An Interview with the OPFFA President VOLUME 5
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ISSUE 2 | Summer 2009
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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION
VOLUME 5
18
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ISSUE 2
SUMMER 2009
IN THIS ISSUE 5 President’s Message
28
9 Secretary Treasurer’s Message 13 Vice President’s Message 15 Chaplain’s Corner 16 Letters to the Editor
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18 Parliament Hill 20 Fred LeBlanc Q&A 24 TFS Memeorial - May 2009 28 Toronto History
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FIRE WATCH (ISSN 1715-5134) is published quarterly by the TORONTO PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION 39 Commissioners Street, Toronto, ON Canada M5A 1A6 Tel: 416.466.1167 www.torontofirefighters.org E-mail: firewatch@torontofirefighters.org
34 Member Profile on Jim Ritchie 38 2009 Off-duty Awards 43 Never Shall We Forget 40 Firehall Showcase–Station 231 44 Seat Belts & Car Seats Save Lives
FIRE WATCH is published quarterly by Xentel DM Incorporated on behalf of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association
46 Good Luck Retirees
Chief Editor Scott Marks
48 3888 Recent Happenings
MANAGING Editors Frank Ramagnano & James Coones Tel.: 416.466.1167 Fax: 416.466.6632 E-mail: firewatch@torontofirefighters.org
50 Fit to Survive
ASSISTANT EDITORS Marla Friebe, Rodney Johnston, Seonaid Lennox, Janos Csepreghi, Doug Erwin, Damien Walsh ASSISTANT COPY EDITORS Alyssa Petrillo & Marcel Ramagnano
52 2009 Media Award Winners 5 4 Upcoming Events 5 4 Survival & Rescue
Design and art direction Xentel DM Incorporated FIRE WATCH PHOTOGRAPHER Keith Hamilton Canadian Publications Mail Agreement No: 41203011
58 Ad Index
Printed in Canada Copyright © 2009 Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association Advertising Debra Cheeseman, Project Manager Tel: 1-800-366-3113 Ext. 102 Fax: 1-866-764-2452 Email: publications@xentel.com
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, 3 products and services does not indicate endorsement of same by the TPFFA, and the TPFFA assumes no responsibility for their accuracy.
On The Cover Toronto Fire Fighter, Jon Tamlin won “Best Unpublished Photo” for this shot of Toronto Fire Fighters during a training exercise at the Toronto Fire Academy on Eastern Avenue. S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Arbitrations, shooting the messenger and challenging your union
W
ith negotiations commencing this fall, it is a good time to keep in mind the basic rules and premises of the arbitration process. There are two types of arbitration that generally apply to fire fighter labour relations issues.
One being an ‘Interest Board of Arbitration’ which results from a breakdown in negotiations and the collective bargaining process, the other being a ‘Grievance Board of Arbitration,’ which is brought about by a dispute over interpretation of the collective agreement; commonly occurring with a dispute as to what constitutes appropriate discipline. Interest Board’s are generally three person panels. Two of the three are nominees, appointed by each of the two sides, and the third is the chair, which is agreed upon by both parties (in our case, us and the city). If the parties can’t agree on the chair, there is a process to have the chair appointed by the labour board. The unresolved bargaining items are put to the board by the parties, arguments are made on the validity of their respective positions and ultimately, the board decides the outcome. Replication is the fundamental, primary role of an interest board. The Interest Board is to replicate what would have happened between the parties had negotiations not broken down. The strongest arguments are ones that can show or prove that the party’s position is one that has been freely negotiated in comparable sectors. The most common misconception by the public and our own members is that the interest board judges an issue based on merit, need or fairness. While all of these factors may enter into the equation, it is generally from the point of view of how they relate to the basic role of replication. Therefore, for fire fighters, we have to show that other police/fire sectors have received (through freely negotiated settlements) what it is we are
asking for, and that there is merit, need or fairness for the board to replicate that to us. We have to show that by awarding what we are asking for, the board is in essence replicating what would have occurred if negotiations had not broken down. This can be seen in the way the 3-69 recognition/retention pay came into being. The police sector negotiated it originally (OPP and Toronto Police). Windsor Fire and Hamilton Fire negotiated a form of it, although neither were to the same rate or to all members. We were then successful in negotiating it in 2003 across all divisions and to the same rate as police. It was only after these freely negotiated settlements occurred that it began to be awarded by arbitrators. Other police and fire locals, who were forced to arbitration, were able to show that recognition pay
[
Scott Marks
the case you are arguing. For instance, regardless of how strong a need may be for a certain benefit for a member, an arbitrator has no jurisdiction to award it if the collective agreement doesn’t support it. A very common situation for a Grievance Board is determining disputes on the appropriate level of discipline. A member does something that breaches the collective agreement, the employer takes a disciplinary action against them (anything from a verbal warning to termination) and the union challenges the severity of the discipline. Where there is often a disconnect for the membership, is in believing that the arbitrator will determine whether there is a breach of the collective agreement or not. In many cases,
The committee is not judging the member; they are simply advising what the actions will net as reasonable discipline.
had resulted out of freely negotiated contracts; therefore there was a valid argument to replicate it for them. It doesn’t happen in reverse however. Arbitrators are extremely unlikely to award items that have not been freely negotiated in other comparable sectors. The role of a ‘Grievance Board’ is significantly different. Grievance Boards are generally a single arbitrator, hearing a dispute over the application of language in a collective agreement. To be successful at a Grievance Board, you must be able to show that the language of the collective agreement supports
]
whether the person breached the collective agreement is not in dispute. The level of discipline is in dispute, but all mitigating factors are important and relevant. The arbitrator does not have the authority to overturn or rule in contravention of the collective agreement. If they do, a very strong case exists to take the decision to judicial review as it is considered an error in law. To determine the severity of discipline, all of the factors surrounding a member’s actions must be considered. For example: A member has an important unforeseen family matter that has to be dealt with and utilizes sick S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH
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The Fire Department Employees Credit Union
President’s Message ... Continued from page 5
time. S/he brings it to the attention of the employer and requests a lieu day be shifted from another day to have this day off. The employer shows no willingness to assist the employee and ignores the request to move scheduled time off to that day. The employee subsequently books sick. The employer then suspends the employee for two days for improper use of sick time plus converts the sick day taken to a lieu day. In this situation, an arbitrator may find the discipline (the suspension) to be unreasonable, as the employee made every reasonable effort to utilize scheduled time off. However, the arbitrator would still find the employee in breach of the collective agreement on using sick time. The sick day would still be converted to scheduled time off to comply with the collective agreement. The factors mitigate the discipline. Did the member have advance notice of the need to have the day off? Did they bring their need to the attention of the employer and request an emergency disposition of a lieu day? Did they request time off through the lieu day or vacation procedure? In the same situation, if the employee did nothing to notify the employer and tried to keep the events hidden, or if they were not truthful and said they had been sick and then had to retract that due to evidence, the employee would likely be subject to a suspension or possibly even termination if the mitigating circumstances were particularly egregious. In the above example, the breach of the collective agreement is the same, however, the actions of the employee were extremely different and therefore the resulting discipline is extremely
different. Members sometimes believe there is a cookie cutter, one size fits all approach to discipline. This is simply not the case. The Grievance Committee are the ones that have to work with the member to extract all of the facts and make a determination as to whether the collective agreement was breached and secondly, whether the resulting response from the employer is reasonable. The Grievance Committee consults with legal counsel and looks at all of the factors in an effort to assist the member. Many of these situations are not new to the committee. They have been repeated by other members and many times, the mitigating factors are similar. The Grievance Committee is well aware of what is a reasonable response in many cases. The frustration often occurs when the member believes that the mitigating facts somehow exempt them from being in breach of the collective agreement. If the member has broken the agreement, the facts may, and likely will, affect the resulting discipline; but they will still have to make up for what was breached in the collective agreement. All too often, the member believes that the mitigating circumstances should exempt them from the collective agreement and any discipline. This is simply not the case and the member’s scorn is often cast on the grievance committee making the situation doubly frustrating for them. The committee is there to provide sound advice through our access to legal jurisprudence and legal counsel. Heaping scorn on the committee is like, ‘shooting the messenger’. The committee is not judg-
ing the member; they are simply advising what the actions will net as reasonable discipline. The one avenue that has been lacking for fire fighters is the ability to challenge their union or association if they disagree with the actions (or lack of action) taken. Members of labour unions in the province have the ability to lodge a complaint with the Labour Board. This action is not available to fire fighters as we are exempt from the labour legislation of the province. Our labour regulations fall under the Fire Prevention and Protection Act (FPPA) and it does not allow for a complaint process. Our members have only the civil courts if they want to file a Duty of Fair Representation claim. Local 3888 does not agree with this and has been successful in having a resolution passed by the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA) to seek changes to the FPPA that would allow fire fighters to challenge the actions of their unions through the labour board procedure. While if might seem strange that the union would be advocating for a method to make it easier for our members to bring complaints against us, we believe every member should have that right and we are not afraid to bring scrutiny on our actions. We are hopeful we see this change in the near future.
Scott Marks President, Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association, I.A.F.F. Local 3888
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SECRETARY TREASURER’S MESSAGE
I
frequently receive questions regarding the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and since the proposed changes were recommended on May 25, 2009, the volume of questions has increased.
I will describe the proposed changes later in this article but would now like to explain the current CPP system, as that will be of benefit to understanding the changes and how they may impact you. The CPP is a public pension plan that was established in 1966 to provide working Canadians and their families with income for retirement and with basic financial protection against the loss of earnings in the event of death or disability. The Plan operates throughout Canada, except in Quebec, where the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) provides similar benefits. The CPP is a Federal/Provincial/Territorial partnership. Both levels of government are joint stewards of the Plan, acting on behalf of current and future beneficiaries. Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Finance are required to review the Plan every three
years to determine whether changes are needed to CPP benefits or the contribution rate. Changes to the Plan require the approval of the Parliament of Canada, as well as the approval of at least twothirds of the provinces with two-thirds of the population of Canada. The CPP replaces up to 25 percent of pre-retirement employment earnings up to a maximum amount. This maximum amount is a five-year average of the Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings (YMPE) which increases with average wages. The YMPE is currently $46,300 for 2009. The pension amount is based on the number of years a person has worked and contributed to the Plan as well as the salary or wages they earned. The maximum annual retirement pension amount is $10,905 in 2009. This secure, lifelong pension is paid monthly and is fully indexed to price inflation. The CPP is financed through manda-
Frank Ramagnano
tory contributions from virtually all workers and their employers, including the self-employed. The contribution rate is 9.9% of earnings between $3,500, which is the Year’s Basic Exemption and the Year’s Maximum Pensionable Earnings ($46,300 in 2009). The contribution rate is split equally between employees and employers so that the maximum amount paid by employees and employers per year is $2,118.60 (2009) each. Canada Pension Plan Benefits Retirement pensions are paid
Toronto Professional Fire Fighters' Association Income Tax Summary - (Cost of Retirement) ESTIMATE Assumption Date December 31, 2009 (Assumption: Single - TD1 Code 1) 30 years service Fire 35 years service Fire Fighter Fighter Active Income: Salary or Pension (1) Association Dues
85,823 1,024
Retired 48,181 -
Active 85,823 1,024
Retired
30 years service Captain Active
56,211 -
98,421 1,024
Retired 55,103 -
35 years service Captain
30 years service District Chief
35 years service District Chief
Active
Active
Active
Retired
98,421 1,024
64,287 -
110,232 1,024
Retired 61,751 -
Retired
110,232 1,024
72,042 -
OMERS Pension Plan
8,629
-
-
-
10,242
-
-
-
11,747
-
-
-
Canada Pension Plan
2,118
-
2,118
-
2,118
-
2,118
-
2,118
-
2,118
-
732
-
732
-
732
-
732
-
732
-
732
-
Federal Tax
12,114
6,208
14,357
7,974
14,970
7,730
17,633
9,751
17,651
9,194
20,704
11,457
Provincial Tax
6,210 30,827
3,189 9,397
7,710
4,028
8,120
3,927
9,904
4,769
9,915
4,535
11,960
5,631
25,941
12,002
37,206
11,657
31,411
14,520
43,187
13,729
36,538
17,088
54,996
38,784
59,882
44,209
61,215
43,446
67,010
49,767
67,045
48,022
73,694
54,954
30.76
21.69
33.49
24.73
34.24
24.30
37.48
27.83
37.50
26.86
41.22
Employment Insurance
Total Deductions Net Annual Pay (Take home Pay) Net HR Rate (2) (Take home Pay) Cost of Retirement Yearly Cost/retirement HR Rate (2)
30.73
16,212
15,673
17,769
17,243
19,023
18,740
9.07
8.77
9.94
9.64
10.64
10.48
NOTES: (1) Information above based on; 30 or 35 years completed service as of December 31, 2009. (2) Hourly rates based on 1,788 hours per annum. This is a rough estimation, all the same factors have been used throughout the chart for comparison purposes. Please consult with OMERS to get a true reflection of your pension.
S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH
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WOULD YOU?
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WOULD YOU? SO WHY WOULD YOU EVER GET INTO A MOVING FIRE APPARATUS WITHOUT FIRST PUTTING ON YOUR
SEATBELT?
LOCAL 3888 REMINDS ALL OF ITS MEMBERS TO ALWAYS BUCKLE UP!
ALWAYS! 10
President’s Message ... Continued from page 9
monthly to all Canadians who have contributed to the Plan. The normal age of CPP take-up is 65, but reduced pensions are available starting at age 60. For those who delay take-up beyond age 65, pensions are increased up to the age of 70. In 2009, the maximum monthly pension amount payable at age 65 is $908.75. Disability benefits are paid to contributors under the age of 65 whose capacity to work is affected by a severe and prolonged mental or physical condition and who have made sufficient contributions to the CPP. In 2009, the maximum monthly disability benefit is $1,105.99. Survivors’ benefits are paid to a deceased contributor’s estate, surviving spouse or common-law partner and dependent children. Benefits include: The death benefit – a one-time payment of $2,500 to, or on behalf of, the estate of a deceased Canada Pension Plan contributor; The survivor’s pension – a monthly pension paid to the surviving spouse or common-law partner of a deceased contributor. Maximum monthly benefits in 2009 are $506.38 for individuals younger than 65 and $545.25 to those over age 65; The children’s benefit – a monthly benefit for dependent children of a deceased contributor. The monthly benefit in 2009 is $213.99. The total span of time during your life when you may contribute to the Canada Pension Plan is called your contributory period. It is used in calculating the amount of any Canada Pension Plan benefit to which you become entitled. Your contributory period begins when you reach age 18 or January, 1966 (the start of the CPP) and continues until you begin receiving your retirement pension, reach age 70 or die (whichever is the earliest). Canada Pension Plan calculations include both how much and how long you have contributed. However, to protect you, some parts of your contributory period can be dropped out of the calculation. The proposed changes will begin to come into force in 2011, following approval by the Parliament of Canada and Provincial Governments. The majority of the proposed changes will be phased in gradually. Anyone currently receiving a CPP benefit will not have their benefits affected by the proposed changes.
OMERS provides a bridge benefit until age 65, when CPP should begin. This is regardless of whether you take CPP early or not. Also, the reduction at age 65 is not related to the CPP benefit you will receive. It is an independent percent set by the OMERS Sponsorship Corporation. PROPOSED CHANGES A) Removal of the Work Cessation Test The Work Cessation Test requires individuals who apply, to take their CPP benefit early, (i.e., before age 65) to either stop work or reduce their earnings. Proposed Change: To remove the Work Cessation Test in 2012. Individuals would be able to take their benefit as early as age 60 without any work interruption or reduction in hours worked or earnings. B) Increase in the General Low Earnings Drop-Out The CPP retirement pension amount is calculated as 25 percent of an individual’s, “average career earnings,” starting at age 18 and ending at the age of CPP take-up. If, for example, an individual takes the CPP at age 65, the span of the career is considered to be 47 years. The average of earnings over the span of the career is calculated allowing for 15 percent of the years where earnings are low or nil for whatever reason to be dropped. This provision is called the “general low earnings drop-out”. The 15 percent gives individuals who take their CPP at age 65 almost 7 years of low or zero earnings years that can be dropped from the calculation of their average career earnings. Proposed Change: To increase the general drop-out to 16 percent in 2012. This would allow a maximum of almost 7.5 years to be dropped. Increase the dropout again in 2014 to 17 percent. This would allow a maximum of 8 years to be dropped. C ) Improved Pension Coverage – Working Beneficiaries to Participate in the CPP (Mandatory before 65 and voluntary after 65) Currently, those who receive a CPP pension and return to work (i.e., working beneficiaries) do not pay CPP contributions and, therefore, do not continue to build their CPP pension. Proposed Change: Require individuals under the age of 65 who receive a CPP
retirement benefit and work, as well as their employers, to make CPP contributions that will increase their CPP retirement benefit. This would be voluntary for individuals aged 65 or over, but employers of those opting to participate in the CPP would be required to also contribute. D) Changes in the Pension Adjustments for Early and Late CPP Take-Up The current adjustments reduce the early pension by 0.5% per month for each month that the pension is taken before an individual’s 65th birthday to age 60. Thus, if an individual chooses to take the pension at age 60, the basic amount will be reduced by 30%. The late pension is increased by 0.5% per month for each month that the pension is taken after age 65 up to the age of 70. Thus, if an individual chooses to take the pension at age 70, the basic amount will be increased by 30%. Proposed Change: The early pension reduction would be gradually increased to 0.6% per month for each month that the pension is taken before age 65. This would be done over a period of five years, starting in 2012.The late pension augmentation would be gradually increased to 0.7% per month for each month that the pension is taken after an individual’s 65th birthday, up to age 70. This would be done over a period of three years, starting in 2011. Impacts on CPP Finances and Sustainability The finance ministers state that the proposed package of changes is affordable within the current CPP contribution rate of 9.9%. Further, the proposed package is expected to improve the long-term financial sustainability of the CPP. The Chief Actuary of the CPP is required to assess the long-term financial implications of any changes proposed to the CPP in a Bill tabled by the Government in Parliament if, in his view, the changes materially impact the Plan.
Frank Ramagnano Secretary - Treasurer, Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888 S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 11
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VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE EMS AND THE FIRE SERVICE
T
his past June, Scott Marks, Frank Ramagnano and I, attended an IAFF/EMS conference which offered a lot of information on this issue as it relates to the Canadian situation. The Winnipeg Fire Department, like most of the United States, has developed a full Fire Based EMS regimen which is having very positive results for their citizens. Winnipeg has a fire department compliment of 1,131. There are 887 fire fighters and 244 paramedics, as well as other support and administrative staff. In 1998, a consultants report recommended that 27 city departments should become only 17 and it was directed that Fire and EMS merge. The goal that was adopted was that the city should ‘send the right resource to the right call in the right amount of time’ and that by 2010 each apparatus would have a licensed fire fighter paramedic assigned. These fire fighter/paramedics would provide a number of services, from manual defibrillation to cardiac monitoring and symptom relief drugs. A number of advantages of the new system quickly became apparent: • An increased public profile • Improved public relations • Increased funding • Fire fighter/Paramedics available on the fire ground • Improved major incident capability The Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association, in concert with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs has jointly issued a discussion paper dealing with the issue of EMS and the Fire Service. This document has been endorsed by Fred LeBlanc, President of the OPFFA and Richard Boyles, President of the OAFC, and was presented to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services last November. In it they note that a community can more than double its cardiac arrest survival rate, and inexpensively so, if a defibrillator unit can be on the scene within five minutes of a call, 90 percent of the time. As we are all well aware, full-time fire departments in Ontario typically meet this response target. When the fire service is not being used to its fullest potential, the breakdown
typically occurs due to dispatch procedures. When fire and ambulance are not dispatched simultaneously, there is a delay between the first emergency call for help and fire’s response. This paper succinctly notes that: WE’RE ALREADY RESPONDING, JUST SEND US EARLIER!! If this simple dispatch procedure was adhered to, the following three principles of the discussion paper would come to fruition: 1. The mission of the Ontario Fire Service is to save lives and property. 2. Fire Departments are strategically positioned to deliver time critical response and effective patient care rapidly. 3. It’s all about the people of Ontario receiving the quickest pre-hospital medical care possible, in their time of need.
[
Ed Kennedy
ambulance and it is irresponsible not to call on this valuable service as soon as possible. This is not a duplication of service; it is simple logic and would save the lives of more Ontarians. Study after study has proved that the sooner a first responder arrives, the better the chance that the patient will survive. You should know that the Ontario Ambulance Committee sent a resolution to the CUPE convention, which was adopted, asking to begin a campaign to, “Stop the erosion of emergency medical services through the diversion of paramedical resources to fire fighting services.” They also allege that fire fighters are, “Quietly campaigning to take over emergency medical calls, taking work from paramedics.” I must note here that this is not the case. We all recognize the value and skills that paramedics bring to a medical emergency.
When fire and ambulance are not dispatched simultaneously, there is a delay between the first emergency call for help and fire’s response.
The Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association and the Fire Chiefs contend, rightly, that the third principle is central to this joint position and is not being fulfilled because the Central Ambulance Communications Centres are not dispatching the fire service at the same time that they are dispatching ambulances. This does a disservice to the citizens that we are trying to serve. The ‘tiered response’ (fire, police and ambulance) was once the norm in emergency dispatch and it worked well. We are continually told that seconds count in emergency situations. Fire crews with defibrillators and lifesaving medical skills have typically arrived several minutes sooner than a land
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However, the present dispatch system is not working to the advantage of the citizens of Ontario. Our communities need simultaneous dispatch to medical calls and we must begin to seriously look at positive changes to a system that is not working as well as it could.
Ed Kennedy Vice-President, Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association I.A.F.F. Local 3888
S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 13
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CHAPLAIN’S CORNER
An Emphasis on Empathy! BY DAVID KING, NORTH command chaplain
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ot so long ago, a friend of a friend of mine died. As I had met the deceased at a couple of social events, I thought I would send a message of condolence to her family. While I usually write personalized notes on such occasions, this time I opted to use a pre-printed card. Although I don’t make my home within the City of Toronto, the community where I live has no less than ten retailers who carry all sorts of greeting cards. With such opportunity available to me, you’d think that finding something appropriate would be relatively easy to do. That was not my experience, insomuch as I visited every one of those card merchants and yet, still came away empty handed. The reasons I was unsuccessful are many. First, there were comparatively few cards from which to choose; indeed, there were more choices for celebrating a divorce than there were acknowledging a death. Second, some of the options were too religious - especially since the deceased told me that she was agnostic in her beliefs. Third, many of the messages were extraordinarily sentimental. For example: “Though your tears may fill an ocean, there is an island just for you” - yikes! Lastly, and perhaps most influential in my unfulfilled quest, the majority of the offerings said something that wasn’t true, at least from my perspective. For you see, each of the cards used a variant of the word ‘sympathy’, as in ‘you have my deepest sympathies’, or ‘remembering you with sympathy and prayers”. And if truth be told, I was not at all sympathetic. Now before it’s assumed that I am heartless and unfeeling, let me assure you that nothing could be further from
the truth. In fact, over my nearly 20 years in ministry, I have accompanied hundreds of individuals and families as they encountered death and responded to grief. And it is from these very encounters that I have come to conclude that it is not my sympathy that others need; instead, it is my empathy. The web-based resource, Dictonary. com, defines sympathy as, “a relationship between persons in which the condition of one induces a parallel or reciprocal condition in the other,” and
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Rev. G. David King
NORTH COMMAND Rev. G. David King 416.723.8375 dking@united-church.ca when tragedy befalls another, the very last thing that they need is for us to become emotionally entangled in their predicament, such that we loose objectivity and purpose. Rather, as an empathetic responder, our task is to appreciate someone else’s plight, and yet remain detached enough to offer timely action and thoughtful counsel.
And it is from these very encounters that I have come to conclude that it is not my sympathy that others need; instead, it is my empathy.
empathy as, “the intellectual identification with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.” When contrasting the meaning of these two words, the distinguishing feature is the degree to which an individual invests emotionally in someone else’s circumstance. The word sympathy implies adopting the very same feelings as the other person, while the term empathy speaks to being able to identify with what another individual is experiencing, but not assuming the emotions associated with it. As members of a helping profession, it seems to me, that you and I cannot (indeed, should not) become sympathetic to those we aid. I make that point because
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To be sure, keeping a professional distance from the cumulative impact of human traumas isn’t easy, and doesn’t happen by chance. It is instead, the result of being determined to keep things in perspective and to maintain a professional demeanor. Should you find that increasingly difficult to do; should you find yourself feeling more sympathetic than empathetic, I encourage you to reach out and to speak up. Reach out to a brother or sister fire fighter; reach out to a chaplain; reach out to the EAP team. Be assured, there is always someone to hear your story, to lighten your burden, and to allow you the opportunity to reclaim your emphasis on empathy. S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 15
rs e tt Le to the E d itor
divorceWEALTH:
Doctoral Research
I would like to share information on projects I have started to help deal with divorce. The first company I started in January of 2008 called divorceWEALTH Inc. was developed on the same principles that we have as firefighters. These principles are: if we work as a team, share our experiences and capitalize on each others strengths, there is no challenge that we can not overcome. The same can be true with our personal life experiences. There is no longer a need to suffer in silence. divorceWEALTH is a website providing an online community that allows people contemplating, going through or who have been through a divorce to connect and share their experience. Users who sign up (members) will complete a personal profile to include pertinent information with respect to their marriage, family and finances; the same information with which a judge in divorce proceedings bases his/her decisions. This information is compiled and matched to other members with the same or similar profile details. Members are notified of who their matches are, and can subsequently contact them via divorceWEALTH. The second company that I have just formed as of April 20, 2009 is the WillAbbi Organization. The WillAbbi Organization provides a camp experience/counseling for children from divorced parents. The camp is run from Friday to Sunday. The Tim Horton’s Children Foundation Camp and The University of Toronto (Faculty of Arts and Science-Psychology Department) have partnered with the WillAbbi Organization to offer a camp like no other. The camp will be held at the Tim Horton’s Onondaga Farms location just outside of Cambridge. Ten U of T students will be the counselors for the 100 children attending for the weekend. The U of T students are developing a customized program that will help the children deal with all issue surrounding a divorced family. The first camp is in October of 2009 and I would like to offer it for emergency services employees only. If you would like some more information on these projects please feel free to contact me.
Thank you to the 90 firefighters of the Toronto Fire Service who assisted me in completing my doctoral research. Many of you agreed to be interviewed, others talked with me informally, others took me on runs. From Chief Bill Stewart to union officials to the newest probationary firefighter, you showed me generosity and good will. In appreciation, I have made a donation to Variety Village in your honour. On January 20, I successfully defended my doctoral dissertation research on firefighters’ work in emergency medical care. My case study was the Toronto Fire Service. My work described the ways in which the masculinized occupation of firefighting has become increasingly involved in health care provision. I described who you serve in this work, how you serve them, and the political and economic conditions that have shaped this service. I describe my perspective on the ethic of public service that underlies firefighting culture and that makes compassionate and appropriate emergency medical response possible, if not always a favourite part of the job. I argue that while firefighter interventions are not always “critical”, they provide an important check on many with chronic health conditions and an important as-
Warm Regards, Dan Burley President danburley@divorcewealth.com www.divorcewealth.com
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sist to an emergency health care system that has been overburdened for decades. I am currently disseminating my research through presentations and publications, and I am happy to share my work with any interested members. I continue to include fire services in my on-going health services research, examining intersections between public safety and public health care services. Again, thank you. It was an experience I will never forget! Susan Braedley MSW PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, CHSRF/CIHR Chair in Health Services and Nursing Research York Institute for Health Research, York University braedley@yorku.ca
TFS Museum In regards to the Spring Issue of Fire Watch and the letter to the editor regards to the museum. The museum regrettably, was closed due to the needed expansion of the Toronto Fire Academy after amalgamation. The artefacts have been packed and are in storage for future display. In fact, some
William A. Stewart Fire Chief Toronto Fire Services
Last year Chris and I walked the 60 kms over the weekend with thousands and we know how difficult it is to do, so this year we are volunteering. Approximately 20,500 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and about 5,400 will die from the disease. The net proceeds will support research, treatment, and services through The Princess Margaret for breast cancer. Chris Costante and I have agreed to raise at least $1,000, but with your help we would like to get to $5,000. To do this we NEED your help. If every firefighter were to donate only $20 that would raise a whopping $60,000. So our goal of $5,000 is achievable. Remember we all have mothers, sisters, and daughters....this is why we are supporting this very important cause. To contribute visit www.endcancer.ca, and support Bill Evans and Chris Costante. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
MDC Department of the Year Award
Bill Evans, Toronto Fire Station 333 D Platoon
of the artefacts are on display here at TFS HQ and are displayed at various events as required. The former Memorial Garden at the Academy was also lost due to the renovations and creation of the Recruit Class room. The bell which was located at the front exterior of the Academy was returned to Station 423. The bell was from the former fire station located in West Toronto Junction. Further, the sculpture located in the former Memorial Garden was erected at the front of the Academy. In closing, my desire, and that of many fire fighters, would be to see the creation of a TFS Museum at some point in the future. The only stumbling block is simply land and money. Regards
It is my pleasure to inform you that the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association has won the Muscular Dystrophy Canada Ontario Fire Department of the Year Award for 2008-2009. Under the leadership of John Tuffner and Janos Csepreghi, Toronto Fire Fighters raised over $54,000, making them our top fundraising department in Ontario! Toronto Fire Fighters also do more than just fundraise. You are involved with and support the local Muscular Dystrophy Canada Toronto Chapter, you get media attention for Muscular Dystrophy Canada when doing fundraising events, you educate new recruits on the importance of community giving through encouraging them to organize fundraising events, and you even support other Muscular Dystrophy Canada fundraising events, such as the Moose and Goose Gala. On behalf of everyone at Muscular Dystrophy Canada – congratulations and thank you for all of your hard work and support. I will be in touch shortly to set up an appropriate time to present the award. Thank you, Deanna Totten
The Weekend to End Breast Cancer Four years ago my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. At only 40 years of age, this was a shock to both of us. She was treated at Princess Margaret, and I am fortunate that she is still here with us. Since then we have had friends who have also been diagnosed, and unfortunately men are not immune to this. On September 12-13, 2009 Toronto Fire Fighters, Chris Costante and myself will be volunteering in a very special event called The Weekend to End Breast Cancer. So help your fellow brothers to fight breast cancer, JOIN our walk...JOIN our team...JOIN by donating...JUST JOIN!!!
Member Profiles We have so many talented and interesting characters amongst our Local 3888 membership that I had the thought that perhaps our members would enjoy reading about the accomplishments of some of their brothers and sisters. With that in mind, I approached the Executive Board to see if they were interested in allowing me to write member profiles for our Toronto Fire Watch Magazine. They agreed, and for the past two years, I have had the distinct pleasure of interviewing and bringing the story of nine of these incredible people to our membership (including this Summer 2009 issue). I have met and interviewed a world champion curler, an accomplished mixed martial artist, a Canadian soldier who has been overseas in three different conflicts for our country, a world champion motorcycle racer, a dedicated foster parent, an exceptional charity volunteer and an outstanding artist. I also profiled the fire fighter who has probably run the most calls in Canada and in this issue, we meet a retired fire fighter who is riding across Canada in 12 days to raise money for kids cancer. I have been fortunate to meet all of these people personally. At the media awards dinner this year, where we award the best television teams, print journalists, and photographers for their wonderful stories and pictures showing our members in action, I was given an award for one of the profiles I wrote. I am truly honoured and would like to thank the Executive Board and the membership for this award. I am positive that there are many more fire fighters out there with a story that our membership would be interested in. If you know someone like this, please call myself, or either of the Fire Watch Editors, Frank Ramagnano or James Coones, and tell us a little bit about them. Thanks again. Tony Macdonald
FIRE WATCH accepts Letters to the Editor, articles, essays, and photographs from Local 3888 Members, active and retired. We will also accept fire related submissions from outside authors or photographers. Letters to the Editor may be forwarded to: Letter to the Editor FIRE WATCH 39 Commissioners Street Toronto, Ontario Canada M5A 1A6 Letters Policy You may email your letter to: firewatch@torontofirefighters.org FIRE WATCH welcomes letters to the editor to give you – Local 3888 members – an opportunity to express your views, concerns, ideas, or gripes. We can’t print every letter and in some instances letters will have to be edited due to space limitations.
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We do not accept attachments. Please paste your letter into the body of your email and use the subject line “Letter to the Editor.”
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articles Before sending a full article submission, we suggest that you forward an outline or suggestion for an article to the Editor. FIRE WATCH is your magazine, and as such, we will accept articles on any subject related to Local 3888 and the fire community. Subjects could include but are not limited to: health issues, history, sporting events, equipment, training issues, personal essays, etc. Article submissions/queries may be forwarded to: Articles FIRE WATCH 39 Commissioners Street Toronto, Ontario Canada M5A 1A6
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You may email your submission/query to firewatch@torontofirefighters.org We do not accept attachments. Forward your suggestion in the body of an email and use the subject line “Article submission or query”. Photography Please contact the Editors before forwarding your photographic work for consideration. FIRE WATCH does not offer payment for submissions.
S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 17
Navigating the Legislative Waters of Parliament Hill By Damien Walsh, Chair, Local 3888 Government Relations Committee
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his past April, delegates from across our country - including ten from Toronto - travelled to Parliament Hill to once again lobby Members of Parliament. Our goal was to raise issues important to fire fighters and the communities we protect. This year, five issues were brought forward for discussion with MPs from across our country and across all party lines. These issues were: • T he need to establish a Public Safety Officer Compensation (PSOC) benefit in Canada • T he need to establish a National Office for fire statistics • Enhanced Canada Pension Plan benefits for fire fighters • T he need to recognize fire fighter safety as a core requirement in the National Building Code of Canada • T he need for third-party investigations of fire fighter line of duty deaths While we have seen some limited success over the years with the introduction of several Private Member’s Bills and Private Member’s Motions in the House, we have not yet been successful in achieving these important initiatives for our members. Our legislative process can be perceived as moving at a glacial pace, however, it does provide that, once a piece of legislation is enacted into law, all efforts have been made to 18
ensure it has been done with proper consultation and adherence to the parliamentary system that we have in place in our country. It is important to understand this process and examine where our issues lie within it. Canada and its provinces have a parliamentary system of government that is based on the British model dating back to 1215 with the introduction of the Magna Carta. Then, in 1867, British Parliament passed the British North America Act - today known as The Constitution Act - which created the Canadian Federation which established our Federal and Provincial governments. The Constitution Act authorizes Parliament to make laws in certain areas of jurisdiction. Proposed legislation or “bills” are introduced in the House of Commons and the Senate where they are debated and amended before being given Royal Assent and passed into law. Bills - Public and Private Bills are usually proposed by the government and introduced in the House of Commons, where it is assigned a number, based in part on its chronological order of introduction and also the following criteria: government bills are numbered consecutively from -1 to -100, while private members bills
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TPFFA Pres. Scott Marks introduces Hon. Jack Layton, leader of federal NDP to the delegates- also IAFF General Pres. Harold Schaitberger and Assistant to the General Pres. Jim Lee
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Hon. Dan McTeague (center) PickeringScarborough East MP with Ed Kennedy, Damien Walsh, Scott Marks and Rick Berenz, TPFFA
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Hon. Joe Volpe , Eglinton-Lawrence MP with John MacLachlan, Damien Walsh, Rick Berenz, Scott Marks, Scott Eyers, Neil McKinnon, Ed Kennedy, Kevin Ashfield TPFFA
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Hon. Judy Sgro York-West MP with John MacLachlan, Ernie Thorne, Scott Marks, Ed Kennedy, Rick Berenz, Scott Eyers TPFFA
S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 19
Navigating ... Continued from page 29
Parliament Hill
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e must continue to work to educate MPs across all party lines on the importance of our issues while demonstrating the power we now wield through our political action. are numbered consecutively from -201 to -1000. Private bills, which are usually introduced in the Senate are numbered beginning at -1001. Also, bills that are first introduced in the Senate are prefixed with the letter “S”; bills originating in the House of Commons are prefixed with the letter “C”. There are two main categories of bills: public bills and private bills. Public bills are also called “government bills,” which must be introduced by a Minister of the Crown and deal with questions of national interest, the expenditure of public funds or taxation. Private bills are initiated by private members, which may grant powers, special rights or exemptions to a person or persons, including corporations, but may not include financial provisions.
Private Members Motions A private Members’ motion typically proposes that the House declare its opinion on some topic or that the House order a certain course of action to be taken, either by the House itself, or by one of its committees. Such motions, which simply suggest that the government initiate a certain measure, are generally phrased as follows: “That, in the opinion of this House, the government should consider …” The government is not bound to adopt a specific policy or course of action as a result of the adoption of such a resolution since the House is only stating an opinion or making a declaration of purpose. No motion sponsored by a Member who is not a Minister can contain provisions for either raising revenue or spending funds, unless it is worded in terms which only suggest that course of action to the government. A private Member may choose to move a motion proposing the expenditure of public funds, provided that the terms of the motion only suggest this course of action to the government without ordering or requiring it to do so. Such a motion is normally phrased so as to ask the government to “consider the advisability of …” There are currently 3 motions before the House which address our issues: M-188 — January 26, 2009 — Ms. Davies (Vancouver East) — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should consider establishing a federally-funded Canadian public safety officer compensation fund payable to the survivors of a fire fighter, police or public safety officer killed, or permanently disabled, in the line of duty. M-96 — January 26, 2009 — Ms. Mathyssen (London— Fanshawe) — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should create a single government agency to collect, analyze and disseminate a full range of national statistics on the 20
fire service each year that would include the operation of a national fire data center for the collection, analysis, publication, dissemination of fire related information and to properly address the state of fire protection in Canada, including public and fire fighter safety. M-249 — January 26, 2009 — Mr. Angus (Timmins— James Bay) — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should establish a national office for fire statistics to collect, analyze and disseminate national fire service and emergency response statistics and to publish an annual report of national fire statistics for Canada for all fire service stakeholders and to the public. Private Members’ Business Private Members’ Business is allotted one hour of time per sitting day and the order in which it is dealt with is determined by the Order of Precedence. At the beginning of Parliament, a random draw is held with the names of all MPs to establish a List for the Consideration of Private Members Business. This list is established by transferring to it, the names of the first 30 eligible Members. It is replenished as necessary when the list drops below 15, as items are dealt with. While the list carries over from session to session of Parliament, it will cease to exist upon the dissolution of Parliament prior to an election. Typically, there is time for just one motion to be dealt with per sitting day through the hour allotted to Private Members’ Business. Members may have more than one eligible item standing in his or her name; however they must choose which one they wish to have placed on the Order of Precedence when their name figures in to the first 30. There are currently over 200 Private Members’ Bills and 400 Private Members’ motions before the House. It is evident that it will be a long, arduous process to have our issues addressed in the House in the near future through the procedure of Private Members’ Business. We have been successful in raising awareness of our issues with many MPs but it would seem that in order to have any of our issues passed through the House, it will require a sitting government to draft the appropriate legislation. We must continue to work to educate MPs across all party lines on the importance of our issues while demonstrating the power we now wield through our political action. This strategy has already been successful at the federal level in recent years with the passage of legislative changes to the Income Tax Act allowing the 2.33 pension accrual rate, changes to the Criminal Code which allow for tougher penalties for traps laid in drug labs or grow-ops and significant new funding for the IAFF Haz-Mat and CBRN training programs. All of these improvements came as a direct result of our lobby efforts. We have had much support for our issues from Members on the Opposition side of the House. We must hold them to their word in the future as governments change but the determination of fire fighters to have a voice in the halls of the House of Commons will never waver or diminish. With thanks to Henri Sader, legislative assistant to Peter Julian MP, Greg Hewitt, research assistant, IAFF Canadian Office and Jim Lee, Assistant to the General President, IAFF.
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Hon. Carolyn Bennett, St. Pauls MP with Damien Walsh, John MacLachlan, Rick Berenz, Scott Marks, Scott Eyers, Ernie Thorne, Kevin Ashfield, Ed Kennedy TPFFA
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Charlie Angus, Timmins-James Bay MP (center) with Kevin Ashfield TPFFA, Ellard Beaven Timmins PFFA, Scott Marks, Ernie Thorne, TPFFA
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Photo credit for all photos to: Gregory Abraszko at Visual Factors
TORONTO FIREPAC POLITICAL ACTION WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE US STRONGER
JOIN THE PAC!
www.torontofirepac.ca C ONTACT U S:
firepac@torontofirefighters.org OR (416) 466-1167 ext 356 S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 21
An Interview with the OPFFA President
Fred LeBlanc President, Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association
Fred’s Biography
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lected to his current position of President for the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA) in June 2002. Fred is responsible for the overall operations of the OPFFA which represents approximately 10,000 professional fire fighters across 78 locals throughout Ontario. The OPFFA membership includes front-line suppression, training, communications, prevention/education and investigation, as well as maintenance for Ontario’s full-time fire service. Prior to holding the position of President, Fred was the OPFFA Executive Vice President for one year, District Vice President for # 2 District for three years and, held various positions on the Kingston Local Executive Board since 1991 , including Local President for three years. Fred remains the Chair of his Local’s Negotiation Committee. Fred has been a full-time fire fighter for 24 years. He is currently a full-time fire fighter with the City of Kingston, holding the rank of Acting Captain. Fred joined the Kingston department on August 2, 1988 and prior to that he was a full-time fire fighter for the Town of Wallaceburg from June 1985-August 1988. Fred is married to Tracey LeBlanc, who has also been a Kingston PFFA member (Inspector) for over 17 years. Outside of the OPFFA, Fred sat as the OPFFA’s representative on the inaugural Sponsors Corporation Board for OMERS, from July 2006 until March 2009. Since becoming OPFFA President, Fred has sat as a Vice President on the Executive Board of the Ontario Federation of Labour. As well, Fred was appointed by Premier McGuinty to sit on a Board to create the Tribute to the Fallen, which is a presentation by the Premier to any fire fighter, police officer, and military personnel who have died in the line of duty. Fred has represented the IAFF 13th District on the IAFF Constitution and By-laws Committee in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008. In 2002, Fred was a recipient of The Golden Jubilee Medal of Queen Elizabeth II which was presented on the 50thAnniversary of the Accession of Her Majesty the Queen to individuals who have made significant contributions to their fellow citizens, their community and Canada. In 2005, Fred was a recipient of the Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal in recognition of 20 years of service as a fire fighter in Canada.
Q- As the biggest local in the OPFFA, how do you see the TPFFA’s role within the organization? I view the Toronto local’s role as one of leadership within our organization. With the obvious demographics at hand across the Toronto local, it is expected that your local will have experienced many issues that can assist other locals within the OPFFA. Q- Some of our members believe that with our size, we can be self sufficient and do not need to belong to the OPFFA. What would you say to them? There is no doubt that you are of sufficient size to have an operational budget to accomplish what is required locally. To disaffiliate from our provincial organization however, would weaken every fire fighter’s position across the province. The OPFFA has been recognized and accepted as the voice for professional fire fighters at the provincial level for many years. A splintered membership, in particular with the largest local acting in isolation, only makes achieving any improvements much more difficult for all parties and it actually plays right into a government’s hands that would prefer to do nothing as they would highlight the fact that we are fractured internally. Collectively, we have been a strong voice with many legislative accomplishments, such as presumptive legislation and the recent changes to the OMERS pension plan which allow us to negotiate local improvements to our pensions. A cornerstone of OPFFA service delivery is labour relations education, focused on fire fighters. Locals from across Canada are now regular attendees at our seminars. This is education that is required regardless of a local’s size. I have always advocated that membership doesn’t cost, it pays and belonging to a provincial or international is akin to the reasons and rationale why we belong to our local union. Q- What challenges do you see for the fire service in Ontario? The biggest challenge I see for the fire service results from our own humility. Rarely do I see us highlighting what we do as fire fighters and the professionalism necessary to provide the wide array of services expected in today’s climate. Responding not only to fires, but MVC’s, emergency medical situations, hazardous materials and CBRN events, and any other major disaster that may strike should itself define what we mean to a community. While it may not be our
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style to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done, when we are the service that the public turns to in so many different emergency circumstances, it is incredibly frustrating for me to consistently hear the budget challenges our services face in every community across Ontario. Overcoming the “we were just doing our job” mentality is difficult for all of us but until we become a service of a self-promotion, councils will always shy away from making the tough economic decisions. While there will always be a financial tolerance for the taxpayer for every service, we need to ensure we are dealing with educated decision makers, and that takes active political action which is the flip side of the budget challenge for the fire service. Inspiring our members to become involved in political action has been an internal challenge that I am proud to say we are winning. More and more of our members are connecting the dots of how everything we do is somehow tied to a political decision. From our collective agreements, to our staffing needs, to service delivery to the public, to who our boss is, are all political decisions. Q- What do you believe are your greatest accomplishments to date as OPFFA president? Defining accomplishments at times can be difficult but I can say that I have not accomplished anything on my own as I have been very fortunate to work with great Executive Boards and I have enjoyed high member confidence and support. Since becoming President in 2002, we focused on the two sides of the OPFFA – service delivery and politics. Internally, we had to complete the “merger” of the two previous provincial organizations and promote the OPFFA as the unified association it was. We took some bold steps to revamp our office, political structures, and service delivery to secure a model that is now the envy of other labour groups. One of the more notable “external” achievements I have been involved in since taking on the role of OPFFA President is, coordinating the OPFFA’s efforts on two-hatters, both with the provincial government and within the IAFF, resulting in the recent IAFF constitution amendments. There have also been a number of legislative initiatives such as: the OMERS act, which allows us the right to locally negotiate pension improvements; the fallen fire fighters memorial at Queen’s Park and now the restoration efforts; the Premier’s Tribute to the Fallen, which is presented to fire fighters, police officers, and military personnel who have died in the line of duty; the fire services grant which provided monies directly to local fire services; the blood samples act which allows members to know what infectious diseases they have been exposed to, and; the insurance amendment act which protects our personal insurance rates from on-the-job accidents. One of the areas of particular note is our work on occupational disease where the OPFFA has been able to provide representation to retirees and widows achieving coverage under WSIB. This work led to gaining our presumptive legislation, which was a highlight for a numbers of reasons. First and foremost is the impact that this legislation has for our members and their families. The legislation covers eight cancers and heart injuries and for the first time, provided retroactive coverage to January 1960. It was also the only time I was involved in a piece of
legislation that attained all three readings on the same day. Another highlight for me was our endorsement of Premier McGuinty in 2007. For me, this elevated the OPFFA’s profile in the political arena and has provided us with even more opportunities to achieve what our members not only need but deserve. Q- What would you say is your biggest disappointment as OPFFA president? Not having all IAFF Locals within Ontario as members of the OPFFA. Q- How do you see EMS within the Fire Service evolving? It is almost ironic in 2009 to be speaking about EMS evolving within the fire service. Historically, many fire services provided emergency medical responses and more than a decade ago, the majority of full-time fire services in Ontario increased their service delivery to advanced first aid, CPR and defibrillation. This allowed for the introduction of advanced care paramedics in Ontario, where, when both services responded effectively, the result was the emergency room being brought into one’s living room. So, when you think about it, the fire service has been a big part of the evolution of EMS. However, I do view increased EMS responses within the fire service as the next chapter for the fire service. There is no doubt that Ontario’s EMS system is not operating at a level that Ontarians expect and deserve. The government records clearly show that despite significant financial investments, response times are still not acceptable. There are many elements that make up that system, from central dispatching, to response volumes, to patient off-loading, and I have great sympathy for our paramedics who get caught in the system and are prevented from providing the emergency response they are trained to provide. This is why the fire service must play a vital role in pre-hospital emergency response. We have already been accused of attempting to steal jobs and steal union members but that is simply not the case. Arguably, if we could start from a blank piece of paper, both services would most efficiently respond together and be delivered through one provider but the hurdles, financially, operationally, politically, and from a labour perspective may prove to be too large. Our position, and why I see EMS response evolving within the fire service, is that the strategic layout of an urban fire service supports EMS response prior to transport in the same manner. Our members are highly intelligent and are more than capable of providing an effective level of emergency medical response. If we are trained in these areas, use us - it is that simple. My hope is that we can overcome what I expect to be some arduous turf battles and get to a point where the fire service is simultaneously dispatched to life threatening emergencies and positioned to improve Ontario’s overall EMS responses across the province. After all, it is about responding to the needs of the citizens.
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TORONTO FIRE SERVICES Speech as given by Laurie Bourne-Mackeigan, Daughter of Fallen Fire Fighter, Bernie Bourne
I
would like to take this opportunity to thank the Toronto Fire Services and the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association for hosting this commemorative event. I am humbled to have been bestowed the honour to memorialize our loved ones and to celebrate the courage and resilience of the families here today. When I was first asked to speak on behalf of the families, my first reaction was to say no, as I thought it would be too difficult for me. However, the thought of honouring my father and being part of such an important day, made me say yes. Although my father has been gone for fifteen years, it still seems like yesterday that he was entertaining us with his stories, supporting us in our endeavours and standing proud at our accomplishments. Many of my Father’s stories focused on the daily shenanigans at the fire hall. To him, his co-workers were his brothers. It is events like these that bring the families together, to share memories and celebrate the life of such important people. This day has brought my Father’s spirit back to me and it brings my family closer together. Family meant everything to my Father and I know it would be important to him that his children remained connected. His spirit continues to touch our lives frequently. Today, as we honour all those who have given their lives in active duty, it is also important to remember the sacrifices of the supportive families of these heroes. For behind the grave of every fallen fire fighter are loved ones. As families here today, we share many commonalities. To name but a few: the loss of a family member, the feeling that they left us too soon (my Father was 56 and was not at the birth of four of his grandchildren), that we miss them every day, as well as feeling a void that can never be filled. The journey has not been an easy one and our grief may at times seem inconsolable. However, we can find comfort, as our loved ones are memorialized and their names are etched in walls, plaques, tombstones and ultimately, into the fabric of our communities. Courage, Compassion, Service. This is the motto of The Toronto Fire Services. Courage: Is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger and pain, with bravery and without fear. Compassion: Is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. Service: Is an act of helpful activity; to help; to aid; to do someone a service. Never have three simple words so eloquently described this uniquely qualified group of heroic professionals. These memorials are a testament to the courage and bravery of these men and women. Through these events, we are able to preserve the legacy of these fallen heroes. They also serve as a constant reminder to future generations, for our children, our grandchildren and their children. Beyond their graves we are still reminded of their commitment and dedication to us and their communities. We can find solace in knowing that they will not be forgotten. I would like to share a poem in honour of my Father, Bernie Bourne.
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MEMORIAL - MAY 31, 2009
My Hero By Debbie Hinton Young As I ponder the love that I saw in his eyes, A Godly love, given without compromise.... I recall many times that he stood by my side, And prodded me on with great vigor and pride. His voice ever confident, firm and yet fair, Always speaking with patience, tenderness and care. The power and might of his hands was so sure, I knew there was nothing we couldn’t endure. It’s true, a few others provided insight, Yet, he laid the foundation that kept me upright. He’s the grandest of men to have lived on this earth, Although he’s not royal by stature or birth. He’s a man of great dignity, honor and strength. His merits are noble, and of admirable length. He’s far greater than all other men that I know, He’s my Dad, he’s my mentor, my friend and hero. I look forward to seeing many of you in Colorado and remaining part of the fire fighter family. Thank you.
S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 25
Memorial ... Continued from page 29
26
FALLEN FIRE FIGHTERS
HONOURED DURING THE 2009 CEREMONY
1970 October 7
Captain Eric Sadler
1972 September 24 Captain Lester Bangay 1981 September 28 District Chief James “Bob” Martin 1991 February 23 Captain Raymond Brooks 1994 April 17 Firefighter Bernie Bourne 1995 July 12
Firefighter Kenneth Nicoll
2001 November 25 Firefighter Thomas M. McCullagh 2004 August 25
Captain Craig Carter
2004 October 24 Firefighter Charles Brown 2005 August 8
Captain Keith Brown
2008 March 24
District Chief Bill Yates
2008 August 10
District Chief Robert “Bob” Leek
2008 October 8
Captain Ron Seymour
2008 October 12
Firefighter Jerald Callaghan
S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 27
Toronto History Continued from Spring 2009 issue
The Depression Closes Stations
In 1935 as the City dealt with the ramifications of the Great Depression, the Toronto Fire Department closed two fire stations, a first in the Department’s history. Station No. 6 at Queen Street and John Street was affected, its hose truck 28
forced to become a spare at the Central Garage on Ordnance Street, and its men relocated to other halls. Station No. 16, situated at Richmond Street and Jarvis Street, was also closed. This station had initially been built in 1900 and had replaced a shed that existed since 1895. In the same year Council approved a recommendation to allow payment, which was in addition to the regular pay-
ments made under the Burial Fund, of $40 dollars per month to the widows of Fire Fighters killed in the line of duty. An added allowance of $10 dollars per month was granted to each child under the age of sixteen.
S.C.B.A.
The first record of Self Contained Breath-
ing Apparatus(S.C.B.A.) appears to have been in the early fifties. Prior to the S.C.B.A., the department used canister type gas masks when dealing only with hazardous chemical fires. Standard equipment for this time, these masks were fairly unreliable and gave Fire Fighters nothing more than a false sense of protection. A fire report completed by an onduty Platoon Chief for a Third Alarm fire on July 27, 1951 mentions the use of MSA masks. His notations indicated that the S.C. B. A. worked very well at this 9 Wellington Street West fire. Obviously not all Fire Fighters were supplied with an SCBA as 25 Fire Fighters were treated for smoke inhalation as a result of this incident.
Radios in TFD Apparatus
It wasn’t until 1955 that the Toronto Fire Department first began to install radios in their apparatus. These radios were Toronto Police Department issued, and went into just the Fire Chief, Deputy Chief and Platoon Chief cars. Some time between 1956 and 1957, Toronto expanded radio installations to their busiest apparatus, beginning with the District Chief’s cars and the Rescue Squad. Radio transmissions could only be heard by the receiver that was dialled in by the Dispatcher. Soon the busiest Pumper apparatus received radios, and so on down the line. In 1963, the final Aerials received a radio.
Change in the Sixties
Toronto experienced a number of significant changes during the 1960’s. A Woods Gordon Survey of the Department’s efficiency was conducted, and as a result a Fire Committee was formed. An Assistant
Deputy Chief’s position was added to the Department, the training manual was extensively revised, and the Kew Beach fire hall received a new addition to accommodate an aerial apparatus. In 1962 Toronto hosted the International Fire Chief’s Convention. In this same year, firefighting entry suits were added to the Department’s list of specialized equipment. In 1963, two new stations were constructed, one at Chatham Avenue and one on Dufferin Street, and two new Rescue Squads were delivered to the Department to accommodate the volume of equipment required on this apparatus. The William Lyon Mackenzie Fireboat made its debut in 1964, and the Department expanded the Fire Prevention Division to include specialists in School Fire Safety Training, and Hospital Fire Safety Training. In July 1965, the Mackenzie fought its first large fire aboard the Orient Trader, a Greek freightliner docked in the Toronto harbour, and the Fire Fighter’s Recreation Club officially opened. On January 1, 1967, both the Swansea Volunteer Fire Department and Forest Hill Fire Departments were integrated with the Toronto Fire Department after Swansea and Forest Hill were annexed to the City of Toronto.
Charles Chambers New Fire Chief
By 1969, Charles Chambers was appointed to the position of Fire Chief, a position he would hold for almost eight years. When the department first hired Chief Chambers he served at the Berkeley Street Fire Hall. He eventually became President of Local 113, and was Vice President of the International Association for
nine years representing Ontario and Manitoba. His career with the Toronto Fire Department lasted 42 years.
The Fire Academy Opens in 1970
Mayor William Dennison officially opened the Fire Academy with a ribboncutting ceremony on October 9, 1970 using a kerosene lamp from an 1894 hose wagon to burn through the foot-wide red ribbon. After the ceremony the 600 guests partook in a full tour of the new ‘ultra-modern’ site, observing numerous firefighting demonstrations by Toronto Fire Fighters. The site also boasted an outdoor ‘Fire Fighters Memorial Garden,’ with a modern bronze sculpture complete with a bronze tablet, and individual metal plates inscribed with the names of all Toronto Fire Fighters who have fallen in the line of duty. The sculpture can now be seen in front of the academy. The construction of the Fire Academy was a huge leap for Fire Fighters in terms of providing them with a large site for both fireground and classroom training. In the early 1900’s, training had taken place at the drill tower behind the Adelaide Station where drill instructions were carried out by an on-duty Captain. By 1948, a fulltime Training Officer was appointed with the rank of District Chief. The training section was again expanded in 1959, and moved to No. 23 Station at Howland Avenue, prior to being relocated to Eastern Avenue in 1970.
1974 Fire Prevention By-laws
Two By-laws were passed in 1974 by Toronto City Council requiring the in-
After the ceremony the 600 guests partook in a full tour of the new ‘ultra-modern’ site, observing numerous firefighting demonstrations by Toronto Fire Fighters. S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 29
Toronto History ... Continued from page 29
stallation of detectors in specific residential properties. The By-law required the installation of these early warning devices in premises with three, four, or five dwelling units. At this same time, the use of smoke alarms in the home became more prevalent. This would later prove to be the single most positive and influential step in Toronto’s history towards residential fire and life safety. Other significant occurrences in the mid-1970’s were: the Reed Paper Company fire on Commissioners Street with a loss of $250,000, the official opening of the Yorkville Station after extensive renovations, and the death of Acting Captain Donald Barwell of Pumper 15 who collapsed and died while fighting a fire at the Union Felt Company.
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Bernard Bonser Appointed as Fire Chief
In 1977 the Eaton’s Fire occurred, Toronto’s largest conflagration since the Great Fire of 1904. A total of 136 men brought this blaze under control, with the aid of 31 of the Department’s 52 trucks. Fire Chief Bernard A. Bonser was officially promoted to Fire Chief in a ceremony held at City Hall on the same day that the Eaton’s Fire occurred. He remained in this position until 1988. Master Fire Plan 1978 brought some significant reforms to the Toronto Fire Department. Some of the issues brought
to the forefront in this plan were the poor reception of the current communications system, brought on by an increase in construction of high rise commercial and apartment buildings, and the rise in false alarms. The construction of base towers in varying elevations throughout the city remedied the communications system problems. The Fire Alarm Boxes were also phased out, as these placed both an economic and life safety burden on the Department. Once the boxes ceased to exist, there was a significant reduction in nuisance alarms. The plan also set about the creation of the Arson Task Force. It was this plan which also outlined the creation of the Fire Planning and Operations Division, and the Medical Division.
The Eighties
During 1980, Station No. 30 was opened adjacent to the Fire Academy on Knox Avenue, centralizing Pumper 30 and accommodating an Air Supply apparatus that had previously been housed at Station No. 1 on Adelaide Street. The Air Supply would now have immediate access to the compressor facility at the Technical Services Division in order to provide air mask cylinders to Fire Fighters at major fires around the clock. In 1982 Bell Canada provided the 911 Emergency Number in Toronto, a project which was a success. TFD Administration Offices and the Fire Prevention Division were moved to the fourth floor at New City Hall on March 15, 1982. Also, the
Pre-fire Inspection and Planning Program (P.I.P.) was initiated. This program included the gathering of important pre-fire planning data for buildings across the City to be used by responding Fire Fighters to minimize potential fire hazards. In November of 1982, a contract for the Computer Aided Dispatch System was awarded to I.P. Sharp Assoc. Ltd. of Toronto. The TFD became the first fire department in Canada to introduce specially trained and equipped ‘decontamination teams’ in response to the growing concerns over Fire Fighters’ exposure to hazardous and toxic materials. In 1988 four aerial crews were specified and then designated to receive special training. These apparatus now carried decontamination
equipment designed by TFD personnel. During this year there were 294 hazardous materials incidents, of which 98 were responded to by Hazard 1, a dedicated Hazmat vehicle placed in service at Station No. 15 in 1986. Both High Rise 1 and a Bronto Skylift Aerial were put into service in 1988. High Rise 1 assisted firefighting operations by transporting lightweight equipment suitable for use in high-rise situations. The apparatus was designated to respond to all high-rise and underground pedestrian malls where smoke was reported, or when the Communications Division received multiple calls to a single location. The new Bronto was instrumental for fighting fires in Toronto’s downtown locations where hydro wires, and trolley S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 31
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—Nona Collins May 25, 2009
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32
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Toronto History ... Continued from page 319
bus or streetcar cables frequently hinder Fire Fighters from manipulating aerial ladders close to buildings.
Glimpses of the Nineties
Fire deaths dropped in 1990 to 5, down significantly from 27 in 1989, and was the lowest fire death rate in the department in forty years, and the number of structural fires continued to decrease for the third consecutive year. The Buddy Bear program commenced this year, with small teddy bears being given to children involved in traumatic incidents. All Department pumpers and rescue squads carried the bears, a program made possible through a co-operative effort between Local 113 and the Toronto Fire Department. In response to the tragic deaths at the Rupert Hotel fire, ten new inspectors were hired in 1990 bringing Fire Prevention’s complement up to 43. In addition, a rooming house task force consisting of Fire Prevention, Buildings Department and Public Health Department representatives was formed to address unsafe con-
ditions existing in Toronto rooming houses.
Two Piece Bunker Gear Introduced
The black canvas turnout style coats worn by Toronto Fire Fighters since the early 1900’s were replaced in 1990 with a new two-piece bunker suit. The suits were successfully bargained for by Local 113, and were phased in beginning on July 9 over a four-year period. Personal Alert Safety System alarms were also introduced this year. Attached to breathing apparatus, the device alerts the wearer to unsafe temperature conditions. This was an important feature as the high degree of thermal protection, in excess of 425 degrees Celsius, provided by the new bunker suits could hinder a Fire Fighter’s perception of heat intensity while firefighting. The device also was a equipped with motion detection, and was designed to sound its alarm when its wearer remained motionless for a short period of time. By 1997 a mass exodus of retiring Fire
Fighters occurred, which included both Assistant Deputy Chief Ronald McDonald and Assistant Deputy Chief Mike Bailey. In the wake of the retirements, District Fire Chief Terry Boyko was promoted to the position of ‘Assistant to the Fire Chief’ for a few months until later that year he, and Platoon Chief Pat McCabe, were both promoted to the position of Assistant Deputy Chiefs. On January 1, 1998 the Toronto Fire Department ceased to be the largest Metropolitan Toronto fire department, and joined with the five other municipalities to become the largest Fire Service in Canada, and the fifth largest in North America. The men and women who helped mould the department’s colourful history played a vital role in Canada’s oldest professional fire service, and left an indelible mark on Toronto. As the oldest Canadian Department, it set the firefighting standards and traditions for many departments to follow. For almost one hundred and twenty-four years, professional Fire Fighters laid down their lives to protect a great City, a contribution that cannot be erased or forgotten.
S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 33
By TONY MACDONALD, TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN, STATION 445A
Member Profile on
A
cting Platoon Chief, Jim Ritchie retired from Toronto Fire Services on February 28th 2009, after 37 years of service. On June 12th of this year, Jim will be in Vancouver with a group of very fit volunteers who will be cycling across Canada, finishing their ride in Halifax. As if this trek were not challenging enough, they will complete this cross Canada ride in twelve days! That doesn’t sound like fading away, does it? Jim started fighting fires in 1972 with the Etobicoke Fire Department. In 1975, he trained to become a CPR instructor. Now, that would not be unusual today but back then, Jim and his classmates were some of the first fire fighters to ever teach CPR. Hockey and lacrosse were two of Jim’s greatest interests. As well as playing on the Etobicoke Fire Fighters “A” Division hockey team, he also coached at a very high level in both of these
34
sports. Jim coached the Brampton Midget lacrosse team that won the Canadian National Championships, as well as many tournaments. One of his many accomplishments, which he is proud of, is helping to organize and administer a skills development program for the Brampton Lacrosse Association. This provided a stable system where players learned skills and strategies that would be used throughout many age groups. This allowed a player to be moved up to a higher level team at any time, already knowing and fitting into the systems used by the higher level team. This system helped Brampton to consistently excel in competitive lacrosse. In 1975, Jim began riding to his Etobicoke fire hall from his home in Brampton. He says, “Every day was an adventure on the bike before I got to work.” He continued riding to work, right up to retirement! In 1992, Jim witnessed an impaired driver run away from the scene of a collision. Jim took up the chase and was able to apprehend the suspect until po-
“
I have seen what losing a child to cancer does to a family, and I’d like to make a difference for another, luckier family.” lice arrived on the scene. He received a Letter of Commendation from Superintendent Crake of the Ontario Provincial Police. Crake states, “Your taking part in a foot chase through difficult terrain is a credit to you as a citizen and is greatly appreciated.” In 1999, Jim joined the Brampton Cycling Club. He enjoyed the club events where they would ride at different locations in Brampton and southern Ontario. As time went on, he started to “push the envelope,” taking on greater challenges in his rides. He has ridden around Lake Ontario, through the Lau-
JIM RITCHIE
rentian Mountains, the Eastern Townships in Quebec and through Nova Scotia. Jim has ridden in the Yukon and also in Australia. In 2008, he rode around Lake Erie in eight days and also rode in the 2008 Tour for Kids. This is an event where teams ride in Ontario to raise money for kids with cancer. Jim rode as a member of “Team Amelia” in the Tour for Kids and their team alone raised $26,000, all of which went to kid’s cancer camps. Jim gave serious consideration before applying to ride in the Sears National Kids Cancer Ride. As one can imagine, there is a huge training commitment involved in preparing for a cross Canada ride. What many people don’t realize, is that the riders also make a financial commitment to pay their own expenses for the trip. They do this so that every dollar raised through donations goes directly to the kids. There are no administration fees or any costs removed from the money donated! Jim is also a real estate agent but after sorting out his schedule, he was able to clear
the time for the training and the event. He decided to commit to the 2009 National Ride and was very pleased when his application was selected. The National Blog for Jim states his interest and involvement with Cancer research very well: “As a veteran fire fighter, I’ve been involved in a profession my entire life that helps people every day. You might say
that giving back has been an integral part of who I am professionally. That part of me has also extended to a personal level. Over the years, I’ve helped with canvassing for the Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Salvation Army (also working at their Toy Shop at Christmas!). And now, I will be doing this Ride in 2009, which will be my biggest challenge to date. A good friend of mine lost his 15 year old stepdaughter, Kristin, to non-sun related melanoma in 1996. Although the battle was lost, she fought courageously, never giving up hope. Unfortunately for Kristin, while her parents’ search throughout North America to find a cure led them to several centres which had promising trials, Kristin’s treatment could not save her. The future for that cure lies in research, which this Ride will fund. I have seen what losing a child to cancer does to a family, and I’d like to make a difference for another, luckier family. I am doing this Ride in memory of Kristin, who sadly lost her courageous battle. I’m honoured to have her stepfather Doug Armstrong, who is a retired Captain from TFS, as part of the support team. This will make the ride more meaningful for me. And, what will make it even more special for me is knowing that I will be joined by all four of my children, and one of my grandsons, when the Ride comes through the Toronto GTA. Together, we will ride for Kristin.” The ride begins in Vancouver where all of the riders will dip their feet in the Pacific Ocean before beginning the ride. There are three groups of riders. Each group will ride 250 km. When they reach that mark, they are
SPRING 2009 | FIRE WATCH 35
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Member ... Continued Member Profile Profile... Continuedfrom frompage page3533
JIM RITCHIE bussed ahead to their next starting point. This leapfrogging continues for 12 hour days until they reach Halifax. They have ridden at night in the past but found that night riding is too dangerous. Mountains and traffic take a toll, and in one incident, seven riders got flat tires from a single porcupine. During the trip, riders will be conducting interviews and making appearances to raise more money for the kids. When this article was written in April, Jim had already been involved in promotional rides at Sears’s stores, a fashion show in Barrie, and interviewed in various locations. Jim’s interview in Brantford was where he announced that his ride across Canada is dedicated to Kristin Coombes. In training for the ride, Jim spent the winter riding a wind trainer. When the weather improved, he was able to take his training outside. By the end of April, he had finished 15 “Centuries”, which is a ride of 100 km or more. He will be riding at least three Centuries a week to ramp up his fitness and endurance, to ensure that he is ready for the National Ride. He says that in most cases, they don’t stop at the 100 km benchmark, but ride a pre-determined distance that increases as they get closer to June 12th. Distances of 200 km have already been passed at the time of writing this article and many more will be done to be ready for the National ride. Jim credits Julie, his wife of 39 years, for the unwavering support that has allowed him to pursue these challenges. His children Jason, Jodie, Jacalyn, and Janelle have all been solidly behind Jim’s interests as well. He can’t wait to ride through the GTA together with them. Jim still plays old timer hockey and used to play on two baseball teams in the summer, although he now spends his summers riding his bike.
Even though this article will appear after the ride is finished, donations will be gratefully received and passed on to the kids at: www.sears nationalkidscancerride.com Simply click on “Donate” then “Pledge a National Rider” then “Jim Ritchie”. Fire Fighters from Toronto and all over Canada are proud to have you represent us Jim. You truly give back to the community. Well done!
S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 37
Awards
2009 OFF-DUTY
E
ach spring, Local 3888 hosts an Off-Duty Awards luncheon in order to recognize the commendable and selfless efforts and achievements of our members while off-duty. victim by Air Ambulance. The man in the emergency was in such bad shape that he would not have made it out of the cabin if it were not for these actions which Andrew took.”
This year’s event was held on March 27, 2009, at the Sheridan Hotel in downtown Toronto. Three awards were presented to Local 3888 members by the TPFFA and one award was presented by the members of Box 12. Bernard “Ben” Bonser Award The first award is the Bernard “Ben” Bonser Award which is awarded to a Toronto Fire Fighter who, while off-duty, made a rescue or was involved in saving the life of a citizen in a hazardous or life threatening situation. This year, the Bernard Bonser Award was presented to Fire Fighter Andrew Dowdell from Station 134 “D” Platoon. During a hunting trip in Northern Ontario in October 2008, Andrew played a key role in organizing and caring for a fellow hunter who had suffered a heart attack while in a very remote area of the bush. His nominator, Duane Rushton stated, “Andrew showed the 38
Fire Fighter Andrew Dowdell poses with the Bernard “Ben” Bonser Award, which he received for his role in saving a fellow hunter who had suffered a heart attack in the remote bush of Northern Ontario.
skills and calm under pressure which I would like to think that all fire fighters would show when faced with this type of situation. Even though he was illequipped, he was able to organize and execute the removal of the heart attack
Al Pearsall Award The second award is the Al Pearsall Award. This award, is presented to the Toronto Fire Fighter who best contributed their time and abilities while offduty toward the improvement of his or her community. This year’s recipient of the Al Pearsall Award was Fire Fighter Allen Watterson from Station 223 “D” Platoon. Al is a tireless volunteer with the Durham District School Board and was honoured earlier this year as the, “Volunteer of the Year” by the Board. He is also a significant contributor to the fire fighting community as an advocate, historian and volunteer at many different events. You may also remember Al from
Al Watterson (left) and Mark Gatensby (right) hold their respective awards, the Al Pearsall Award and the Roy Silver Award after being presented to them at the Off-Duty Awards luncheon on March 27, 2009.
our Spring 2009 issue of Fire Watch as we profiled him in an article titled, “The Easiest Gift of Life to Give,” which detailed his incredible dedication as a blood and bone marrow donor. Roy Silver Award The final Local 3888 award is the Roy Silver Award. This Award is presented to the Toronto Fire Fighter who, during the past year, best distinguished himself/herself by performing first aid and/ or CPR while off-duty. This year’s recipient of the Roy Silver Award was Fire Fighter William Mark Gatensby from Station 214 “D” Platoon. In January of 2008, Mark began a three month adventure with his fiancée that saw him visit several countries throughout the world. On March 18, while in Botswana, Africa, their 31-yearold tour guide fell from the vehicle which was traveling at approximately 90kph. She sustained very serious injuries including very deep scalp lacerations, severe blood loss, multiple fractures and road rash. With Mark’s 12 years experience as a Toronto Fire Fighter and his previous experience as a York Region Paramedic, he took control of the situation, stabilized the victim at the roadside and then commandeered a
flatbed truck to transport her to a clinic some 30km away, where he continued to provide care to her. Despite being in critical condition and airlifted to Johannesburg, she had survived and after a long period of therapy, surgeries and rehab, she should make a full recovery. His nominator, Captain Robert Bygrave stated, “It is my belief that without Fire Fighter Gatensby’s quick and professional actions, the death of the tour guide, Jo, would have been imminent. I have had the pleasure of working with Mark now for over 4 years and have witnessed, on countless occasions, his extremely confident and proficient abilities.”
Box 12 Award The Box 12 award is presented in recognition of outstanding volunteer service for the direct benefit of Toronto Fire Fighters. This year’s recipient of the Box 12 Award is District Chief John Graziano from Station 322 “A” Platoon. John has dedicated countless hours of his time over his career to running the Toronto Fire Fighters House League Hockey for TPFFA members. Nomination forms are distributed in early January of each year to solicit entries for the TPFFA off-duty Awards. All members of Local 3888 are encouraged to submit an entry for consideration on behalf of a fellow deserving member.
Dan McMurray accepts the Box 12 Award on behalf of his good friend, John Graziano, who was vacationing out of the country at the time of the luncheon. S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 39
Station 231 BY Jon Lasiuk, Toronto Fire Services Acting Captain
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he period between the early 1950’s and the early 1970’s is what many have referred to as the “hey-day” of fire hall construction within what was then known as Metropolitan Toronto.
.Within the old City of Toronto itself, several stations were constructed to consolidate or replace older halls that, only after their loss, were remembered for their architectural and historical significance to the city. Meanwhile, in the outlying townships of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough, the individual fire departments struggled to provide sufficient emergency services to dozens of new sub-divisions, where only ten years previous, farms had stood. .T he Township of Scarborough found itself in just such a predicament in 1959. The former farming community of Woburn, located to the east of Markham Road, was being quickly built out into winding streets of detached dwellings. In January, Scarborough Township Fire Chief George Collins 40
stood before Township Council to make the case for a seventh fire hall to serve the new area. Chief Collins – one of the original seven members of I.A.F.F. Scarborough Local 626 – stated that fire fighters from Stations 4 and 6 were taking in excess of eight minutes to reach the Markham Road area. By August of 1959, Township Council had finally given approval to the construction of the new hall. A plot of land was purchased at the North-West corner of Markham Road and Rochman Boulevard for this purpose. This would be the largest fire hall that the residents of Scarborough had seen to date. Not only was it being con-
structed to house two fire fighting crews, but the building would also need to be big enough to serve as the new fire department headquarters, communications centre, prevention offices and mechanics’ bay. The S.F.D. headquar-
ters at that time, located at Station #4 on Dorset Road, was greatly overcrowded for its needs. A total amount of .$253,000 was set aside for the new station. Council stipulated that the Chief would also have to buy the two new trucks required for this hall out of that money. The Toronto architectural firm of Weir, Cripps and Associates was hired to design the new hall. It would be one of the first fire halls in the Toronto area with drivethrough apparatus bays. Designed at 12,826 ft2, it would be located in the geographic centre of the Township, providing much closer back-up to the isolated Station #2 in Highland Creek. 1960 would turn out to be a big-money year for the Scarborough Fire Department. Not only was the new Station #7 being constructed, but a second hall – located on Warden Avenue – was being constructed to replace the original Fire Hall #3, which had been housed in a war-time industrial fire station on the old G.E. Company property nearby. A recent ruling had also awarded Scarborough Fire Fighters a work-week reduction from 56 hours to 48 hours. More than fifty new fire fighters would have to be hired to staff the new shift and the two new trucks. Local politicians got their names in the papers by suggesting “innovative” ways to reduce the fire department budget. One Councillor argued for the removal of all the beds from fire halls and the implementation of 8-hour shifts. He stated that the Township could then rent out the fire station dormitories to community groups and day cares to recoup some of the costs of running the fire department. .T he new Station #7 began operations at the beginning of October, 1960. Although the builder had met the deadline of handing over the keys by August 1st, Township Council ordered the station to remain closed for two additional months to save the Township $11,000 per month by delaying the hiring of the new fire fighters. .A formal dedication ceremony for the new hall was held on the afternoon of Friday, November 18th, 1960. .With the moving of the fire department switchboard from Dorset Road to
the new room at Markham Road, the Bell Telephone Company required the department to switch its public emergency number. On November 15th, 1960, the new radio room was put into operation and the Township’s fire emergency number was changed from AM74676 to AX1-1111.
Apparatus Assigned to Fire Station 231 Rescue 231 – 2000 Spartan/ Almonte rescue-pumper. Shop # 25009. Aerial 231 – 2007 Spartan/Smeal 32m rear-mount aerial. Shop # 27031. Air/Light 231 – 2000 GMC/Almonte emergency support unit. Shop # 30009 Car 23 – 2007 Ford E350 District Chief’s van. Shop # 20319. Car 20 – 2006 Toyota Highlander Division Commander’s SUV. Shop # 20314.
S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 41
Station 231 ... Continued from page 41
.T he department’s Fire Prevention Division made good use of their new digs. Throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s, the division’s inspectors worked hard to make the borough one of the safest in Canada. Scarborough would place in the top three communities for fourteen consecutive years, winning the top award for most efficient fire prevention program for three of those years in the early ‘70’s. By 1974, the Scarborough Fire Department was finally able to make good on a plan to introduce dedicated rescue trucks to their fleet. The department had expressed a desire to organize such a company as far back as 1960, when construction workers had become trapped in a tragic tunnel cave-in in North York. The S.F.D. would eventually organize two such trucks, called S.C.A.T. trucks (“Supplemental Combat Attack Team”). Station #7 would be chosen to house one such vehicle, at first, nothing more than a full-sized van. .S.C.A.T. #7 would be equipped with vehicle extrication equipment as well as other specialized rescue equipment for rescues over the Scarborough Bluffs. As well, these vehicles provided much-welcomed additional manpower at the scenes of working fires. The S.C.A.T. trucks would eventually be renamed the more traditional “Rescue” and replaced with much larger apparatus, capable of holding the wide variety of equipment found on a heavy rescue squad. .Station #7’s communications centre was also witness to many innovative changes throughout its forty years of service. The original switchboard was replaced in 1972 with modern equipment, including a Dictaphone recorder to allow for the easy replaying of calls from panicking callers. As call volume increased into the 1990’s, the Scarborough Fire Department became one of the first in the Toronto area to install a trunked radio system. This, for the first time, allowed for simultaneous fires to be handled on separate frequencies where they wouldn’t interfere with one another. The station’s centralized location within Scarborough ensured that its fire fighters played a prominent role at 42
several famous fires throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. One such blaze occurred just before 1 A.M. on Wednesday, April 15th, 1981 when an apartment fire sent heavy smoke throughout an 18 storey seniors building on Adanac Dr. Fire Fighter Paul Bolton and six other members were overcome by smoke as they rescued several dozen people from the building, including two ambulance attendants who were found overcome in an elevator. One elderly woman died in the blaze. The year 1998 brought around the amalgamation of Toronto’s six munici-
palities and their fire departments, and, with the change, the station’s number would be changed to 231. Rescue #7 would eventually be disbanded, leaving only one heavy rescue squad in service in old Scarborough. Extrication equipment was transferred to a new rescuepumper, while a new air/light unit was organized to serve the east-end of the new City of Toronto. .Fire Station 231 continues on today as the East Command headquarters, providing the anchor to the professional fire fighters who serve the citizens of the old City of Scarborough.
James Kerr d. Tuesday, September 30, 1913 Responding to the Union Stockyards on this Tuesday afternoon, the first arriving crews found the Swift Company hay shed ablaze, containing 35 tons of hay and hundreds of galloons of gasoline stored beneath it. Despite the large fire load and potential for spread to other storage sheds, efficient efforts by the first crews contained the fire and within hours it was extinguished. The monetary cost of the fire was limited to $750. Far greater was the loss of firefighter James Kerr that occurred en route to the scene. At the Wychwood Avenue hall, Captain Matson took the reigns of horse-drawn Hose 25, with Kerr on the back alongside District Chief Russell. While responding at full speed, Kerr donned his gear before attempting to relieve his Captain from the reigns so he could do the same. As he made his way from the rear, the force of the speeding truck sent Kerr off balance, falling headfirst toward the curb. Assisted by a passing motorist, Matson and Russell rushed Kerr to a nearby doctor on
Boon Avenue, but he had died almost instantly from his fall at St. Clair and Alberta Streets. Twenty-five year old Kerr had arrived from Ireland in 1911, was unmarried, and had no relatives in Canada. He joined the Toronto Fire Department in 1912. Researched by Matt Dunn
Oliver Ough d. Monday, July 22, 1918 Strikingly similar to the events of February 17, 1904 that caused the death of firefighter Alfred Potter and injured several others was the nitric acid spill call on the afternoon of Saturday, July 20, 1918. Like Potter, who had succumbed to nitric acid inhalation two days after exposure, Lieutenant Oliver Ough was among eight firefighters who responded to Alkenhead Architectural Metal Works on 370 Richmond St. West. After an overfilled carboy containing the acid broke, driving seven workers from the room, the manager called the Toronto Fire Department out of fear that the
wooden floors may catch fire. Without the use of respiratory protection, firefighters entered and smothered the fumes using sand and sawdust, preventing any significant injuries to workers. The firefighters who responded to the call however, were less fortunate. Within two hours of returning to their halls, all eight firefighters felt the effects of the nitric acid fumes and became ill. While some had a quick recovery and returned to duty, others including Ough, Lieut. J.E. Mitchell, and Firefighters Robert Hullick and William Walker experienced more severe symptoms and did not immediately return to work. Having endured the worst degree of exposure on the call, Lieut. Ough died two days later while being treated at the Western Hospital. The funeral of Lieutenant William Oliver B. Ough began at his 378 Bathurst St. residence on Thursday, July 25 and ended with his burial at Mount Albert. The 35 year old was married, had joined the Toronto Fire Department in June 1905, and was promoted to Lieutenant in October 1916. Researched by Matt Dunn
Rest in Peace Brothers
James W. Nicholson
William John Carter
October 10, 1950 - April 16, 2009
May 2, 1947 - May 20, 2009
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years contemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them. S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 43
Seat Belts and Car Seats save Lives: An Interview with Cam Woolley By Marla Friebe, South Command, Public Education Section
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ust this past April, I heard a tragic story retold in the media about a young family traveling in their minivan on one of Toronto’s downtown streets when the car they were in ran a red light. They were subsequently broadsided by another van, and then in turn struck another vehicle stopped at an intersection. Inside the car there were two parents, and four children all under the age of four years. Surprisingly, just two of the children and the parents were restrained by a seat belt or car seat. The other two children, an infant and a toddler, were injured: a three month old boy, who was being nursed by his mother at the time of the accident, was catapulted into a window upon impact and suffered life threatening head injuries, and a three year old girl also suffered serious head injuries. The accident occurred just days after police across Ontario had launched a seat belt safety campaign encouraging parents to ensure that children are either buckled up, or secured safely into a car seat. Most people understand that wearing or not wearing a seatbelt can be a matter of life or death. They are designed to hold onto an occupant securely so that all other systems in the car work effectively to protect the occupant, like crumple zones and air bags. When it comes to vehicular collisions, crashes come when we least expect them. A short trip out to the grocery store along a route we’ve taken a thousand times before becomes the ideal opportunity for a mishap – especially when 44
we’ve chosen not to wear a seat belt, because after all, “it’s just around the corner.” No one knows better than former 30 year veteran OPP Sergeant, Cam Wooley, that kids are the best ‘seat belt alarms’ out there when it comes to encouraging parents to drive safely by wearing seatbelts. When finding children not buckled up or not fastened into age/weight appropriate car seats inside a vehicle, Woolley has heard more excuses than most for why parents choose to cut corners. I recently had an opportunity to interview Wooley on the importance of car seats. Wooley has retired from the OPP and is the new face of CTV’s CP24 news program, trading policing for a broadcast career focusing, once again, on traffic and community safety. Over the years he has seen many of the same mistakes performed over and over again. One of the most common errors he’s seen is children fastened loosely into the car with regular seat belts, belts that were really designed for the generic adult. When a car comes to a screeching halt, a loosely secured child will continue to travel in the same direction. These seat belts can cause extensive internal injuries to the child’s torso and throat area. Woolley reminds me that even in a 50km/hour collision, there is tremendous force acting on a child’s body due to the laws of physics and momentum. Plain and simple; seatbelts weren’t designed with children in mind. The Ministry of Transportation requires children to be fas-
tened securely in appropriate car seats or booster seats, depending on their age and size (visit www.mto.gov.on.ca). Many car seats can be purchased to grow with the child because, as Woolley points out, raising children is expensive. Many parents argue that their child will not willingly be seated in a booster seat, especially if the child reaches the minimum age but not the minimum height restriction. “A petite child can still suffer significant problems in an accident if they are not strapped into a booster seat,” Woolley stressed. Another issue that Woolley frequently caught while still policing was a very high number of car seats that were defective or had missing parts that had been handed down from family or friends. Even a close aquaintance of Woolley’s had received similar items from well intentioned friends that were later checked out online. Unfortunately, 90 percent of the items were defective or had been recalled. “A new car seat is worth the investment,” he said. “If you choose to pass down a car seat, ensure that it is not missing parts, has not been recalled, and has never been in an accident.” Car seats should meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and bare the CMVSS sticker. That means purchasing a car seat south of the border won’t do. You can check to see if your car seat has been recalled online at: www.tc.gc.ca Woolley recommends everyone have their firstborn child’s
car seat installed by a certified car seat installation technician with Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Police Services, or St. John’s Ambulance, and to watch carefully when it is being installed. That way if you choose to relocate it to another vehicle (or have additional children) you will know how to properly reinstall the seat. However, following the installation instructions that come with the seat can be a complicated task for new parents. Often cars and car seats are incompatible due to stiff leather upholstery and seat design. Certified installers frequently use sections of pool noodles to position the seat at the appropriate angle so that the seat is able to best absorb the impact of a collision should one occur. Today, 70 percent of the car seats on the road are installed incorrectly, usually too loosely or the tether strap is completely missing or not tethered down. However, this is down significantly from 90 percent just a few years ago. Having a properly installed car seat and knowing how to strap your child in appropriately will make all the difference in a major collision. Woolley is not aware of any problem in Canada where a child has been properly secured into a car seat, experienced a vehicular collision, and not survived. He is passionate about the use of these seats, and emphasizes the exhaustive tests that car seats are subjected to in Canada – in fact, they are tested right here in Toronto. Woolley has seen many terrible accidents on Ontario roads where children are involved, but survive because of the protection of a car seat. After all, current stats show that one in every two people will be involved in a serious car accident ... and car crashes are the leading cause of death for Canadian children. A properly installed car seat can reduce the risk of injury or death by as much as 71%. Car seat clinics are regularly held by Toronto Police Services. You can also book an appointment at 51 Division by calling 416808-5124. Toronto Fire Services attends car seat clinics in partnership with Toronto Police Services and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. You can view upcoming clinics at www. toronto.ca/fire/carseats/index.htm. Here are a few tips to help you get started: • A typical seatbelt assembly consists of a lap and shoulder belt. The shoulder belt should be worn as tightly as possible over the shoulder and across the chest. The lap belt should be firm across the body and low across the hips. • Failure to wear a seatbelt in a City operated commercial vehicle will result in demerit points against the City of Toronto's Commercial Vehicle Operator's Registration (CVOR) record. This conviction remains on your record with the Ministry of Transportation for three years. It may also affect your personal vehicle insurance premium. • B y law, drivers are responsible for ensuring passengers under 16 years of age are secured properly. It is mandatory for anyone transporting children to make sure they are properly secured in a child car seat or booster seat. S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 45
k c u L d o o G
to
O
n Friday May 29, 2009, Local 3888 said goodbye and a job well done to 75 of their own who had retired during the past year. Local 3888 also recognized and remembered a number of members who answered their final alarm during the years 2008 and 2009. President Scott Marks and Fire Chief William Stewart began the evening with some general remarks and congratulated all on their well deserved retirement. Reverend Emeritus, Ron Nickel said grace and dinner was served to begin the event, which was held at a long time supporter of Local 3888, Q’ssis Place in the old City of Scarborough. Following dinner, presentations
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were made to the retiring members by Frank Ramagnano, Master of Ceremonies for the evening, Doug Erwin, Entertainment Committee Chair, President Marks, Fire Chief Stewart and Entertainment Committee Members.
Doug Erwin remembers the occasion with mixed emotions: “I felt happy for their retirement and achievements, but
I was also a bit sad that we were losing so many of our fire fighting family. There were close friends of mine receiving the honours and that made it very special for me.� Many of the fire fighters honoured had over 30 years of service with one of the former six cities and the current City of Toronto. This is an occupation pitted with stress and danger as well as a great sense of serving the community. Many of those being recognized were accompanied by family members and it was nice to be able to thank them for sharing in the journey. Good luck to all of our retirees and may they live full and prosperous lives knowing that they made a difference.
Local 3888 Retirees Local 3888’s Retirees for 2008/2009 First Name Surname Franklin Frank Mitchell Lawrence John John Jeffrey Brian Bradley Robert William Ronald Donald Edward William Ronald James John James Richard Robert Greg Christopher Randy Robert
Hough Mammone Brown Nicoll Cleveland Clark Penfound Stewart Woodroy Smith LaRush Clark Collett Oakley Stevenson O'Brien McClare Heisler O'Farrell Peers Bingham Connor Bland Rainthorpe Richard
YRS Service
First Name Surname
YRS Service
First Name Surname
YRS Service
18 20 22 22 29 29 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 32 32
Donald Wainwright Eric Yakiwchuk Bill Jandciu Dennis Craig Robert Lembke Steven Myhal Richard Stillaway Gregory Wuerth Newton Robinson William Stone Neil Murphy Wayne Reidt Richard Chayko Nickolos Dimitropoulos Ross McGurk Theadore Sorokos Wayne Brown Rocco Marchetti Alan Booth Thomas Carnwell Gordon Martin Glenn Coles William Morfitt Kenneth Boyd William Elliott
32 32 32 32 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 34 34 34 34 34 34 34
Gary Frederick John John Philip Lewis James Gary Michael Bruce Eric Jeffrey Norman Gordon Irving Daniel Michael John John John James Alexander Wayne Barry Larry
34 34 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 36 36 36 36 36 37 37 38 39
Gibbs Hunter Gaffey Craig Guymer Davis Alexander Hewson Pothier Steinmiller Hudson Horn Bortoluss Bradley Stone McDougall O'Leary Roach Westlake Blake Ritchie Neil Crawley Turnbull Devane
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3888 recent HAPPENINGS
District 31 is the “B” Platoon District Challenge Champions for 2009. A total of $3500.00 was raised for charity.
The 2009 “C” Platoon District Challenge Champions was 33 District once again. Of special note, this is their third win in a row - a true “3 PEAT”. The tournament raised $1,225.00 for Princess Margaret Cancer Research.
Congratulations to the “Dundas” team who are the Toronto House League Hockey Champions for 2009.
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The Toronto Fire Fighter Calendar Competition was held on June 18th at the XS Nightclub in downtown Toronto.
Local 3888 Secretary Treasurer, Frank Ramagnano poses with TFS members, Kyle Dobrowolski and Patrick Doyle after volunteering their time for McDonalds McHappy Day on May 6th.
Crew members from Station 134 and 311 on “B” Platoon pose with Fire Chief Bill Stewart and Councillor Janet Davis after receiving a Team Citation during the Toronto Fire Service Rescue & Merit Awards on May 14th.
On Saturday June 6, 2009, in-service Toronto Fire Fighters from Station 122 “C” Platoon (Jim MacIntosh’s crew) attended the ALS Walk at Sunnybrook Park. The members were Darryl Thompson, Jason Boyd, Matt Palmer, and Sonny Vranjes.
The crew from Station 133 “B” Platoon lend a hand at the CFFF Memorial Baskin Robbins 31 cent scoop night on April 29th.
Toronto Fire Fighters participate in the Sick Children’s Hospital Burn Awareness Day on May 14th.
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Fit to SURVIVE
The fire fighter’s guide to health and nutrition Fit to Survive is your source for a healthier life, brought to you by the IAFF’s Fire Service Joint Labour Management Wellness/ Fitness Initiative. You’ll find expert advice and practical information on staying fit and healthy, as well as recipes and nutrition tips to make your next firehouse meal wholesome and delicious. Articles reprinted in FireWatch have been taken from the IAFF’s Fit To Survive web site, which we encourage all members to visit regularly. It can be found at www.foodfit.com/iaff/.
M
Fun in the sun
ost people love sunny, warm days, when they can get outside for fun and soak up the sun. But sun is one good thing you can have too much of - and not even know you've had too much until much later, when, like 60,000 Canadians every year, you're diagnosed with skin cancer. Fortunately, 19 out of 20 cases of skin cancer diagnosed are less aggressive forms called basal cell or squamous cell cancers, which are fairly easy to treat. But 5% are melanoma, a more serious form.
Know it like the back of your hand It's important to know your skin and the signs of skin cancer. If you notice any unusual moles or marks on your skin, watch them closely. The most common skin cancers (basal and squamous cell) can look like a small, skin-coloured or red knob. The more dangerous melanoma usually begins as a mole that seems to change colour or size. What are the signs that tell you to have a doctor look at a mole? Just remember ABCD: • Asymmetry: The mole is not round. • Border: The border is irregular with jagged edges, not smooth.
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• Colour: The colour can be uneven across the mole, it can change, or it may seem very different from the other moles on your body. • Diameter: Cancerous moles are usually larger than 6 mm (the size of a pea or a pencil eraser).
Protect them while they're young Skin cancer is usually caused by the skin's exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. The more sun you're exposed to over your lifetime, the higher your risk of developing cancer. It's estimated that up to 80% of a person's total exposure to the sun happens before 18 years of age. Because of this, it's good to teach children healthy sun habits from the start. One serious sunburn in childhood can increase future cancer risk by as much as 50%. Babies under six months old are especially susceptible to the glare of sunshine and should be kept out of the sun completely. They're too young for sunscreen, so keep the baby in the shade and covered as much as possible. Don't forget that the sun can reflect off shiny surfaces and swimming pools, so keep babies well shaded from all directions at all times.
No such thing as a healthy tan There is a common myth that if a person tans well, they're protected from these harmful rays. Not true! While it is true that fair-haired, blue-eyed people are most prone to burning, and therefore are more susceptible to the sun's rays, even "healthy" tans are really just damage control - they're your body's way of trying to protect itself from the sun. But the damage is already done and can't be reversed. Years of sun worshipping, be it outside or in a tanning salon, will eventually show up later on in life as wrinkles, poor skin elasticity, and possibly skin cancer. The sun, however, is also very important to our health. It provides us with vitamin D (which we need for our bones), and it can lift our spirits. In fact, there's a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder (or SAD) that can happen when there's more darkness than daylight - sufferers feel "down" during the winter and much better when summer comes. So staying holed up deep inside isn't the way to go either. As with most good things, moderation and good sense are the keys. The goal is to have fun outside but to stay safe at the
same time. Here are some basic rules: • Cover up whenever possible. A longer cotton skirt, for example, might feel cooler on a hot day than a pair of shorts, and will help guard you from the sun. • Wear a hat. Hats keep the sun's rays off the scalp, face, and back of the neck, prime areas for skin cancer. A good hat will also shelter and protect your eyes from the sun's powerful rays. • Use sunscreen whenever you're outside, even if the sun doesn't seem particularly strong. Damaging ultraviolet rays can penetrate through clouds, so don't take a chance. Always apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF (sun protection factor) of 15. Be sure to follow the directions closely and reapply the sunscreen on a regular basis throughout the day, especially after you've been swimming or sweating. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for their product recommendations and advice on proper application. • Avoid the sun when it's at its peak. It's strongest between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., so use that time to do activities indoors if possible. • If you take prescription drugs, check to see if they can make you more sensitive to the sun. If you're not sure, ask your pharmacist. If, despite being careful, you still get sunburn, treat it as you would any other kind of burn: • Apply cool, wet compresses for 24 to 48 hours. • Don't apply skin creams within the first two days. • Drink a lot of water to keep from feeling dehydrated.
CHEESE AND BERRY FILLED CREPES INGREDIENTS 1 cup 1¼ cup ½ cup ½ cup ½ tsp. 1 dash 16 oz. 8 oz. 1 lb.
flour nonfat milk egg substitute sugar vanilla salt 1% low-sodium cottage cheese ½-fat cream cheese fresh strawberries, sliced
RECIPE • .Whisk together flour, milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth. • .Heat a 6-inch nonstick skillet with low sides or crepe pan over medium heat. • .Spray lightly with cooking spray and remove from heat. • .Add _ cup of crepe batter to pan while rotating to make a thin layer of batter on bottom of pan. • .Return to heat. Cook until edges of crepe begin to turn light brown and appear dry. Using a spatula gently lift one edge and flip. • .When the other side is light brown (it won’t take long), invert pan over paper towel. Crepe will drop out. • .Continue this method until all batter is used. Cover loosely with kitchen towel to keep warm. • .To make cheese filling, place cottage cheese and cream cheese in blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla to taste. • .Spoon cheese mixture down middle of crepe, fold side over and place seam side down on plate. Top with berries and sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.
Very severe burns, the kind that produce blisters, are often treated in clinics with dressings. If you're not sure if your burn is severe, have it checked.
NUTRITION FACTS Calories 440 Total Fat 14 g Sodium 370 mg Total Carbohydrates 50 g Fiber 3 g Protein 30 g
This information is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the advice of your physician. If you have any medical concerns or issues, contact your physician.
SERVING SUGGESTION SERVING SIZE: 2 crepes NUMBER OF SERVINGS: 4
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Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association
2009 Media Award Winners
Local 3888 President, Scott Marks delivers some opening remarks prior to dinner being served at the Palais Royale on May 11, 2009.
John Hanley poses with Local 3888 President, Scott Marks and Toronto City Councillor, Joe Mihevc after receiving his unprecedented three Local 3888 Media Awards.
T
The judges also made Special Mention of a feature series in the Toronto Star by Tanya Talaga & photos by Steve Russell, describing new treatments for burn victims. The series was judged to be outside the scope of this competition but the judges determined it merits consideration for the International Association of Fire Fighters Awards.
he annual Fire Fighters Media Awards have been sponsored by the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association since 1949, to honour journalists who produce unusual and dramatic coverage of the work of Toronto Fire Fighters. The judges have picked these entries as the best for the various categories in the 2009 TPFFA Media Awards contest • Best radio coverage – the Jim Morris Award: Ryan Bird of CFRB for his continuing coverage of a major fire at Duke Cycle on Queen St. E. This award is named in honour of the long-time radio reporter who was a perennial winner. The judges described Bird’s entry as “solid, continuing coverage of a major story … immediate and detailed.” • Best print story – publications over 100,000 circulation: A team of editors and reporters from the Toronto Sun for their continuing coverage over five days of the explosion and fire at the Sunrise Propane facility in North York. The judges described the series of articles as “great day-to-day coverage of an ongoing story - all the angles are covered.” 52
• Best print story – media under 100,000 circulation: John Hanley for an unusual story in Fire Fighting in Canada magazine describing the difficulty of freeing three guards trapped inside an overturned Brinks truck, in effect “a bulletproof steel box lying on its side” with the doors jammed. The judges described it as “wellwritten and comprehensive … great information for people who might well face similar situations in the future.” • Best photo – print media over 100,000 circulation: John Hanley for an outstanding photo published in the Toronto Sun of the six-alarm fire at Duke Cycle on Queen St. W. The judges noted a large number of excellent photos in this category. This one, they said, showed the massive response of Toronto Fire Fighters to a major fire … “a great fire photo, tells the story and takes the viewer right into the scene of the action.”
Best photo – print media over 100,000 circulation: John Hanley’s outstanding photo published in the Toronto Sun of the six-alarm fire at Duke Cycle on Queen St. W.
Best photo – print media under 100,000 circulation: This John Hanley photo of a Robbins Avenue garage fire was published in the Beach Metro News.
S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 53
2009 UPCOMING EVENTS LOCATION
Monday, Aug 10, 2009, 800 HRS
Stewards Meeting
3888 Union Office
August 30-Sept 2, 2009
IAFF Canadian Conference
Vancouver, Britsh Columbia
Sunday, September 13, 2009, 1100 HRS
Canadian Fallen FF Memorial
Ottawa, Ontario
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial
Colorado Springs, CA
September 22, Tuesday, Night meeting 1900 HRS
3888 General Union Meeting
RCL Br.527 948 Sheppard Ave. W.
September 23, Wednesday, Day meeting 1000 HRS
3888 General Union Meeting
RCL Br.527 948 Sheppard Ave. W.
Toronto Firefighters War Veterans Association New Members Wanted! The Toronto Firefighters War Veterans Association has a rich and colourful history dating back to the years just prior to World War II. Eight men, both Toronto Firefighters and World War I veterans, met at the Prisoner of War Club on Shuter and Mutual Streets in downtown Toronto in 1935. The intent of the organization was to provide a social outlet and promote the welfare of Toronto Firefighter ex-servicemen and their families. The Association is currently recruiting new fire fighter members, either veterans or nonveterans and hopefully among them, there will be some who would like to march with the Colour Guard, as they proudly show the Colours to an appreciative public. We welcome active or retired fire fighters from the Toronto Fire Service. Reminder military service is NOT a requirement. Contact Ken Magill for more information Telephone 905-847-6694 Email kmagill@cogeco.ca
The Toronto Professional Fire Fighters CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WE ARE HONOURED TO BE ON YOUR LIST OF SUPPORTERS
KELLY SERVICES •• ••JOY HENDERSON • ALLIED HALO INDUSTRIES INC • Thank• LINDA You forE.supporting our advertisers! HEIKKILA • 54
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
EVENT
*DATES AND TIMES
September
August
DATE*
Media Awards ... Continued from page 52 circumstances that are as close to real as possible. The photograph captured the intensity and drama of a critical moment, “an impressive action shot, with great composition,” the judges said. • Best published Fire Watch article: Toronto Fire Captain, Tony Macdonald wrote a very interesting and compelling profile on fellow Toronto Fire Captain, Bill Hawley in the Spring 2008 issue
Toronto Fire Captain, Tony Macdonald accepts the Fire Watch Magazine award for his member profile of Bill Hawley in the Spring 2008 issue. • Best photo – print media under 100,000 circulation: John Hanley, for a photograph of a Robbins Ave. garage fire published in the Beach Metro News. This was not a major incident, but the photograph captured all the elements in a single frame, “drama and action, caught at the moment of maximum impact,” the judges said.
The judges for the competition this year were: Ken Mallett, a veteran print and television journalist and the former news director of Global TV News; Norm Betts, a distinguished news photographer with literally decades of experience and himself the winner of several Fire Fighters Awards; Bill Dampier, a former police reporter for the Toronto Telegram and the winner of a National Newspaper Award as a writer for the Toronto Star. Judge Emeritus: Bob Johnstone, retired national reporter for CBC radio and television, and a former police reporter for the Toronto Star.
• Best television story/series: Breakfast Television, CITY-TV, for their continuing coverage of a six-alarm fire at Duke Cycle on Queen St. W. This fire began in the early hours of the morning, just a few blocks from the CITY studios. Breakfast Television was first on the scene and used that early advantage to produce coverage the judges described as “timely, dramatic and compelling. Excellent camera work, an outstanding ‘on deadline’ response to a major story. Coverage of a breaking story in real time is the acid test for television, and the Breakfast Television crew produced when it counted.” • Best unpublished photograph: Toronto Fire Fighter, Jon Tamlin for a photograph of fire fighters training at the Toronto Fire Academy. The photo shows how hard fire fighters train under
A team of editors and reporters from the Toronto Sun accept their awards for their continuing coverage over five days of the explosion and fire at the Sunrise Propane facility in North York.
Best television story/series: The Breakfast Television team from CITY-TV accept their award for their continuing coverage of the six-alarm fire at Duke Cycle on Queen Street. S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 55
&
FIRE FIGHTER
SURVIVAL & RESCUE &
Are you ready when the MAYDAY is called? By Toronto Fire Fighters Geoff Boisseau and John McGill
You arrive at a ‘routine’ house fire. Flames coming out of a window, smoke coming from under the eves, it looks like a good working fire. A crew advances a line into the house. So now it is time to do your job - you are the IRIT- the Initial Rapid Intervention Team. Suddenly, the unexpected happens - a MAYDAY call comes across the radio. A fire fighter from that first line is in trouble. What is your role? Are you prepared? Have you practiced? Will you be able to do whatever it is that is asked of you? After all, that fire fighter, much like you, wants to go home at the end of their shift. Will you be able to look yourself in the mirror and say that you did everything you could?
A
there are key roles to play. In this issue, we are going to discuss your role as a member of an IRIT – Initial Rapid Intervention Team and their involvement in a fire fighter rescue. Read it, and then you can decide if you are ready.
IRIT Crew In some fire departments that have dedicated and trained RIT crews, there still seems to be some confusion as to when a RIT team is to be set up. Often, Incident Commanders assume that since a RIT truck has been dispatched to the call and is enroute, then their requirement to provide RIT has been met. This assumption is in fact incorrect. Most people in the fire service have heard of the ‘two in, two out’ policy. However, do we understand what it means, and how it potentially impacts us as an individual and our potential role on the fire ground? The two in, two out policy basically means that if a crew is on air, inside an IDLH, then a team of fire fighters must be on the outside prepared 56
to perform a rescue of those fire fighters. That’s it, period. Therefore, despite the fact that a RIT truck has been dispatched, an IC MUST still designate at least two fire fighters on the fire ground as an Initial Rapid Intervention Team or IRIT, until the dispatched RIT truck arrives and relieves them. Who can be designated? The Ministry of Labor Section 21 Committee Guidance Note 6-11 states that a Rapid Intervention Team (R.I.T.) can either be, “On-scene fire fighters designated and dedicated to rapid inter-
vention crews, or on-scene fire fighters performing other functions, but ready to deploy as rapid intervention teams if necessary.” However, they must be in place before entry into a structure. NFPA 1410: Standard on Training for Initial Emergency Scene Operations (2005) states that, “Two or more fire fighters be assigned outside the hazard area at an interior structure fire to assist or rescue at an emergency operation.” In a profession where seconds make a difference, there are not many ICs that will wait for the arrival of a dispatched RIT truck to arrive before sending a crew to the interior for search and rescue or fire attack. Therefore, no matter what apparatus you arrive on at the incident, if you are on a fire ground, YOU may be designated as an IRIT if the situation dictates. This reinforces the importance of not becoming complacent with your RIT skills. These skills are perishable and you need to take responsibility and maintain them. As we have said in earlier articles, “Everyone at the scene is expecting YOU to do something, anything, to save
[
Your ability to do this job will have a DIRECT impact upon the success or failure of the rescue operation.
]
one of our own. After you are called into action is NOT the time to ask yourself if you are ready. This is not a position that you can learn as you go. Lives are at stake. Your ability to do this job will have a DIRECT impact upon the success or failure of the rescue operation. Now ask yourself…if this happens today, are you ready? Would you know what to do? Have you drilled and practiced with your crew? We all know that we are only as good as we train. It is up to YOU to decide. You may be going into the most dangerous situation you will probably ever encounter in your career. You will be expected to take the necessary steps to expedite saving one of our own.” Now ask yourself…are you ready? Your brother and sister fire fighters and their families are depending on it.
The Man in the Mirror When you get all you want and you struggle for self, and the world makes you king for a day, then go to the mirror and look at yourself and see what that man has to say. For it isn't your mother, your father or wife whose judgment upon you must pass, but the man, whose verdict counts most in your life is the one staring back from the glass. He's the fellow to please, never mind all the rest. For he's with you right to the end, and you've passed your most difficult test if the man in the glass is your friend. You can fool the whole world, down the highway of years, and take pats on the back as you pass. But your final reward will be heartache and tears if you've cheated the man in the glass. ~Anonymous
S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 | F I R E WATCH 57
Advertisers Index 427 AUTO COLLISION.............................. 22
DR LESLEY POLLARD OTHODONTIST........ 8
SPADINA SECURITY INCBANNER............. 36
ALARMFORCE........................................... 12
ETOBICOKE BRAMPTON SLEEP CLINIC... 36
SUNNYSIDE PHYSIOTHERAPHY&HEALTH... 22
BEAVER VALLEY STONE............................ 14
FACTORY TILES DEPOT............................. 12
THAM SHANMUGARAJAH SURVEYING... 58
CASTLE HONDA........................................ 14
INNER CITY AUTO GLASS.......................... 8
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CREDIT UNION... 6
CHUCK REED USC EDUCATION FUND.... 14
KELLY SERVICE.......................................... 10
THOMAS BROWN ARCHITECTS............... 36
CITY SAVINGS FINANCIAL SERVICES.....IFC
MORTGAGE CENTRE: A. YANG................ 36
VAN WYNGAARDEN ASSOCIATES........... 22
CONSUMERS CHOICE...........................OBC
RATNA AUTO BODY WORKS INC............. 58
VISION 2000 TRAVEL GROUP................... 14
CRAFTDOOR DESIGNER INC.................... 22
RED SEAL AUTO PROS................................ 7
WASTE MANAGEMENT.............................. 4
DESTINATION QUEBEC.............................. 6
ROYAL BANK: BARB TAUS......................... 58
ZIGGY CYCLE AND FITNESS....................... 8
DEVELIN E BUSINESS ARCHITECTS......... 36
SANDBANK HOMES.................................. 14
DOMESTICARE FAMILY SERVICES............. 8
SELECT BAKERY.......................................... 7
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“Providing professional advice over 25 years. Your satisfaction is my reward.” Barb Taus Mortgage Specialist barb.taus@rbc.com mortgages.rbcroyalbank.com/barb.taus
58
Cel: 905.410.3345 Pager: 905.435.9277 Fax: 905.725.5423
www.wellspring.ca As printed in the Wellspring newsletter
IN THE PAST DECADE, APPROXIMATELY 500 ONTARIO FIRE FIGHTERS HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER… Wellspring would like to be their lifeline of support. According to Rick Berenz, Executive Officer of the Toronto Professional Fire Fighter’s Association, today’s Fire Fighters are exposed to many deadly toxins hiding in smoke and airborne chemicals. These toxins can build up over time and trigger numerous cancers including, but not limited to, lung cancer, head and neck cancers, lymphomas and other blood cancers. Fire Fighters are developing these cancers at an alarmingly young age, relative to previous generations of Fire Fighters. Thirty years ago, a Fire Fighter may have been able to enjoy 10 years of retirement after being diagnosed with cancer. Today, many Fire Fighters never even see retirement. Current predictions indicate that over 40% of Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes.1 Medical breakthroughs continue to provide hope that the disease will one day be eradicated; however, until cancer is cured, support is needed to help those living with the disease today. In addition to medical care, most people living with cancer also benefit from supportive care, which includes such areas as education, emotional support, and coping skills programs that help heal both mind and body. Wellspring is a dedicated provider of community-based supportive cancer care and continually expands and advances new and existing programs to ensure individuals and their family members have access to high-quality programs, free of charge. A network of community-based centres that provide a wide range of programs and services to individuals and families living with cancer, Wellspring was founded in downtown Toronto in 1992. Since that time, Wellspring has expanded into a network of centres and satellite locations across Ontario and Alberta. Wellspring programs provide people with a variety of unique mechanisms for coping with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and its impact on patients, family members, including children, and professional caregivers. In addition to one-to-one peer support, Wellspring centres offer support groups and coping skills programs that aid in stress management, including, Tai Chi, Yoga, Reiki, Art Therapy, Parents and Children’s Programs, Therapeutic Touch, Return to Work Programs and, most recently, Exercise. Short-term counselling, bereavement support and access to education and other community resources are also provided, with regular offerings of presentations and educational workshops on specific topics of interest to members. All programs take place in a welcoming and home-like environment and confidentiality is assured. Wellspring receives no core or government funding and charges no fees, and therefore relies on donations, events and volunteer support in order to operate. ________________________________________________ [1] Research undertaken by the Canadian Cancer Society, www.cancer.ca
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