Retired T oronto Fire Fighters’ Association

Greetings from the Retired Toronto Fire Fighters’ Association!

The RTFFA Executive has been busy behind the scenes over the last few months. We have finally secured an account with our partners at the Comtech Fire Credit Union, and we will soon be creating the mechanism for our members to be able to make financial transactions with us online. Overdue, we know, but we are getting there. Our social media platforms are continuing to develop as well, with our Website and Facebook page. Continuing with our Spotlight on those organizations that have brought us to where we are, this Fire Watch article will focus on our Retirees from the former City of York.

York Fire Fighters Retirees: Written by Jon Jones The York Township/Borough/City Fire Department lasted fewer than three generations. Volunteer and composite motorized brigades began in all suburbs bordering Toronto after WWI. As the second Toronto area career fire department, York was also the second chartered IAFF local in 1934. Four York volunteer brigades from Humbercrest, Fairbank, Silverthorn and Mt. Dennis were consolidated into the YFD 1937. Former paid brigade members were the first hired. Eligible volunteers were recruited next. All of these original young men appointed before WWII were ineligible for retirement until the 1960s-70s. Although retirement benefits were considered in early bargaining, there were no retirees to serve then. YFD’s first pensioner, an older paid composite brigade chief kept on in 1937, retired in 1945. Three other older early volunteers retired in 1949. The Association provided retirement gifts, social events, annual Christmas cards and gifts and financial contributions to the handful of retirees into the 1960s. Peers arranged retirement parties with Association contributions. A “death and retirees” line in the Local 411 budget existed from the 1940s until 1970. Pension representatives were elected or appointed to Local 411. Retirees participated in several social or sports events. YFD peaked at about 200 members. Significant staffing improvements occurred in 1956, 1959 and 1963 (to accommodate two reductions in the workweek) and in 1967 after the Weston amalgamation. Lowering retirement eligibility and ageing of the original crews (some born before 1900) saw a small trickle of retirees in the 1960’s, still not enough to justify a formal organization. But by the 1970’s the flow of retirees increased. In 1973, holding a Retirees Dinner-Dance was investigated. The first of these annual events were held in 1975 and continued well attended until amalgamation. All new and former retirees and their guests were invited, and all members of the Department were welcomed. In October of 1985, George Walford created the York Firefighter’s Newsletter. It contained union information and news of interest to our members. Copies were distributed to the fire halls, and retirees and widows could subscribe. Walford financed the production and opportunities to pick up the news and gossip of the day as content for

the newsletter mailing by visiting the halls and selling 50/50 tickets. He also used the

until well into his retirement. By 1998, a banner on the newsletter, “News and Views of Interest to Active and Retired York Firefighters” was added. It had essentially become a retirees’ newsletter with active members and widows also subscribing. A local 411 internet site, later a York Fire Fighters’ website, and now a Facebook Group have also served YFD retirees from the 1980s until today. The York Fire Retirees’ Association was established when George Walford organized a regular luncheon for retirees at the end of 1998. Guest speakers on issues of interest to retirees, entertainment and a Legion luncheon were accompanied by a business session. While George still produced and distributed the newsletter, elected representatives including Bill Barton, Gord Bell, Bruce Parker, Ed Schanck and Dave Wyatt also served retirees. Sadly, George became ill. Retirees living further away started to find the drive to the meetings more cumbersome. Some became ill. Some passed away. Amalgamation affected new retirees’ participation. The meetings and the organization, unfortunately, came to an end in the late 2000s. John King stepped up to the plate and continued production of the newsletter. A few active TFS firefighters from the former York also subscribe. John also organizes a regular golf tournament for ex-Yorkies and retirees and maintains e-mail updates to a list of subscribers. York retirees still attend informal breakfasts and lunches, sports tournaments, retiree’s parties and the funerals of their peers. You’ll see some active with the War Vets, TPFFA Honour Guard, and Pipes and Drums. York/TFS retirees who worked in Etobicoke have also been invited to the Etobicoke Fire Fighters Retiree’s luncheons. Many also participate in, share information with and are proud members of the Toronto Retired Fire Fighters Association and participants in the TPFFA Active-Retired program. The RTFFA had to postpone the Annual Spring Membership meeting; once details are confirmed we will be sending out a notice to the AR membership. Our membership drive is continuous; if you are interested in becoming a member, feel free to contact us at active.retired@torontofirefighters.org or the TPFFA Senior Executive Assistant Suzanne Boss sboss@torontofirefighters.org. New AR Membership fees and/or Renewals can be paid via:

1. By Cheque

Please mail to: Attention: Suzanne Boss

TPFFA 14 Cosentino Drive, Toronto, ON M1P 3A2

2. By Credit Card

Please contact Suzanne Boss via email to make credit card arrangements, sboss@torontofirefighters.org

3. By E-Transfer

Please email mail@retiredtorontofirefighters.org.

You can email security question/answer to the above as well. E-transfers – as we have members with the same or similar names, please be sure that we can properly identify who the payment is from. Most e-transfers provide for a message to be added, please use this feature to inform us of whom you are and that the funds are for your membership dues.