Chris Guy Owen Shanks Eve Belokurova Jordan Manganaro Scott Bates Alex Grisales Robert Burland Janos Csepreghi

Padraig Hynes Gruminder Dhaliwal Aaquib Jiffrey Nenad Keric Nick Selkirk Brooklyn Gemmill Chris Pallister Isam Mohammad Sharif

We would like to thank the TPFFA and Toronto Fire for allowing the subs for our Camp Bucko Volunteers. Thank you to all for the support throughout the year to help make Camp Bucko the special place that it is. This week of fun is of no charge to the families of our campers, so it is so important that we get the funding required to run the camp and our programming throughout the year. Please think of Camp Bucko for your charity of choice as fire fighters this upcoming year, to ensure these child burn survivors have a place to feel safe and free from judgement with a fun environment to grow. We at Camp Bucko cannot thank you enough!! Camp Bucko is a registered charity and can give tax receipts for donations over $20. Please visit our website at www.campbucko.ca or contact Pat Hayter at Station 333 on D platoon. Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 31

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 32

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 34

A Coach, A Mentor, A Peer, A Cheerleader and A Friend BY JOHN KASULIS, TORONTO FIREFIGHTER, STATION 325 - C

Peer Support and Wellness Team Meet Lorraine Patterson, Toronto Fire Services’ staff psychologist and advocate for a stronger, healthier fire family.

DR. LORRAINE PATTERSON TFS STAFF PHYCOLOGIST & MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL

When Lorraine Patterson joined Toronto Fire Services on March 8, 2026, she was stepping into a role that brings together two worlds that have shaped her career: psychology and the realities of working around people who routinely encounter pain. For Patterson, the connection is clear. Firefighters, communications personnel, public educators, and other members of the fire service may spend their careers responding to emergencies, solving problems, and helping others, but they are also human beings who need support themselves. “I have no complaints,” Patterson says of her first months with Toronto Fire Services. “I’m so glad I made the decision.” Her journey to becoming a clinical psychologist, however, was anything but conventional.

From Scarborough to Clinical Psychology

DR. CHRIS RODRIGUES TFS STAFF PHYCOLOGIST & MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL

Born and raised in Toronto, Patterson grew up in Scarborough in a Jamaican Canadian family. Her parents both immigrated from Jamaica, and she describes herself as a first-generation Canadian. Her path through education took an unexpected turn during her teenage years. Patterson dropped out of Grade 13, at a time when Ontario still had a fifth year of high school. “Life became challenging,” she recalls. “School was not my focus, so I dropped out.” Years later, with a much clearer sense of what she wanted from life, Patterson returned to school. She completed her undergraduate degree at York University between 1990 and 1994, before leaving Ontario for the first time to pursue graduate studies in Saskatoon. There, she completed her master’s degree and PhD in clinical psychology. After graduate school, she moved to Calgary to complete the year-long internship required as part of her training before eventually returning home to Toronto.

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 36

The unconventional beginning remains an important part of her story. “I like to say I’m a doctor, but I’m a high school dropout with a PhD.” For Patterson, the point is not the contradiction. It is the lesson behind it. “Where you start does not determine where you land.”

Understanding Pain Patterson’s decision to pursue psychology grew out of observations she made as a young woman. During her late teens, she met people from many diverse backgrounds and began noticing patterns in the lives of people around her. She saw intelligent, capable women caught in destructive relationships, struggling with substances and repeatedly finding themselves in painful situations. She wanted to understand why. As she listened to their stories, Patterson noticed one common thread: trauma. That curiosity became the foundation of her career. “What is this thing called pain?” she asks. “How do you help people move through pain? How do you help people get on the other side of it?” The answer led her toward clinical psychology and, specifically, psychotherapy. For roughly two decades, Patterson has worked with people experiencing trauma in many forms. Her work has included survivors of physical and sexual abuse, children who experienced devastating circumstances, people struggling with chronic suicidal thoughts or self-harm, and first responders exposed to traumatic events through their careers. The work has been difficult, but it has also been deeply meaningful. “I love the work I do. I love working with trauma. And I know it’s also affected me. It’s changed me.” “That's why I got interested in this field. I was curious about why do people find themselves in the same painful patterns over and over and over again? And nothing seems to change. And that's why I wanted to understand that. Why does that happen?”

The Fabulous Struggle Working with trauma for years can change the way a person sees the world. Patterson acknowledges that one of her ongoing challenges has been recognizing those changes without allowing the “fog of trauma” to consume her perspective. For her, self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s part of being able to continue doing the work. She describes this as a “fabulous struggle,” borrowing the concept from psychologist Carol Dweck: change is difficult, but difficult experiences can also become opportunities for growth. Patterson sees that tension in her own career. It has been both a growth point and a pain point. Through working with other people’s trauma, she says, she has also continued to confront and heal from her own experiences.

Trust Is an Accomplishment Ask Patterson about her greatest career accomplishment and she does not point to a degree, title, or position. She points to people. She is proud of the people she has met and, more importantly, of the trust those people have in her, even when their previous experiences have given them every reason not to trust. For Patterson, one of the most powerful outcomes of therapy is helping people discover that not everyone is going to hurt them. That creates the possibility for what she calls a new, corrective experience. In the later part of her career, Patterson has increasingly taken on another role: mentor and educator. Over the past eight to ten years, she has devoted significant time to consulting with and supervising psychologists and therapists in training. She sees that as another important accomplishment, passing along the knowledge and wisdom she has developed so that others can become better clinicians, while also learning how to sustain themselves in demanding careers. “I love the idea of passing on the knowledges and wisdoms that I’ve developed,” she says.

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 37

Booklet 2019v10.indd 36

2019-04-15 6:05 PM

10.indd 36 Gala Booklet 2019v10.indd 36

www.torontofirefighters.org

2019-04-15 6:05 PM 2019-04-15 6:05 PM

2019-04-15 6:05 PM

2019-04-15 6:0

A Coach, A Mentor, A Peer, A Cheerleader and A Friend...Continued from page 37

Nobody Fights a Major Fire Alone Patterson’s most important message for the Toronto Fire Services community comes through a metaphor that bridges psychology and firefighting. Nobody should run into an inferno alone. A firefighter may be the first person through the door, but they know a crew is coming behind them. There are people outside monitoring the situation and supporting the operation. The same principle applies away from the fireground. “Nobody fights a major fire on their own, at least not well,” Patterson says. “And similarly, none of us can do this work when we’re off the fire ground alone.” Patterson believes everyone needs a personal support system. She describes five essential roles: a coach, a cheerleader, a mentor, a friend, and a peer. She calls this personal protective equipment for the mind “PPE.” The message is simple: needing support is not weakness. “It’s about knowing how to be strong and stay strong.” For a profession built around fixing problems, asking for help can sometimes feel like an admission of failure. Patterson understands that mentality. The traditional “suck it up” culture did not appear out of nowhere; at a time when there were few alternatives, it served a purpose. But times have changed. Patterson believes the fire service has a responsibility to respect the people and traditions that came before, while also recognizing what we know now about mental health and sustainable careers. “As we know better, we have to start doing better,” she says. Not only for ourselves, but for the people who come behind us.

Passing It Forward Mentorship is particularly important to Patterson because she has experienced its impact firsthand. She believes people need various kinds of support in their lives: someone to cheer them on, someone to mentor them, someone to challenge or coach them, and friends and peers who understand what they are going through. One person can sometimes fill several of those roles, but the support itself remains essential.

Patterson has been fortunate to have strong mentors throughout her own life, and now she wants to be that person for others. “I’ve had amazing mentors in my life, and I want to be a good mentor.” That philosophy fits naturally with her work inside the fire service. Whether she is supporting an individual, consulting with professionals, or helping shape a healthier culture, the goal is the same: helping people remain strong without requiring them to carry everything alone.

A Life Beyond the Job Away from psychology and the fire service, Patterson has a lighter side. She loves to dance. She also loves to sing, although she is quick to acknowledge that her enthusiasm may exceed her vocal ability. She jokes about driving down the street singing and dancing, and recalls a fantasy in which she could sing like Billie Holiday and move people with her voice. The singing may remain primarily for her own enjoyment, but the joy is genuine. And perhaps that is another piece of Patterson’s philosophy: life cannot be only about enduring difficult things. There must be room for movement, laughter, music, and moments that simply feel good. A Soft Place to Land At the end of the interview, Patterson was asked how she would like to be remembered. Her answer brings together everything she has described about her career and her life. She wants people to remember that when they were with her, they felt seen and heard. She wants them to experience her as “a soft place to land.” And she hopes she can be remembered as someone who filled the roles she believes everyone needs: a mentor, a cheerleader, a good peer, and a good friend. For someone whose professional life has been devoted to understanding pain, helping people through it and teaching others how to do the same, it is a fitting legacy. Lorraine Patterson’s story began with an unconventional educational path and eventually led to a PhD in clinical psychology and, most recently, Toronto Fire Services. Her journey is a reminder that beginnings do not have to dictate destinations and that strength does not mean standing alone.

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 39

2027 TFS Support Division Shift Calendars Fire Investigations Shift Calendar 2027 F I R E I N V E S T I G A T I O N S - S H I F T C A L E N D A R A PLATOON WORKING JANUARY M T W T F 1 4 5 6 7 8 11 12 13 14 15 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 29 MARCH M T W T F 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 19 22 26 24 25 26 29 30 31 MAY M T W T F 3 10 17 24 31 M 5 12 19 26

M 6 13 20 27 M 1 8 15 M22 T 29

B PLATOON WORKING FEBRUARY W T F S S 3 4 5 6 7 10 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 21 24 25 26 27 28

Fire Prevention Shift Calendar SHIFT CALENDAR 2027 FIRE PREVENTION

A SHIFT OFF

Designated / Statutory Holiday

B SHIFT OFF

JANUARY FEBRUARY T F S S M T W T F S S 31 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 APRIL MARCH APRIL S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S 6 7 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 JUNE MAY JUNE S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 26 27 28 29 30 1 2 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 JULY AUGUST JULY AUGUST T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S 1 2 3 4 1 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 30 31 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2027 SHIFT CALENDAR COMMUNICATIONS SEPTEMBER OCTOBER CALENDAR COMMUNICATIONS M T W 2027 T SHIFT F S S M T W T F S S T W T F S S M TJANUARY W T F S S FEBRUARY 30 31 1 2 MARCH 3 4 5 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 MARCH JANUARY 1 2 3 4 5 2 T 3W T F M T F 11 S FEBRUARY S12 M T W T F S S1 6 S 7S 8 M T9 W 10 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 11F S 12 S 13 M 14T W15 T F16 S 17S M T 14 W T 15 F S16 S 17 M18 T W 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 1 72 3 8 9 10 13 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 5 6 247 1 2 326 4 185 6 19 7 20 1 212 322 4 23 20 14 15 16 17 18 19 11 16 13 21 14 22 8 923 10 24 8 9 1710 11 12 11 122513 14 4 5 12 6 713 8 149 1015 27 30 13 31 12 132614 27 8 289 102911 12 14 4 5 286 7 29 8 930 10 1 8 2 9 103 11 25 21 22 23 24 25 26 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 20 21 19 17 18 20 21 16 4 12 13 5 14 615 167 17 8 10 18 119 20 2 21 3 15 416 175 18 19 6 20 721 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 159 16 17 11 27 28 22 23 24 25 26 23 24 21 22 19 20 18 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 NOVEMBER DECEMBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER 25 M26 27T 28 W 22 T23 24F 25 26 21W22 23T 24 F 22S 23 24 19 20 18 27 S28 M T S S 30 31F 25 31 26T27 28 29 30 31 T W T F S S M W 29 T S S 304 31 25 31 1 26 27 2 28 3292027 5 6 7 30 1 29 230 313 4 5 SHIFT CALENDAR 29 COMMUNICATIONS 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 COMMUNICATIONS 9 10 2027 11 SHIFT 12 CALENDAR 13 14 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 MARCH JANUARY 15 16 17 18 19 20 FEBRUARY 21 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 JUNE 16 17 18 19 20 21 13 14 APRIL 15 16 17 18 19 MAY 22 T 23 T 20F S 21 S 22 M 23T W24 T 25 F S 26S T 24M F ST 25 S 26 M27 T W 28MAY FEBRUARY JANUARY JUNE M T 21W T22 F 23S SMARCH W T F S S M T 26W T M F S W SAPRIL 23 28 T 20 F S S M T W24 T 25 F S S M W T 1 F1 S22 S3 3 M 29 T 30 4 5 27 28 29 30 31 1 W T 24F S25 S 26 M27 T W M T F5 S6 27 S T W 3 T4 F5 S6 S7 3 4 1 T2 W 129 2 303 431 1 72 6 1 2 103 1411 25 12 30 27 28 1 2 6 5 61 2 7 3 4 8 5 96 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2 5 1 4 14 6 17 8 28 399 10 8 9 10 11 312 13

S 2 9 16 23 30

S 3 10 17 24 31

M 1 8 15 22

T 2 9 16 23

M 28 4 11 18 25 1

T 29 5 12 19 26 2

W 30 6 13 20 27 3

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 7 8 9 3 4 5 6 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 13 4 17 5 18 6 19 7 20 8 21 9 9 10 3 16 8 17 12 13 7 16 16 11 17 15 15 19 20 18 11 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 14 12 15 16 14 15 10 11 12 13 11 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 14 15 16 17 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 10 16 17 14 27 16 28 22 11 23 12 24 13 25 14 26 15 23 18 24 22 15 23 24 25 18 26 19 27 20 28 21 19 22 20 23 21 22 17 18 19 20 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 21 22 23 24 25 23 24 25 26 27 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 19 21 31 20 26 29 22 30 31 28 29 27 30 28 29 24 25 26 27 25 30 26 27 28 29 30 28 30 29 31 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 31 2027 SHIFT CALENDAR COMMUNICATIONS 31 APRIL JUNE MAY MARCH FEBRUARY JANUARY SEPTEMBER JULY AUGUST M T W T F S S M T SEPTEMBER W T F S S T AUGUST W M T WMAY T MF TS W S T FM ST SWJUNE T MF TS W S T F S SJULY M T W T M M T WAPRIL T F S S F S S T F S S M T W M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F1 S2 S3 M T W T F S S M 1 2 1 2 T3 F4 S5 S6 3 T4 F5 S6 S7 1 21 32 43 4 5 6 7 1 T2 W 1 1 2 3 41 2 3 4 5 19 10 2 11 3 12 4 13 5 3 11 4 1 2 19 4 3 12 2 11 2 1 14 4 5 6 1 6 7 8 9 10 5 4 5 6 7 8 3 8 7 12 613 8 9 10 11 5 10 13 14 4 5 6 17 28 39 10 9 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 8 9 10 11 6 15 8 17 9 10 4 5 6 7 8 7 16 2 3 12 7 8 9 10 11 5 6 14 6 13 7 14 8 15 9 10 5 12 4 17 5 18 6 19 7 20 8 21 9 9 10 3 16 8 18 12 11 13 7 17 18 11 19 12 20 14 16 11 17 15 11 15 19 17 18 11 20 21 12 12 16 13 13 14 15 15 16 13 17 9 10 14 15 16 12 13 17 11 18 19 13 14 15 16 15 16 10 14 18 12 13 14 15 13 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 12 14 15 16 10 16 17 15 18 19 20 14 23 16 19 24 17 22 15 25 18 26 27 21 14 27 21 28 22 23 22 11 23 12 24 13 25 19 26 20 23 18 24 21 16 22 17 19 14 20 15 18 13 22 24 23 25 24 25 16 26 17 27 18 28 19 12 24 18 25 19 26 20 21 22 23 22 23 17 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 20 24 21 25 16 23 24 25 26 22 20 21 22 18 19 20 21 17 22 23 20 21 29 24 25 19 27 23 24 25 26 27 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 19 22 21 25 26 27 28 29 30 24 30 30 28 29 28 23 29 24 30 25 31 25 31 20 26 21 27 22 29 31 30 31 29 30 28 29 27 28 28 23 24 25 26 26 26 27 28 29 30 27 23 26 27 28 29 30 31 27 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 31 30 31 SEPTEMBER JULY AUGUST APRIL JUNE MAY OCTOBER DECEMBER NOVEMBER M T DECEMBER W T F S S W F ST W S T M W M T WJULY T F S S S T M M T AUGUST W T MF TS W S T FM ST SEPTEMBER SW T MF TS W F TS NOVEMBER S T F S S F T S OCTOBER S T M M T W T F S S M T1 W T F S S M T W M T W T F S S M T W T1 F2 S3 S4 M T W T F S1 S2 1 T2 F3 S4 S5 1 1 2 32 3 14 25 36 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 41 2 3 4 5 19 10 2 11 3 12 4 13 5 3 11 4 4 12 5 1 2 3 11 19 10 2 11 3 23 34 45 56 67 78 1 6 8 9 10 7 2 6 7 8 5 8 2 9 10 5 6 7 1 3 4 5 6 47 58 619 7 87 98 10 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 13 5 14 6 15 7 16 8 2 11 6 14 7 15 8 16 9 10 6 14 3 12 5 13 7 15 8 16 9 10 6 7 8 17 9 10 89 10 9 10 4 5 14 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 13 17 11 18 12 19 17 11 18 12 10 16 17 15 15 17 18 16 19 17 20 18 12 14 16 13 14 15 11 12 18 19 15 16 17 19 13 20 21 15 16 13 14 18 12 13 14 15 13 14 10 11 9 18 12 17 18 19 15 13 14 15 24 16 17 11 12 17 18 19 20 21 13 15 16 16 23 17 24 18 25 19 26 22 16 20 14 21 15 17 22 16 21 19 22 20 19 20 20 14 21 15 23 17 23 21 22 24 18 25 23 16 17 19 13 24 22 22 24 25 23 26 24 27 21 23 25 19 26 20 27 21 25 18 26 19 20 21 22 28 22 23 20 21 25 22 23 24 18 16 24 25 26 22 20 21 22 20 21 23 24 25 26 27 22 23 24 25 26 20 21 28 20 22 21 22 19 23 24 18 29 23 30 28 29 24 25 26 27 28 23 26 19 27 20 28 21 30 31 29 22 27 25 18 26 19 27 25 28 26 29 27 30 28 29 24 17 30 23 29 28 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 30 29 31 30 29 30 31 27 28 23 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 27 28 29 30 27 28 29 30 31 31 30 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 OCTOBER DECEMBER NOVEMBER SEPTEMBER JULY AUGUST T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T DECEMBER W F Professional S S FireMFighters’ M T OCTOBER W T F S S M T NOVEMBER W T F S S 2027TToronto Association M T W T1 F2 S3 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S 2027 Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 BLUE: 3 4SHIFT51 YELLOW: SHIFT 2 4 1 BLUE:9SHIFT YELLOW: SHIFT14 2 4 SHIFT 5 3 RED: 3GREY: 2 11 3 1 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 5 4 6 7 8 9 10 8 101 11 12 13 4 SHIFT 6 7 1 8 2 9 10 11 12 2 23 34 45 56 67 78 5 6 7 8 19 10 GREY: SHIFT 3 RED: SHIFT 4 6 14 7 15 8 16 9 10 5 14 6 15 7 16 8 17 9 10 89 10 9 10 4 13 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 13 18 12 17 11 18 12 19 D 16 17 11 13 15 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 22 23 24 D25 26 27 28 16 16 23 17 24 18 25 19 26 N 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 22 16 20 20 21 21 22 18 18 19 19 20 14 21 15 17 17 22 15 20 13 21 14 23 24 19 12 N 20 22 18 29 30 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 27 28 29 30 31 29 23 30 24 25 26 28 22 29 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 23 23 26 19 27 20 28 21 30 23 31 24 29 22 27 21 Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 41 29 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 27 28 29 30 31 31 30 30

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 31 26 27 28 29 30 31

OCTOBER

Communications Shift Calendar

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

TPFFA Annual Family Day at Canada’s Wonderland. Another year, another successful event! “My family and I wanted to send our thanks to everyone who had a part in making today's Wonderland picnic a success. My family had a great time. Food was great and plentiful, sunglasses were a nice surprise, and big smiles from all the volunteers as we entered made us feel very welcome. Keep up the good work! Ray - P311 C”

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 42

Big Thank You to all the golfers who came out and participated in the TPFFA Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Royal Woodbine. It was a great day for golf, followed by a social with great food, entertainment, and raffle prizes!

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 43

3888 Recent Happenings...Continued from page 43

Honouring our fallen at the 2026 IAFF Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial in Colorado Springs.

Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 44

Back to school and already having a plan – Another Jr. Firefighter in the making >

< Jr. Firefighters sporting their TPFFA shirts while enjoying their last long weekend of the summer!

2027 TPFFA United Way Donation and the Fire Truck Pull at City Hall with Toronto Fire Services. > Vo l u m e 1 9 | I s s u e 1 | F I R E WAT CH 45

OnTheMove MEMBERSHIP Every Canuck OnTheMove Member Receives Exclusive Discounts And Beneﬁts On Sporting Events, Travel, Entertainment, Hotels, Beauty, Wellness, And Much More With Over 300 Partner Brands. Become A Canuck OnTheMove Member For Only US$2 Per Month And Start Enjoying And Saving Today!

SCAN QR CODE TO CHECK OUT THE FULL LIST OF PARTNER BRANDS AND JOIN NOW!

UP TO 35% OFF

UP TO 40% OFF 1 YEAR FREE UP TO 20% OFF HOTELS

UP TO 35% OFF

PARK’N FLY UP TO 25% OFF

UP TO 38% OFF

UP TO 25% OFF

CINEPLEX UP TO 35% OFF

UP TO 15% OFF

UP TO 30% OFF

UP TO 8% OFF

UP TO 25% OFF

UP TO 20% OFF

FREE EXTRA MONTH

UP TO 10% OFF

UP TO 30% OFF

UP TO 20% OFF

UP TO 25% OFF

UP TO 40% OFF