ADVERTISING Please contact Bill Monson at 416.466.1167 or e-mail monson@torontofirefighters.org
A PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
s we push through the cold and snowy winter, I remind myself not to look too far ahead. We remain focused on significant ongoing matters: navigating arbitration to secure a new collective agreement, meeting with city councillors to discuss the TFS budget, and preparing for a provincial and, likely, a federal election. Speaking of elections, the 3888 Executive Elections should be well underway when you read this. It is indeed a busy time.
Elections are critical. The ability to change provincial and federal election dates is highly political. We saw Premier Ford take advantage of U.S. election timing and federal leadership instability to position his election strategically. Now, it seems likely that the Conservatives and NDP will force the Liberals into a federal election; having to do so with a brand-new leader. Thankfully, our union elections are set in stone—every two years, no exceptions. Sometimes, that interval feels short, sometimes long. Over the years, multiple constitutional change proposals have attempted to extend terms to three years. Each time, the majority of members voted in favour, but the proposal has never reached the required 66 2/3% threshold. It may come up again this year. I’ll refrain from sharing my opinion… but I certainly have one.
The TPFFA election process generally runs smoothly. Members often ask why we still use mail-in ballots. The reason is that, as an IAFF affiliate, we must follow certain American rules. Those rules do not allow for electronic balloting. These rules are evolving, but not in time for this election. In the future, you should be able to vote online. This could increase participation and significantly reduce the amount of time between the ballots going out and the results being provided. One issue I would like to see resolved is the number of ballots returned due to incorrect addresses. Each election, dozens of
ballots come back undelivered. While there is a process to obtain a new ballot, it is cumbersome, and many members simply don’t bother.
I have been fortunate never to run citywide. Running within a command is challenging enough, especially for incumbents balancing campaign demands with their other responsibilities. For those seeking a principal officer position, the campaign trail involves over 350 stops—virtually impossible to complete, even with the official start date of January 1st. When a principal officer’s seat is expected to open, discussions often take place among current board members to avoid experienced candidates running against each other. Often, they are able to come to agreements before the nomination period. It doesn’t always work out that way, and we risk losing valuable experience when it doesn't. I am quite certain that those types of conversations have occurred this year. However, I can’t predict how things will unfold. Of course, any member in good standing has the ability to put their name forward and run for any position on the Board.
Every two years, we revisit familiar debates. I often hear both sides of the argument from the membership around election time. Is it reasonable for some positions to be acclaimed, or should everyone have to run a campaign? It’s a complicated issue. Few people possess the experience and knowledge required for certain roles, and often those best suited are already serving. If they must campaign, valuable time is lost that could have been spent on union work, with others having to cover some of their work. There is the potential for the work of the organization to slow significantly when all positions are contested. On the other hand, many members believe that every candidate should visit the halls and engage directly with the people who are making the decisions: the membership. Both perspectives are valid.
For those positions for which there
is an election, I have always been impressed with the membership's choices. Ultimately, they make the decisions, and as I can personally attest, losing an election stings. However, I have always maintained that the membership makes the right choice.
I encourage those who wish to serve to step forward. Most new board members come from our committees, particularly the Stewards. These individuals receive training and experience that make stepping into leadership roles much smoother. I expect many of our Stewards to run this time and I fully support their decision to do so. A newly elected Executive Board always brings fresh energy to our organization.
I want to close what will likely be my final article in this magazine with a point of personal privilege. As I conclude my career with both TFS and TPFFA, I reflect on an incredible journey. I have had the privilege of working alongside many outstanding individuals—too many to name, but they know who they are. I have learned from those who came before me, absorbing both their strengths and their shortcomings. Whether as an officer on the trucks, an officer in the Association or as President.
Like all presidents before me, I will always make myself available to provide history and advice to those who seek it.
Thank you to everyone who supported me, and even to those who challenged me. Your influence has shaped my career and my leadership.
It has been an honour to serve.
SECRETARY-TREASURER’S MESSAGE
I Happy New Year!!
realize that by the time this is printed, we will be well into the new year, but I wanted to get those well wishes out there while I still can.
So, what’s new since our last article?
We released a proposed budget during the December General Members’ Meeting where we also had our outsourced Auditor’s review on the financial health of our Association. The report came back positive, and the proposed budget was passed. There are a few significant changes of note for the current budget.
1 The increase in costs across the board has caused us to increase the budget line in most committees, particularly in Ceremonial and Bereavement and Entertainment committees. These committees are examples of expenses that have little or no income to recover the costs. Obviously, we do not recover costs from our members or their families when they suffer a loss, whereas the Entertainment Committee organizes events that provide family enjoyment at little or no cost—such as the family picnic and Christmas party.
2 The Stewards program is undergoing a trial reconstruction which will allow for better trained stewards and a lower budget line. Currently, the budget for the Stewards’ program exceeds $300,000. We anticipate the new program will save over $100,000 per year. In the meantime, we will hold their budget in reserve until the trial is complete and the results have been determined.
3 One of our busiest committees and one that seems to need growth is the Disability Management Committee (formerly WSIB). The committee currently has three executives and three members from the floor sitting on it. These members have undergone three levels of multiple day training periods to understand the intricacies of the WSIB program. Whether starting with a submission form or advocating for an appeal, these committee members are there to help you. This committee sometimes requires long hours and stressful interactions
by all those involved. This year, we have budgeted for an increase in pay and left room to add another member to the committee if deemed necessary.
We were able to propose and pass a budget again this year without the need to address a change in union dues.
What else is new?
It is election time for the Executive Board, but this should come as no surprise, as we have one every two years. I’ve been asked by several people (mostly those new to the job), “How do I choose and why should I bother to vote?” Two great questions. I suggest you use the resources you have around you to help you along the path. Do some research and ask your co-workers what they look for in a representative. Typically, the answer will be experience, honesty and consistency. With the retirement of several current board members, there will be a turnover, with new members joining the board. This is a good thing; it allows for succession planning and brings new thoughts and ideas to the group. I mentioned the Stewards program earlier in this article, which leads to another purpose of that program - succession planning. Historically, succession starts with the Stewards’ program, where members learn about the Association, learn the responsibilities of being a representative to the members and have a chance to see if this is something they want to take on with a higher role. They then tend to remain stewards or transition to the Executive Board, with some to Principal Officers. This by no means is the only path, as there are very qualified members currently sitting on the board who have taken a different approach. I suggest you give every candidate fair consideration, listen to what they have to say, and ask questions. In the end, you are choosing a representative for yourself. As a reminder, you will be voting for three Executive Officers per command and three Principal Officers. Ballots will be mailed to your current address on file, so please ensure we have your correct address.
Anything else new?
As we are all aware, we are in bargaining negotiations, which are currently with the Arbitrator. He did release an interim award addressing a few issues he felt he could decide on immediately. Let’s go over them as part of our ‘Know your CA’ segment. Let’s start with two important awards that impact our finances. We were awarded a salary increase of 4.75%, retroactive to January 1, 2024, and an additional lieu day for Truth and Reconciliation Day. The additional lieu day gives us a total of 14 lieu days per year (12 hours per day), which hopefully alleviates the float holiday conflicts we are currently having.
The new mechanical parts and inventory technician should allow for a more consistent flow within our mechanical division.
The bereavement and transfers within divisions awards involve language clarification, allowing a designated individual to make decisions in place of the Fire Chief.
Promotions for staff on WSIB refers to members currently on the designation lists who will be promoted. This allows them to achieve their promotion and hold them in limbo until they return to work, at which time they will be placed in accordance with the current practice. It also allows an additional promotion to someone on the list and that trickles down. This only applies to members out of the workplace for a minimum of 6 months and does not apply to those currently sitting in promoted positions who are on WSIB.
Hours of work related to mandatory training is a controversial subject. I believe we all can agree that training is essential in the fire service and for some specialty apparatuses, Toronto Fire Services (TFS) has taken the position this cannot be achieved in
the current language of three 24-hour days in a calendar year. The award has reduced the mandatory training to two 24-hour days for most halls and for specialty stations, no more than eight 24-hour days in a calendar year.
The master vacation sheet will be provided seven days after the first transfer sheet. This sheet will show the available days, should someone wish to change a previously selected day. This allows the Platoon Chiefs the time to enter and readjust the vacation sheet following the November and January transfer notices. This by no means should restrict you from moving January days if you need to do so, however the vacancies may only be known to the Platoon Chiefs and requests should be addressed by them.
The District Chief promotional process allows for additional training that TFS considers a requirement.
Hours of work specific to District Chiefs: the need to do
the staffing requires DCs to start and report their staffing to the Platoon Chief prior to the current start time of 0700h. I have seen a few DCs staying late to complete staffing while waiting for relief. This allows the ability for DCs to achieve some overtime, albeit limited, while they wait past 0600h for their relief to take over (as per the most recent internal Award regarding Article 9.09).
That, in a nutshell, is an overview of what’s new this year.
Chris Sornberger, Secretary-Treasurer
Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association
I.A.F.F. Local 3888
VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Well, here I am, writing my last article prior to my retirement in July 2025. This is my time to look back and remember many fond memories, spanning 37 years of Toronto Fire Service.
It seems like yesterday that I started as a new recruit in 1988. I was eager to serve, learn, and so excited to make a difference as a firefighter in the city of Scarborough. Looking back, I was blessed to gain and maintain valuable, long-term firefighter friendships over the years. Most of these firefighters are now retired, or soon to be. We all share the same sentiment with honour, as we reflect on our experiences and accomplishments of the past with pride. As a new recruit in the City of Scarborough, it was imperative we knew our collective agreement. Little did I know back then, this was the beginning of my keen interest in the new amalgamated City of Toronto, and my future involvement with the Association. During this time, I never missed union meetings, recognizing the value of the Martin Teplitsky arbitration. This arbitration award carved the foundation for the future of Local 3888.
As a young firefighter with ten years of service, I soon realized the uncharted waters and huge undertaking of combining six fire departments into one, each with its own beliefs, rules, and procedures. This was a symbolic transformation for all six fire departments.
Fast-forward to 2000, I was designated as an Acting Captain in November and moved from East Command to West Command. We followed Teplitsky’s arbitrated settlement, which in turn was followed by the newly formed collective agreement. It didn’t take long before we realized that at the heart of these changes, we were all firefighters with the same objectives: to protect and save lives. Our “house” became strong and cohesive.
As someone who never missed union meetings, I stayed current with collective agreement revisions. Many members would contact me and ask questions about various rulings or clarifications from the Teplitsky Award. I was then encouraged to become more involved with the Association. In 2006, I decided to become a Union Steward. After serving as Union Steward for two
years, I ran for the Executive Board in 2008. I was a successful candidate for this position and for five more elections before taking a two-year sabbatical in July 2019.
Sitting on the sidelines and not being involved with the union did not feel right. During my absence, I knew I had with me the history and valuable knowledge gained from experience not found in documents. This concerned me and prompted my decision to run again at a higher level, for the position of Vice President. I was aware of this position's accountability, commitment, and challenges, but I was ready and fully prepared for the work involved.
Upon my return as a new Vice President, I was assigned to review the new collective agreement before our Association signed off. During my hiatus, the City of Toronto revised the vacation policy and return-to-work form, and I found two glaring issues. This is an example of the importance of knowing the collective agreement and bringing valuable historical data, gained from years of experience to the table.
I was fortunate to have worked under five of the seven presidents of Local 3888, along with many talented past executive officers, who provided expertise and guidance through in-depth discussions, suggestions and appointments to several important committees, such as Health and Safety, Grievance, Constitution, and Vacation.
Working with four of the five Toronto Fire Services Chiefs, I developed many business relationships. I have also had the pleasure of meeting many political leaders advocating for occupational disease recognition, fire codes, and improvements in Health and Safety, to name a few. These issues were and will always be dear to my heart, knowing that the future of our firefighters will have the very best protection they deserve while serving the City of Toronto.
While working with this talented group, I was a committee member involved in Kevin Burkett's arbitration, James Hayes's arbitration, and a freely negotiated five-year contract. We await the final John Stout ruling, which is anticipated to happen soon.
I encourage our members to ask the candidates running for executive office the hard questions about their experi-
ence and knowledge. These are key questions that will affect today and your future. As members, you should never be afraid of asking “why”. This one word promotes discussion to either change or clarify your understanding, and as members, you need to understand why decisions have been made. Those executives should provide you with an answer, but remember, you may not like the answer you receive. Behind the scenes, decisions involve many signed agreements and letters of understanding unbeknownst to members, which cannot be made until these historical agreements and understandings have been reviewed and adhered to. There is a bigger picture to every decision.
In closing, although I look forward to joining my fellow retirees poolside, I leave my career with a heavy heart. Firefighting was my life; union was my life. It’s a strange feeling knowing I will never again share a firehouse with so many wonderful professionals, as this chapter comes to a close. I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge all the members who voted for me during countless elections and trusted me to represent them when they needed me the most. A heartfelt thank you for your years of trust and support.
I wish one and all the very best for your career moving forward. Make new firehouse memories you can look back on and appreciate your friendships. Stay safe, be proud of who you are and what you do for others. You are the gold standard of first responders, respected by all, and rightfully so.
To my close friends (AMF).
I will say until we meet again, never goodbye.
MacLachlan, Vice President
John
Toronto Professional Fire Fighters’ Association
I.A.F.F. Local 3888
A CHAPLAIN’S CORNER Hope in the Flames
midst the relentless chaos and danger of a firefighter’s day, one force remains firm and unyielding: hope. It steadies you when uncertainty looms, fuels you when exhaustion sets in, and keeps you moving forward when the weight of the job feels overwhelming. As your chaplain, I have witnessed you do this firsthand. While others run from danger, you run toward it—carrying both the visible and unseen burdens of the job. Yet beyond bravery and skill, something deeper carries you forward— something that refuses to break.
Hope is the force that drives you to answer every call. It’s why you push through fear, fatigue, and adversity, determined to make a difference against impossible odds. It keeps you working at a fire scene long after exhaustion sets in. Hope isn’t an abstract idea; it’s a mindset that shapes action.
Psychologist Charles Snyder’s Hope Theory describes hope as a mindset—rooted in the belief
that challenges can be overcome and, in the determination, to find a way forward. For firefighters, hope is not passive; it’s a strategy, a driving force that pushes past limitations in the most critical moments.
Studies show that hopeful people are more resilient, adapt better to adversity, and recover more effectively from stress. Hope is woven into your work, giving you the strength to press on when everything else says stop.
Hope and Faith
For many, hope is rooted in faith. It serves as a foundation, assuring us that even in our hardest moments we are not alone, and offering meaning to what we do.
One scriptural promise speaks directly to this truth: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Faith-based hope reminds us that even in life’s fiercest fires—both literal and metaphorical—there is a guiding hand leading us
forward. It strengthens us when exhaustion, loss, or uncertainty threatens to take hold. It assures us that no matter how dark the moment is, light still lies ahead.
Carriers of Hope
Hope does not exist in isolation; it thrives in community. Research shows that strong social connections build resilience, turning hope into a collective force—just as you do when you lift each other up.
You are not just the Toronto Fire Community; you are lifelines in people’s darkest momentswhether on the frontlines or in supportive roles. When you arrive at the scene, you do more than fight fires—you remind those in despair they are not alone, and recovery is possible.
In your service, courage, and compassion—you are hope in action. You don’t just carry water and tools; you carry the weight of people’s fears and the promise of hope.
You are more than firefighters. You are bearers of hope.
WBY TYLER COSTOFF, VAUGHAN FIRE FIGHTER
hen I was asked to write an article about the 2024 Memorial Ride, I was honoured. This ride means a lot to me personally. How could I possibly encompass such a powerful experience on paper? My name is Tyler Costoff, and this is my second year taking part in the Memorial Ride. Following in the footsteps of my father, I have been a Firefighter with Vaughan Fire Rescue Service for ten years. My father, Marty Costoff, was a Captain on Toronto Fire Services for 33 years and passed away from an active line of duty death in 2021. His name was added to the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Memorial in 2022. When attending the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Ceremony for my dad, a close friend of his, who worked on his crew, rode the Memorial Ride in his honour. It was in that moment I knew that this was something more than just a ride. This was something I needed to do the following year for my dad. My training was about to begin for the 2023 Memorial Ride.
Coming from a mountain biking background, I was comfortable on a bike, but mountain biking and road cycling are two different animals. With mountain biking, you usually do around 15-20 km rides on terrain. Hearing the road cycling distances of 100+km per day, sitting on a bike for hours on end, riding on hot pavement, keeping your body fueled and not falling out of the peloton, I thought this was absolute madness! But look at me now! I came back for year two and I can officially say after accomplishing the 2023 ride, I am a road cyclist. This is a snapshot of my 2024 experience.
Day 1
The first day sets the tone for the entire trek to Ottawa. As I geared up for the journey, I told myself, “If I can make it through today, I can make it to Ottawa.” The night before is filled with anticipation. Did I pack everything? Is my kit good to go? Is my bike ready to roll? Do I have enough fuel, in terms of food and energy supplements to get through? Despite having done this before, the nerves are real.
The distance for day 1 is 190 km, starting in Hamilton and finishing in Cobourg. Riding from Hamilton to Toronto during the first morning is a rush in itself. The police motorcycle escort blasting through traffic, the potholes on the road, the people cheering you on, getting to know your fellow riders, you really must have your head on a swivel to ride safely. The ride stops at the Toronto Fire Academy for lunch, where we were greeted by staff members. I tried to get in as much food as I could and hydrate at the same time. Sunscreen and BioSteel quickly became my best friend.
After lunch, the ride from Toronto Fire Academy to Cobourg was a grind. The hot September heat had set in by the afternoon. The pavement was blistering hot and there was a slight head wind, which was manageable, and not a cloud in the sky. I was taking my supplements while riding, to fuel my body, trying not to focus on the set of kilometers that I still needed to travel. When we arrived in Newcastle, I could see Lake Ontario and was surrounded by large trees protecting me from the sun. We knew Cobourg was not too far in the distance and could sense the energy shift. The ride became more enjoyable and not so much of a battle. Arriving at the Cobourg hotel, the sense of accomplishment was unbelievable. We were greeted with cold drinks and the vibes were very high within the group. We had just conquered the big kilometer day of the trek to Ottawa. After checking into our rooms, we gathered for a welldeserved dinner, sharing stories and laughs, but preparation for the next day was on my mind, as we were that much closer to Ottawa.
Day 2
I woke up in the hotel room and the first thing I did was check the weather. On day 2, from past experience, the winds were going to be strong from Napanee all the way to Kingston. The weather network said gusty winds off Lake Ontario, and you think “great”. When we departed from the Cobourg hotel, the pace was a nice warm up speed. Everyone was stretching out on the bike and trying to warm up to riding another 170km that day. The morning ride from Cobourg to Belleville takes you through lots of small towns with some stops along the way. The roads are smooth with some rolling hills. The ride is very manageable and gave me time to get to know the riders around me and hear their stories. The group stopped for lunch in Belleville and then we proceeded on to Napanee.
In Napanee, the sun was high in the sky and there was a warm breeze off Lake Ontario. Members from past rides know what we are in for. We headed southeast straight for Lake Ontario. The head winds were strong that day. The chatter among the group had gone quiet and everyone was focusing their energy on the ride. The ride along Lake Ontario is very scenic but the winds were making it hard to look around. The group finished off strong and we arrived at our hotel in downtown Kingston.
Day 3
The final day had arrived! The group met earlier that morning, and the weather was calling for large storms all over the region. The group departed from downtown Kingston, heading for Ottawa. Once you leave Kingston, the roads and terrain are very similar to riding in cottage country, with lots of rolling hills and lakes. On Day 3, the group must conquer the infamous Foley Mountain. It is a punchy steep hill outside the town of Westport. Every rider who has completed the Memorial Ride will never forget the name Foley Mountain.
As we got closer to Ottawa, the sky started to get very dark and mother nature was looking not to be on our side. Everywhere around us there were downpours with thunder and lighting, but the rain never really hit where the group was riding.
I’ll never forget when the winds from the storms turned into a tail wind. It was as if we had a helping hand on our shoulders from the fallen firefighters we were riding for, giving us a push and protecting us from the storm. It felt as if they were bringing us home to the memorial wall. It’s hard to explain, but we should have been riding in heavy downpour storm conditions that afternoon, but we didn’t. We finally arrived in Ottawa. The police escort brought us through downtown Ottawa where, once again, we were navigating around potholes and trying to wave to the bystanders cheering us on. I could see the memorial wall in the distance. We were here! We had done it! The sidewalks were filled with family members of the riders and families of the fallen, bringing us to the finish line with homemade signs. I could hear the sound of the bagpipes being played and it all felt surreal. My chest started to tighten up and I couldn’t help but smile. The group rolled up to the CFFF memorial wall and our bikes fell to the ground. Everyone was hugging and congratulating each other, even hugging their bikes for helping them conquer the ride. We had just completed a great accomplishment of over 570km+ in three days, with hours in the saddle under our belts. With all the hours of training on the bike and being away from loved ones, we had finally made it. The group celebrated
under the statue and some riders got to see their loved ones who made the journey to Ottawa to watch them cross the finish line!
There is something special about being a part of this ride. If you have done the ride once, or you have done it for the last 7 memorials, there is a connection with other riders and with the memorial that cannot be explained. It takes dedication for training and devotion to fundraising for such a great cause. For myself, being on the other side and receiving the CFFF helmet for my father, I believe that this ride helps fallen firefighter families like mine and raises awareness of the ultimate sacrifice fellow brothers and sisters have made to help others. This ride is so important for me to be a part of. This is where I come to visit my dad’s name on the wall every year and reflect on how proud I am to be a firefighter and to be a part of this ride with great individuals. Looking from the outside, you might just see a bunch of firefighters riding in a big group, but it is much more than that. Great things are accomplished.
I would like to thank David Cossitt for putting countless hours into organizing this event. This is a year long commitment from David and there is no way it could be accomplished if it wasn’t for his dedication to this great ride. Till next year’s ride!
3 Bridlington Street, Scarborough, Ontario M1H2L2
Wayne Bridger President Paul Moffatt Secretary Eric Motton Treasurer
Moving Forward in 2025
Greetings and Happy New Year to All!!.
To say that 2024 was a big year for us would be an understatement. It’s no secret that all of the associations, like ours, are facing increasing pressures to survive. Some are going to make it, and others are not, and it’s rarely anyone’s fault. Changes in our culture, changes in society as a whole, and the financial struggles are for some, insurmountable. All of us must adapt or perish. Your War Vets Association is adapting and is meeting all those challenges in stride. Not to say that we aren’t without challenge, but we are on a good path forward.
This article is intended to recognize all our members over the past year and offer them a huge pat on the back or offer a Bravo Zulu (BZ) to each for their dedication. (Bravo Zulu is a naval signal that means “well done”. It is commonly used in the U.S. Navy, NATO, and other Allied naval forces).
U.S. Navy, NATO, and other Allied naval forces).
Last year was a good year for us. We provided an increasing number of parades for the Colour
Guard. We participated in 32 events throughout 2024. Our responsibilities are not all specifically limited to Colour Guard activities. Again, thanks to many of our regular members for helping us out and attending our other events or working silently in the background. Our membership, and more specifically our executive, have been working hard at making some pretty big changes to our way of doing business, in order to keep our association moving forward. (In that list of events, notice the absence of any meetings!) The executive has a meeting at least once every month, and as many who work on other executive boards know, it takes huge collaboration and break outs to keep the group going. Plus, we have several committees also charged with making decisions, and they have to meet as well. In each committee are a number of executive members who report back, and then the formal issues are forged into matters which are brought before the general membership. That
the formal issues are forged into matters which are brought before the general membership. That takes a lot of work!
We, if you were not aware, had to scale back our General Membership meeting from once every
month to once every quarter. This was done for many reasons. Cost was certainly one, and the other was attendance. Attendance is a complicated thing. Attendance drives costs! The two big issues, among many facing attendance, are Toronto’s dreaded road conditions and yes, traffic! So, we made that decision to go to four per year. We hope one day that we might make our way back to more, but we shall see.
The other big challenge affecting attendance is the reason why members show up in the first place. Some members will just always come out of duty or habit, while some come for the routine, because we all know there are some things we all wish would never change. Having a constant in life makes it easier to navigate all the changes. Our executive has been out and about, attending meetings held by other organizations, especially the big popular ones, in the hopes that we can learn something. We are happy to report that we think we have some ideas that we, with the members’ approval, have begun to put into place.
The first of our major projects has been reported in previous issues. Our beloved Colour! Perhaps not as practical for some, but huge in the traditional and symbolic sense. If the organization trademark fails to represent past, current, and future members, then a huge self-imposed barrier becomes a constant challenge. We will talk about this later in the article, but let’s just say that it has been met and conquered! The next few changes, perhaps more routine, involving the meeting format, were tackled next. No longer will there be the reading of any of the association’s general business. No minutes will be read, and no financial reports will be read. All will be made available to any members by printed copy or via email. Our meetings will open with the usual Minute of Silence for our fallen, followed by any urgent business. Next will be the swearing in of any new members, followed by committee reports (Entertainment, Clothing/Kit Shop, Newsletter, Parades/Colour Guard, Social Media, Constitution & By-Laws). Following the committee reports will be the Membership Report, any Old Business, and finally New Business. If there is an election, then it will be conducted as required. Next is the guest speaker introduction! The guest speaker is the most significant change to the meeting formats. We believe that this will be one of the most effective changes to the meetings. We hope to make the meeting more informative, and therefore more attractive to our members, and hopefully new members. People need a reason to attend. It will be incumbent upon the Entertainment Committee Chair to ensure that there is a good list of speakers for future meetings. Each speaker will have upwards of 30 minutes, after which, the Motion to Adjourn will be announced, followed by Our National Anthem. Lunch will then be served, followed by a meet & greet period, where those in attendance can chat. Our recent General Membership meeting was held this past December.
Along with the usual business, we had the opportunity to complete the election process for our Executive Board, including the positions of 1st and 2nd Vice President. The following is the new Executive for the 2024 and 2025 terms. President Wayne Bridger; Secretary Paul Moffatt; Treasurer; Eric Motton; 1st VP Alan Thomas; 2nd VP Duane Hickson; Executive at large: Don Lines; Chris McCune; Steve Mogford; and Robin Wight. Congratulations to those elected, we are quite optimistic about the coming year.
As mentioned earlier, the Toronto Firefighters War Veterans Association successfully consecrated their new Colours! The event was the culmination of over three years of work and involved a great many members, suppliers, and hosts, for which we will be eternally grateful. In the coming issues, we will produce a separate article on the entire event. Going forward, as was stated in the first paragraph, we are on a great path in 2025. We have a few small events to organize in the coming months. We have to organize the “Laying Up” of our retired Colour. It will take place at the Fire Academy and will include the installation of our retired colour in the display case, along with the other retired colours.
We would be remiss if we didn’t give a shoutout to Chief Matthew Pegg. We enjoyed excellent support from him during his tenure and we all wish him and his wife all the best in his retirement. In the coming month, we will have the privilege and honour of seeing one of our own be promoted to Fire Chief. We are looking forward to continuing the excellent relationship we have had with Chief Jessop in the past. It’s going to be a great year. Along with Chief Pegg’s retirement, we also wanted to say thank you to Interim Chief Larry Cocco and those who made sure that the command continuity was maintained during the selection of the new Fire Chief. We look forward to working with him and the TFS HQ’s Office of the Fire Chief staff in the coming year.
The Next TFFWVA membership meeting will be announced early in the new year. Please watch for the updates. Our meetings are aways held quarterly at the Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 527 Wilson, 948 Sheppard Ave W, North York, ON M3H 2T6. All are welcome.
TFFWVA Membership
Our membership drive is continuous. If you’re interested in becoming a member, feel free to contact us at tffwva@gmail.com. The dues ($25.00) are payable annually. Consider becoming a member!
Don’t forget to follow our Social Media feeds: On The web: www.tffwva.ca
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TFFWVA
On Twitter: @TFFWVA
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tffwva
OFire Investigations The Investigators Explosions
BY STUART WEST, CAPTAIN, TORONTO FIRE INVESTIGATIONS
ne of the immediate notification criteria to the Office of the Fire Marshal in the Province of Ontario, is explosions, where the explosion is the primary event. This means that the explosion precipitated any ensuing fire, not the other way around.
In order to have a discussion regarding explosions, it is important that we understand exactly what an explosion entails. NFPA 921 defines an explosion as:
“The sudden conversion of potential energy (chemical or mechanical) into kinetic energy with the production and release of gas(es) under pressure. These high-pressure gases then do mechanical work such as moving, changing, or shattering nearby materials.”
Explosions can be categorized into two main types: mechanical and chemical, with many different subtypes within each of these categories.
Mechanical Explosions
Mechanical explosions occur when an enclosed container such as a cylinder or other storage vessel is ruptured. The increase in pressure is not due to a chemical reaction of any kind or a change in chemical composition of the gases or vapour involved. Typically, the container will have been exposed to an external heat source, which overwhelms any pressure relief device until a catastrophic container failure occurs. Other ways that containers can fail are trauma (mechanical damage) or manufacturing defects. The mechanical explosion that investigators and firefighters encounter most frequently is the Boiling Liquid and Expanding Vapour Explosion (BLEVE). BLEVE’s occur when a confinement vessel contains a liquid, stored under pressure at a temperature above it’s atmospheric boiling point. The liquid involved need not be flammable, as it is the increasing pressure and confinement that in turn causes the resulting explosion. When a liquid transitions into the gaseous phase the resulting expansion will cause a massive increase in pressure. All liquids have an expansion ratio, which is a comparison of how much volume a liquid will occupy when compared with its gaseous state. This comparison is referred to as the “expansion ratio”. For example, the expansion ratio of water to steam is 1700:1, which means that when water transitions to its vapour phase (steam) its volume increases by a factor of 1700. To give one additional example for comparison purposes, the expansion ratio of propane is 270:1. Looking at these examples, it is no wonder why steam explosions can be so
powerful. However, it is important to remember that when the substance is flammable, such as propane, there will almost always be a post explosion fire to contend with after the initial explosion. It is also important to note that hydrostatic vessel failure, due to pressure arising from an incompressible liquid, is not an explosion. An explosion is a gas dynamic event, meaning the pressure is created from a gas.
Chemical Explosions
Chemical explosions are the result of exothermic (heat producing) processes, whereby the fundamental chemical nature of the reactants is changed. These types of chemical reactions typically propagate a reaction front, away from the epicentre of the explosion.
The most common type of chemical explosion is the combustion explosion, which most often involves the burning of hydrocarbon-based fuels. In these types of explosions, there is usually a fuel, with atmospheric air as an oxidizer. In combustion explosions, the overpressures are caused by the rapid volume production of heated combustion products, created as the fuel burns. Chemical explosions can involve solids, gases or vapours and dusts, mixed with air. Combustion reactions can be classified as either deflagration reactions or detonations, depending on the speed of the flame front propagation. Detonations are combustion explosions, whereby the velocity of the flame front propagation travels faster than the speed of sound. In order for a detonation to be initiated, a very strong energy release is required. Deflagrations on the other hand, have a flame front propagation velocity slower than the speed of sound.
typically can involve cascade or secondary explosions, as the ensuing explosions will typically agitate the fuel even more, creating the optimal environment for additional explosions. The surface to mass ratio of dust, combined with the oxygen in the environment, make it an ideal explosive atmosphere.
Explosion Damage
For investigative purposes, it is helpful to describe the type and severity of explosion damage one observes at an explosion incident scene. Typically, explosion damage is broadly categorized by investigators as being either high-order damage or low-order damage. These terms are not to be confused with the type of explosives or explosive devices used to initiate the explosion, although some types of fuel are more typically associated with either high-order or loworder damage.
Dust explosions can be some of the most dangerous explosions, as dust explosions
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Low-order damage is characterized by windows dislodged but not broken, walls bulged out or laid down, otherwise intact. Roofs may be dislodged but not collapsed. Debris produced is typically not thrown a great distance. Highorder damage on the other hand is characterized by severe structural damage. Walls, roofs and other large structural elements are shattered or splintered. Debris is spread out over a great distance from the epicentre of the explosion. Explosions are characterized by a positive blast pressure wave that moves away from the epicentre in a spherical type of direction. Large structures or terrain features can cause the pressure wave to be redirected or diverted. After the positive pressure wave, there is a resulting negative pressure created at the seat of the explosion. A negative pressure wave will then rush back in as the environment will attempt to equalize the pressure. Very often, it is this negative pressure wave rushing back in that will cause structural collapse of an already weakened structure. Investigations of explosion events will typically involve measuring the debris field, to assist in determining the explosive force that was experienced and aid in categorizing the type of explosive damage. Explosions are a gas dynamic event with the rapid creation and release of tremendous energy. The faster the energy and gas pressure created, usually results in a more explosive release of energy and more severe damage as a result. The type of confinement, if any, also factors into the type and severity of explosive damage.
There are 5 major types of explosive effects:
1. Blast overpressure and wave effect (gas overpressure and pressure wave damage)
2. Dynamic drag loads (explosion wind)
3. Projected fragment effect (projectiles)
4. Thermal effect
5. Seismic effect (ground shock)
There have been many explosions in Toronto over the years. For those who have been on the department for more than a few years, you will remember the Sunrise propane explosion on Murray Road that took place on August 10, 2008, at approximately 0400 hours. One person was killed and approximately 12,000 residents evacuated when an explosion occurred while employees were conducting an illegal truck to truck transfer of propane. Suppression crews remained on scene for weeks, putting out hotspots, as smaller propane cylinders continued to BLEVE after the initial, powerful explosion. One member of our TFS family, District Chief Bob Leek, also passed away from a heart attack responding to this incident. Not every explosion is a huge one. In fact, some are quite small. No matter the size, it is aways important not only to determine how the explosion was initiated, but to try and determine if the explosion was preceded by a fire or other event. These are some of the questions we will be attempting to answer during the investigation. Stay safe!
Beirut Explosion
On August 4th, 2020, at approximately 18:07 hours, at a warehouse in the Port of Beirut, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions took place. Reports have indicated that approximately 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate was being stored on site. A fire broke out after some welding work had been performed earlier that day. The explosive force is said to have been the equivalent of 2.7 kilotons. In the aftermath of the explosion, there were approximately 218 deaths and as many as 6,000 injuries, although this number could be far higher. The explosion caused as much as $3.8-$4.6 billion in damages and devastated a large amount of the city. The explosion was heard as far away as Cyprus and the blast pressure wave could be felt in Turkey and several other neighbouring countries. Homes as far away as 10 km were damaged and over 300,000 people were left homeless. The United States Geological Survey detected the explosion as a seismic event of magnitude 3.3.
Letter from the Editor…
When I first read this article, several ideas resonated with me. The first is that our control over things is based on decisions, and like anything, there are often elements outside our control. In this topic, good choices can lead to better health and wellness, while those elements that play a part in being outside our control, including genetics, poor life choices and social determinants of health, can
Lynn Sciberras
present a different health outcome. What I didn’t know in this case is that there are 14 social determinants of health that affect us as human beings. Given the longer article, I will keep my editorial brief and lead you to the pages ahead, encouraging you to read the article in its entirety and discover the 14 elements, their impact and what to do with the information.
Social Determinants of Health:
You are what you eat. And where you live. And how much money you have. And where your parents went to school. And…
Make good choices and you’re more likely to be healthy. Make poor choices and you’re more likely to be unhealthy. Right? We often see health as a matter of personal responsibility, choice and control. But is that the whole story? Sure, we know that wearing appropriate PPE can be a life saver. And we know that personal choices about whether we smoke, what we eat, and if we stay active can impact our health. But are we as ‘in control’ as we want to believe?
CHRIS RODRIGUES AND ADINA KAUFMAN
When we believe that our choices are the major factors determining our health outcomes, we overlook how social and economic factors, like income, education, employment, and social connections, also affect health. People may focus too much on personal motivations and abilities while underestimating the role of outside factors.
Some quick facts:
• The poorest 20% of Canadians are more than twice as likely to suffer from two or more chronic health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, compared to the wealthiest 20%.
• People in Canada's lowest-income urban neighbourhoods live about three years less than those in the highest-income neighbourhoods.
• Income, education, and employment influence the probability of obesity. Wealthy youth have more opportunities for physical activity and healthy food consumption. Check out the price of groceries these days – what’s cheaper, fruit or processed snacks?
• Economic downturns and financial concerns have led to over 25% of low-income Canadians to skip meals, and to postpone or stop purchasing some prescription drugs (only 3% of Canadians earning over $60,000 have done the same with their prescriptions).
• Canadians living in the most deprived neighbourhoods have mortality rates 28% higher than those living in the least deprived neighbourhoods.
• Education is a strong predictor of long-term health and quality of life. And education isn’t cheap – just ask any firefighter who is delaying retirement as their kid pursues higher education. A recent study suggests that providing quality education to everyone could save eight times as many lives as medical advancements.
• Unemployment and low-paying, stressful jobs can lead to illness and injury. A good job can promote better health, self-esteem, and social connections, providing a sense of belonging.
Stress & Illness
Stress harms both body and mind. It can weaken the immune system, disrupt hormones and metabolism, and increase the risk of illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and immune disorders. Living with stress also impacts mental health, causing feelings of shame, insecurity, and worthlessness. Living in difficult situations often causes people to see their lives as uncertain and overwhelming, which can lead to anxiety and despair. Managing daily stress is not easy, and people may turn to unhealthy coping habits, like overeating, smoking, or drinking too much alcohol. Making time for exercise and healthy eating can feel impossible when dealing with overwhelming daily demands.
Social determinants of health
Our health is greatly impacted by the resources and situations that affect our daily lives, such as where we live, work, and go to school. These factors affect how likely our health, short and long term, is to be impacted by such things as germs, toxins, and stress. While medical care and personal choices matter, factors like employment and income status, working conditions, access to social and healthcare services, education, housing, and access to healthy food have a much bigger impact on the health of Canadians.
14 Social Determinants of Health
(Canadian Public Health Association):
1. Aboriginal Status
2. Disability
3. Early life
4. Education
5. Employment and working conditions
6. Food insecurity
7. Access to health services
8. Gender
9. Housing
10. Income and income distribution
11. Race
12. Social exclusion
13. Social safety net
14. Unemployment and job security
Studies have found that social factors significantly affect the health of Canadians, with a stronger impact than behaviourrelated factors such as diet, physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption. For those who are disadvantaged in any/some/all of these 14 areas, maintaining good health is more challenging, no matter their degree or personal discipline or willpower.
Of course, none of the above determinants exists in isolation. For example, low income impacts access to healthy food and safe housing.
"Poor and unequal living conditions are the consequence of poor social policies and programmes, unfair economic arrangements, and bad politics".
1. Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2008). Closing the Gap in a Generation: Health Equity through Action on the Social Determinants of Health. Final Report of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Geneva, World Health Organization.
these social determinants of health:
1. Aboriginal Status
Canada's indigenous population, which consists of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples, is about 3.8% of the overall population. The legacy of colonization and persistent adverse social determinants of health deeply impact the wellbeing of these communities.
• Reduction in life expectancy of 5 to 14 years compared to the general population, caused by overcrowded housing, educational and food security disparities.
• First Nations youth are over 4x more likely to die by suicide compared to other Canadian youth. Inuit youth have suicide rates almost 12x higher than the national average.
2. Disability
Individuals with disabilities have many barriers to their full participation in society. They face employment challenges and often receive lower salaries than their non-disabled peers.
• 12% of the Canadian population has a disability.
• 40% of Canadians with disabilities are not part of the workforce.
• Canada's disability support benefits fall behind 27 out of 29 OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries.
3. Early Life
Early experiences strongly impact current and future health and well-being (“latency effects”).
The longer children face material and social deprivation, the higher their chance of having health and development issues (“cumulative effects”).
• Infants with low birth weight and who grow up in poor conditions tend to have more health problems than those from more affluent families.
4. Education
Education transforms lives, providing skills and knowledge to move up the socio-economic ladder.
• There are even intergenerational impacts of access to education: children of parents without post-secondary education frequently face poorer health outcomes
5. Employment and working conditions
Work environment affects, influenced by job security, physical conditions, psychological safety, work pace, hours, and opportunities for personal and professional development, impacts our health and well-being.
• People in high-stress jobs, like those of us at TFS, face increased risk of issues like high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, depression, and anxiety.
• When job demands outstrip rewards, such as when employees feel undervalued and/or lack
control over their work, there is a higher risk of health issues.
6. Food Insecurity
Lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle, is a major concern. Barriers can be both financial and geographic, with certain communities not having any suitable grocery stores within walking distance of many residents (i.e. “food deserts”). Lack of nutritious food can lead to serious health problems, including chronic diseases and longterm developmental issues.
• Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank reports 3.49 million client visits in 2024, a 32% increase over 2023.
• More than half of the new clients in 2024 came from households with at least one working member.
• 1 in 10 Torontonians are using food banks.
7.
Access to Health Services
Even with a publicly funded health system, many people face significant obstacles in obtaining necessary care in Canada. As members of L3888, we have extensive health and dental coverage. And yet every year, many of us discover that vital care that we and our family members need, is outside the coverage offered by OHIP or our Extended Health/Dental Plans. And we’re “the lucky ones”. For many, needed care often is beyond their reach.
• Canada ranks 22nd among 30 OECD countries regarding healthcare cost coverage (despite public funding accounting for 70% of medical expenses).
• Financial barriers frequently hinder those with below-average incomes from getting prescribed medications, tests, and treatments.
• Only 26% of low-income workers have access to dental plans.
8. Gender/Sexual Identity
• Women encounter discrimination in the workforce, facing challenges such as wage gaps and limited opportunities for career advancement.
• Men are disproportionately affected by severe social exclusion, with higher rates of homelessness, substance abuse, and suicide.
• Men are more likely to be involved in robbery and assault incidents and make up the majority of the prison population.
• The 2SLGBTQ+ community faces increased levels of discrimination, with corresponding stress and negative health consequences, especially among young individuals who are still exploring and coming to terms with their identity.
• 2SLGBTQ+ individuals often encounter prejudice in their workplaces, with ongoing
negative impacts of a challenging and unwelcoming environment.
9. Housing
There is an ongoing homelessness crisis in Canadian cities, with a severe shortage of affordable rental housing. Many lowincome individuals and families are at risk of homelessness, with over 50% of their income going to rent, leaving little for other needs. Living in unsafe, unaffordable or insecure housing increases the risk of many health problems.
10. Income and Income Distribution
Low income often means struggling to meet basic needs and facing barriers to engaging in activities that improve well-being.
• Men in Canada who fall into the lowest 20% income bracket live, on average, four years less than those in the top 20% income bracket.
• Communities with lower income levels have a suicide rate that is nearly double that in wealthier communities.
11. Ethnicity/Race
Canadians of colour encounter a multitude of challenges that both threaten their well-being and have broader implications for Canadian society. Racism can be systemic and institutional, as well as personally directed, so as to disrespect, devalue, scapegoat, and dehumanize. The experience of racism from outside, sadly can lead to internalized racism, when racialized people question their own worth, leading to feelings of resignation, helplessness, and lack of hope.
• Canadians of colour have statistically higher unemployment rates and lower incomes.
• Recent immigrants of colour are particularly vulnerable to mental health issues, housing insecurity and financial instability.
12. Social Exclusion
Certain demographic groups, including Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, recent immigrants, women, and persons with disabilities, experience significant barriers to full participation in society. This exclusion includes systemic discrimination, social goods deprivation, absence of advantageous ‘networking’ opportunities, and impacts of unconscious bias.
This results in higher unemployment rates, lower wages, and restricted access to essential health and social services and educational opportunities, among these populations. For example:
• Black birthing parents have a higher rate of stillbirth than their white counterparts, and Indigenous women are twice as likely to die during pregnancy as non-Indigenous women.
• Social exclusion extends beyond economic hardships, often resulting in adverse living
conditions that negatively impact health outcomes.
13. Social Safety Net
Our society is dedicated to providing benefits and support to help people during challenging life transitions, such as starting a family, pursuing education or job training, finding housing, entering or leaving a job, and unexpected events like accidents, family issues, unemployment, and health problems.
• Canada ranks 24th out of 30 OECD countries in social safety net spending, with only 17.8% of its GDP going to public programs.
14. Unemployment and Job Security
Employment provides not just income, but also identity and structured routine. Unemployment can result in social and material deprivation, psychological stress, and unhealthy coping strategies. Unemployment may lead to habits like smoking and excessive drinking and can adversely impact personal relationships, parenting abilities, and children's behaviour.
• Job insecurity has risen in Canada in recent decades, with increases in part-time and unstable job opportunities offering low pay and little job security.
• Women tend to have jobs with less stability and security.
As firefighters, we have among the highest levels of job security in our community. This security protects us from the profound health consequences of job loss induced financial instability, poverty, elevated stress, lower self-worth, and increased anxiety.
What do we do with all this information?
Ok, so social determinants of health are a big deal. But why does all this matter? As an individual, I can’t change the circumstances I was born into or that others find themselves in, right? All I can do is take personal responsibility for my own health, within the constraints I find myself in, right?
But what about when we make moral assumptions about others? There are pervasive societal moral beliefs linked to health outcomes: healthier people are seen as making the “right” choices, while less healthy individuals are viewed as having made the “wrong” choices. So many people are judged, for things far outside their own control and power to change.
The health outcomes of individuals in Canada are profoundly affected by a complex interplay of social and economic factors. We must all, individually and collectively, recognize these factors and work to dispel misconceptions, bias, and criticism directed at individuals facing challenging circumstances.
This year we hosted our Annual Children’s Christmas Party at Variety Village on Saturday, December 7th, 2024. It was another successful year with the highest attendance of members and their families that the TPFFA has ever seen. The face painters, airbrush artists, balloon artists and magical floor entertainers did not stop all day. The inflatable mazes, castles, slides and games were very much enjoyed by children who definitely indulged in the cotton candy, popcorn, Tiny Tom’s donuts, sugar straws and sno-cones!
The TPFFA Entertainment Committee and volunteers were kept busy by running the BBQ and food section for everyone to enjoy snacks and lunch. Santa & Mrs. Claus made an appearance along with the Honourable Mayor Oliva Chow. The TPFFA donated their annual donation to Variety Village in the amount of $20,000 to assist with their grass roots community involvement. Variety Village does such great work within Toronto and the TPFFA is always happy to support. In addition, we would like to also thank all members who donated an unwrapped gift for families in need. The generosity of our fire families was noticeable and should be acknowledged as they helped make another child’s Christmas a memorable one. Thank you to everyone involved in this event and for all our guests who were able to make it out and enjoy a fun day with their families, catch up with their peers and socialize. It truly is a great day that helps ring in the holiday season for many of our members.
President Reed and VP MacLachlan helped Entertainment Executive William Morris draw the tickets for donating an unwrapped gift for families in need. Congratulations to the Dormiedy family and Deslippe family who both won a Nintendo Switch just in time for the holiday season.
Retired Deaths from September 17, 2024 – February 18, 2025
George Robert Murray
Kenneth Andrew Awender
Paul Wayne Hill
James Bernard Dillon
John Blyth Hill
Barbara Honora Philps
Paul Davey
Caleb James Green
Charles ‘Chuck’ Dusome
John Gombita
Lorne Ronald Phenix
Peter Michael Harvey
September 17, 2024
September 18, 2024
October 18, 2024
November 6, 2024
November 6, 2024
November 14, 2024
November 18, 2024
November 19, 2024
November 24, 2024
November 25, 2024
November 30, 2024
December 6, 2024
Donald Don Bedford
Lavern Richard Harper
George Fredrick Godsmark
Fredrick Leslie Galway
Eric Graham Jenkins
Russell Akio Inouye
Richard Buckner
Barrie J. Moir
Lorne Waywell
Stanley Harris Egerton
Alan Fletcher
Samuel Gibson
December 6, 2024
December 7, 2024
December 8, 2024
December 25, 2024
December 29, 2024
January 10, 2025
January 10, 2025
January 10, 2025
January 11, 2025
January 12, 2025
January 19, 2025
February 4, 2025
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
Sean Coles
Active Member, Captain Sean Coles, son of retired District Chief Brian Coles, passed away on June 12, 2024, after a fearless battle with cancer, which was recognized as a Line of Duty Death.
Brother Coles started with the Toronto Fire Department on November 22nd, 1999, and was assigned to B Platoon at Station 333 on 5 Tower. Sean transferred to L312, and later to S331 B where he stayed to hone his squad skills.
Sean was designated to Acting Captain and assigned to P244 on September 25th, 2017. On March 19th, 2018, he returned to S331B as the Acting Captain of the squad. On March 20th, 2023, he transferred to R345B until his promotion to Captain. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on July 24th, 2023, and assigned to LA325 B. His final transfer was back to Station 331B as the Captain of L331B on September 4th, 2023.
In Honour of Captain Sean Coles, a Memorial Plaque will be hung at TFS Station 331.
Burton ‘Bud’ Wice
On April 29, 2024, Retired Etobicoke Fire Captain Burton “Bud” Wice passed away at the age of 80 after a long fight with Kidney Cancer.
Brother Wice started with the Etobicoke Fire Department on August 15, 1965, and retired after 30 years of dedicated service in 1995.
‘Bud’ was known for his love for building things and helping others and an unwavering commitment to his loved ones. Beyond his family, Bud’s kindness extended to all who knew him. He was the type of friend who would always be there to lend a helping hand or, more often than not, the perfect tool for any job. His garage was not just a workshop but a sanctuary where laughter and camaraderie flourished. Bud’s legacy of wanting to help others and provide for his family will forever live on in the hearts of those he touched.
His dedication to the Fire Service is a testament to his community spirit. Though he may no longer walk among us, his spirit will continue to inspire us to be better friends, family members, and neighbors. Brother Wice will be deeply missed but never forgotten, as his memory remains a beacon of love and light in our lives.
In Honour of Captain Burton ‘Bud’ Wice, a Memorial Plaque will be hung up at a TFS Fire Station.
Kelly Smith
March 16, 1967 – October 19, 2024
Aidan Carr
September 25, 1968 – December 25, 2024
LEADING UP TO THE “R” WORD!
Greetings All!
We hope everyone had a great holiday season. We actually had a bit of a lull during the week around Christmas, which is a good thing. We all need time to relax as much as we can and to spend time with family and friends. There are some easy predictors for this, one being the sheer amount of social media posts. When folks are home, the posts increase. It’s not rocket science, but it does tell us a few things. First that our demographic is getting more and more connected by one means or another, and by the content of the posts made.
The posts can be an indicator of what’s on everyone’s mind, or at least some. This, for us, can be invaluable for what to expect in the coming year(s). Our executive members try and attend as many of our extracurricular events as we can as well. From the many retirement parties to the many and well-organized charity events. We do this because of our own connections, but also to keep an ear out for what the hot topic(s) of the day might be. Plus, we know that all of you are getting used to one of us being there and can ask us any questions that you might have about the “R” word, or coverage and benefits, which remains a complicated issue. This sometimes is best asked face to face. If any of us, at any event get even one question from you, we’ve done our job.
We risk a bit of repetition here, but one of our goals is to limit, as much as we can, the time all of you spend trying to “do the math”. Our advice remains steadfast in our suggestion for you just not to do it. Let the system, whichever one it is (GSC, WSIB, etc.), do the math for you. This includes hearing tests, and as important, audiograms. Just make the claim, let our well trained and dedicated group of reps do the work.
On this very subject, the RTFFA website will be updated to include a blanket WSIB referral option, which details the process for referral. Since it’s new, we will monitor it and the feedback we get, so we can keep it useful to you. This option is for ANY information that you wish WSIB to be aware of, including all that covered by our presumptive legislation. (See The Bottom Line, later in the article).
Currently, we have a few trusted sources of information that we rely on to keep everyone as up to date as we can. We enjoy a good relationship with the original six retiree associations, for which we are grateful. We also rely on our own website, through which the public and those members and their families not connected on a regular basis can access (usually via google). Last, but certainly not least, the public side of our L-3888 website, which is monitored by their very supportive staff.
For those who follow all or some of the various platforms, you’ll notice the questions posed to the various groups regarding benefits is not a new subject by any means. We watch for trends, and the current trend seems to be about our hearing. We are pretty good as a group remembering our history, and celebrating it in many cases, deservedly so. Along with the celebration, we remember those who rode the trucks when the siren was mounted over the windshield, a common reflection.
This year, your executive has a number of goals that we wish to address on a more permanent level. There are a couple where the many moving pieces have made it difficult to make progress.
Our priorities for 2025 are:
• To complete and publish our financial policy
• Keeping our Firewatch articles pertinent
• Keeping our social media platforms pertinent
• Maintaining our bi-annual meetings
• Ensuring the RTFFA continues its advocacy
Along with our priorities, we have a number of projects that we need to see completed:
• The Station Plaque Project
•The TFS Service Medal Project for retirees
A Note for those who are approaching the “R” word window.
As stated earlier, we try to attend as many events as we can, with hopes of picking up any information that our members may find useful. We recently attended a Retirement Preparation Seminar, which presented some information (mostly tax info) we had not seen before, and some that could be new to some, but not to all. Anytime any information is presented, there are always some that have previously seen it. We also mention here that this info is becoming more and more dependent on having an online presence of some description.
Here are some things that you can do now (if you haven’t already):
• Wills and Powers of Attorney
• Reach out to your/a Financial Planner (get a referral?)
• Make a summary of your sources of income
• Be current with Canada Pension 2025
-Based on average income while a member
- Can be taken as early as age 60
- Monthly maximum at age 65 is $1,365
- Reduced at age 60 by 36%
- Monthly pension would be $875
- Apply 6 months in advance for pension (Letter from City)
- Make sure your MYOMERS account is up to date and accessible
• Apply for a Canada Revenue account
• Apply for a Service Canada account (different than CRA)
- Once established, get a CPP Statement of Contributions
- Research the OAS/GIS Applications
• Research the CPP Child Rearing Provision (consult with your tax rep)
• Research the OMERS Beneficiary Details before retiring (eligible spouse)
• Make a Post Retirement Income Projection (include medical allowances)
• Please attend and take your partner/spouse to the retirement interview with the city (don’t go alone)
• For those who are single, there is an advocacy group for senior singles,
- Single Seniors for Tax Fairness (consider joining)
- https://www.singleseniorsfortaxfairness. com/
We are optimistic going into 2025. The RTFFA takes the TFS credo to heart, and we adapt it to our membership. Courage, Compassion, and Service continues to be our priority in our day to day with everything that comes into our view.
We would be remiss if we didn’t give a shout-out to Chief Matthew Pegg. We were created under his watch, we enjoyed excellent support from him during his tenure, and we all wish him and his wife all the best in his retirement.
In the coming days, we will have the privilege and honour of seeing one of our own be promoted to Fire Chief. We are looking forward to continuing the excellent relationship we have had with Chief Jessop in the past. It’s going to be a great year. Along with Chief Pegg’s retirement, we also wanted to say thank you to Interim Chief Larry Cocco, and those who made sure that the command continuity was maintained during the selection of the new Fire Chief. We look forward to working with him and his TFS HQ, Office of the Fire Chief Staff in the coming year.
The Bottom Line! We continue to support the following advice!
Regardless of the claim, preferably before the receipt of good or services, make a pre-authorized claim though Green Shield Canada ONLINE!
Keep all documents, get hard copies!
Get a yearly prescription beforehand, if possible, its easier to chat with your doctor
Should the claim be approved, then follow the process as required.
Should the claim be denied, download all of the documents
Find the 3888 TPFFA webpage (https:// www.torontofirefighters.org) You need not log in!
Locate the
Make the selection and follow the prompts!
This is the ONLY WAY to get one-on-one representation from a Benefits Rep. The Rep will advocate for you as best they can!
WSIB and ILLNESS TRACKING
The new cancers continue to be a complicated issue. We encourage all members, past and present, to reach out to us with whatever information you wish to share. Further, if the member has passed, we are reaching out to the families to share as well. We ask that all requests are made by the members themselves or directly from the family. Anyone who contacts us will be forwarded to our WSIB Rep. Even if the cancer is not on the current list, we are asking for all members to share, so that we have case material to help add future illnesses for review.
The Next RTFFA membership meeting will be held in the spring, 29 May 2025, at the union office. Please consider attending.
RTFFA Membership
Our membership drive is continuous, if you’re interested in becoming a member, feel free to contact us at active.retired@ torontofirefighters.org. The dues ($25.00) are payable annually on the 1st of May and we will be holding two general membership meetings each year. One in the spring, where you can sign up and/or pay your dues in person, and another in the fall. Meetings will involve food and fellowship, what could be better! Come join us and be well.
Don’t forget to follow our Social Media Feeds: On The web: https://www.retiredtorontofirefighters.org/ On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TFSRetirees On Twitter : https://x.com/tfsretirees
Member Profile on
ABY TONY MACDONALD, RETIRED TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN
lan Thomas was born in 1958, in Vancouver, while his father was attending UBC. His mother was a folk and opera singer and an actor. She sang on the CBC, as well as with the Toronto Opera Repertoire. Al was the eldest of four children. In 1961, they moved to Toronto on Boulton Drive.
In 1968, his family spent a year in East Africa, when his dad got a CUSO grant and took a sabbatical. His Dad was a pioneer in adult education, working on the “mature student” process. His project in Kenya was to assist in the opening of Continuing Education Departments in five eastern African universities. Al’s family stayed on the university campuses in each country, and he went to school near those universities.
In 1969, they returned to Toronto, and a year later they moved to Ottawa, where his dad was the Executive
Secretary for the Hon. Robert Stanbury, Minister of Communications. In 1970, the FLQ crisis began, and Al remembers having a jeep with soldiers from the Royal 22nd Regiment parked in his driveway for security. “My mom had quite the sense of humour. She would order a pizza just so they could watch the soldiers frisk the delivery guy!”
moved
They moved around but then moved back to Toronto in 1971. Al enrolled in the Aircraft Maintenance program at Central Tech and in 1974, he joined the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves.
1974,
In 1977, Al’s interest in motorsport began by entering car rallying with the Maple Leaf Rally Club. He started out by running a checkpoint and then learned the art of being a navigator. In 1978, he navigated for Karel Pesek, and then he built his own Datsun 510 rally car!
checkpoint
school,
When he graduated from high school, there was no work in aviation, so he began his apprenticeship as an automobile mechanic. Still with the military, he remembers going to parachute school. “Being selected for the jump course in those days was a very special thing for reservists. It involved a certain amount of physical fitness to get on the list, and then you went to Edmonton for 3 weeks of intensive training. We ran
Alan Thomas
everywhere on the base, to and from all our training. It was a very challenging course! One of my stick-mates from BC broke his ankle on the second last day. He was pending RTU (Return to Unit), which was a very bad thing because he would have to come back and repeat the entire course. This was not possible for a reservist back then. We taped up his ankle, and covered for him so he could finish. He did!
In 1981, Al got a job in aviation and moved to Hearst, Ontario. For three years, he worked for Hearst/North Star Helicopters Inc. (NSH). “Then I was laid off from NSH. I decided to move to North Bay and go to school, preparing to write my T-CAN Exams. He was successful and in 1983, he received his Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) License. Al transferred from the Sup Reserves to the Algonquin Regiment of Canada, and he was hired to teach the summer recruit program in Sault St. Marie. Al applied for the TFD in September 1984 and began his recruit training in January 1985. “Back then, we went to the Academy for eight weeks and then went out to the trucks for eight weeks of on-the-job training. Then we went back to the Academy for two more weeks of training and then we wrote our final exams.”
“I was stationed at 14 Aerial at Station 345 on A2 shift. I also got to work occasionally as the FIT for DC Dave Preston.”
In early 1986, his interest in firefighting and motorsports merged, as he was asked to help on the planning committee for the proposed Molson Indy Race. The British Automobile Sports Club (BARC) was the organizing body for trackside event support. He was appointed the Lead position for the BARC Trackside Firefighters. Over the next 20 years, he worked his way up to being the Track Services Department Head, until the Championship Auto Racing Team (CART) was dissolved.
“Early in the 1990’s, I was honoured to become a member of the CART Safety Team. I was asked to provide support to the
‘Yellow Suits’ in the track clean-up and wrecker operator position. I travelled to Mexican, Japanese, American, and Canadian tracks to work with a fine group of people, again until the demise of CART.” Al joined the Toronto Fire War Vets Association (TFFWVA) in 1986 and became a member of the Colour Guard in 1987.
“In the meantime, TFD was well into their High-Rise truck project and their first truck was in the latter stages of completion. The plan was that 19 Pump would transition to Station 1 (332) and run alongside Pumper 1 until the new truck Highrise 1 was ready. I was able to transfer to P-19 and we went to Adelaide. What an adventure that was! We had to completely pack up the entire P-19 footprint and move it all to Adelaide. This meant emptying out the captain’s office, all the files and forms for all four shifts, pack the beds, the spare hose, and equipment. We piled it all onto the hose bed and drove it all to Adelaide and then had to find a home for it all. Wow!”
Al was seconded to Communications and worked as a Dispatcher until 1991, when he was asked to be a Training Officer at the Academy. He was ready for a new adventure and accepted.
In 1991, TFD hosted the IAFC Conference. The Academy and many other TFD locations were cleaned up prior to the conference because they were to be part of the conference tours and there were to be events held there. “This was the origin of the true story about Rescue 2 and a run to the Beer Store! During the reception it seems that they started to run out of beer, and a call went out to Station 2 for the Squad (RS331). They were sent to the Beer Store on Brock to fill up and to make the delivery to Ontario Place with some haste. There were some Academy staff involved as well to make the necessary transactions!” Al worked with many IAFC members including Dr. Harry Carter. “A year later, Dr. Carter invited me to become a member of the FDIC, which began an amazing relationship with the Fire Department Instructors
Conference!
Al was part of the Academy’s FDIC crew, made up of Dave Ross, Peter Sells and Dan Haden and would last for over 10 years. This relationship would play a key part in the development of many of our projects at home, particularly our HUSAR Team.” Al received the ‘Innovator of the Year’ award for the manual he wrote on Technical Rope Rescue. Before amalgamation, because of his work with the Technical Rope Rescue Program, Al had been working on Heavy Urban Search and Rescue, which had begun after the Oklahoma City bombing in in 1995. The actual HUSAR initiative was brought forward at an Emergency Management Ontario meeting by Chief Cyril Hare of Mississauga Fire. Because of this interest, upon amalgamation, Al was recruited by Robert Crawford, the new DC of Emergency Planning, to be part of the founding team for the HUSAR project. “At that time, Chief Speed wanted TFS to undertake HUSAR, and then Public Order, which is now called Public Safety alongside Toronto Police and Toronto Paramedics.”
In June of 1992, Al was retired by the Canadian Forces after 13 years service, but not by his choice! The Area Commander of the day was tasked with reducing his staffing. Al was in the process of being commissioned from the ranks, and as he was deemed to be “untrained”, he was retired. He retired as a Logistics Officer. “My last hurrah was having the honour of serving as the Mayor for the Metro Toronto International Caravan Festival, held at Fort York Armouries in 1990 & 1991. It was the Canadian Forces first foray into this type of public event. The theme was ‘Celebrating Canada’s First Immigrant” and it was a great success!”
In his personal life, Al has three siblings and four children, all of whom he is immensely proud! His brother Mathew was five when they went to Africa and followed in his mother’s footsteps as an opera singer and now teaches in the UK. His sister Rachel was a toddler in Africa. She is a musician who teaches at Laurier, and substitutes in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Martha joined the family after they returned from Africa. She is a CPA teaching at Camosun College, and lives in Victoria BC.
“One of the best relationships we developed in the beginning was with the National Search and Rescue Community. This was an amazing group of dedicated members from all walks of life. The main event for this community culminated every year in the annual SARSCENE Conference, which was held in a different city every year. We became a part of this conference for many years. I cannot overemphasize the benefits of participating with this community.”
The HUSAR Team was passed by City Council on November 17th, 1999. Al worked on many fronts. Here are some of the positions he held:
• Emergency Planning Officer
• Project Developer for HUSAR
• Project Manager for the Public Safety Unit
• Liaison Officer to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) and Toronto City Centre Airport
• Captain, Special Operations Section (January 2005 – April 2006)
• Captain, Health and Safety Section (April 2006 – September 2010)
• Captain, Special Operations Section (September 2010 – Jan 2012)
• Captain, EMS Section (Jan 2012 –Mar 2014)
His children Jeff, Justin, Mary, and Alison are all accomplished. Two are married and one is engaged. Al has been blessed with four granddaughters, with a grandson on the way. Most years he cooks Christmas dinner for them at his oldest son’s house in Brooklin, Ontario.
Al retired from TFS in 2014. Since retiring, he never stopped serving his community. His first job after retirement was in the funeral services. He was employed as a Funeral Director’s Assistant (FDA). That encompassed many tasks, from pallbearing to driving the funeral coach and limousine. “The funeral business is a lot like fire! The staff for each service is assembled from more than one place. They all meet, sometimes for the first time at the funeral home, and the resulting service is completely dependent on the sum total of the group’s experience.”
“My biggest take away, was meeting some amazing, licensed Funeral Directors who are so professional! They run a great service no matter what the religion. They treat the families so well, and they direct their staff, some of whom they may have just met, with great skill. Plus, I learned the intricacies of the delivering of funeral services in accordance with many different
nationalities/religions and all their requirements. Amazing! Of course, there’s always some humour in the background, just like fire. I also was privileged to drive a lead car for a repatriation of a soldier who passed away on-duty in Jordan. I drove the Highway of Hero’s to the Coroner’s office. Amazing experience! I still get emotional when I see the pictures.”
“It was hard to believe that our newly amalgamated city was almost 20 years old! We realized that soon, we could witness our first retirees who had no affiliation with a previous city. After consultations with the existing groups, it was decided that we needed to create a new retiree organization that would represent TFS members, as well as members from the original groups. In January of 2018, with the help of Frank Ramagnano, the first Active-Retiree Committee was established. It was comprised of active and retired members, from all four Commands. The committee met monthly until October 2018. In that time, some hard work was done by the committee, culminating in our fall meeting, where we became a bonafide Association. Over the summer, the committee members reached out to as many members as they could, with the intent of getting input into the type of organization they would like to see representing them in their retirement.
“The meetings were lively, and the opinions shared were as diverse as our membership is. The predominant question of course, was about membership. It was our intention from the outset not to have any borders. We unanimously agreed to accept all members, regardless of which municipality they started with. At our fall membership meeting, we related all the work done by the committee and we introduced our first Constitution and Bylaws and elected the first executive. Many thanks to the members of the original committee.”
Al served as a Venue Security Coordinator in the Pan-Am games, which was a life changing event for him. AL had the privilege of leading a security group of 35, a group comprised largely of immigrant students. They were part of the groups managing the sailing venue, located on the island. Many of his staff had never been on a boat, so they had to adapt to the daily water taxi routines, which was a challenge. He also was a driver for the Invictus Games, where he had the privilege of driving the Kensington Place staff and staff of HRH Prince Harry. Al was able to satisfy a long-time passion with his interests in Emergency Management. He was taken on by the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management as a Duty Officer. Soon after taking on that position at the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC), the pandemic struck. The PEOC Team was responsible for processing the emergency declarations from all of
Ontario’s municipalities. After eight months with the province, Al decided that this was not a good fit for him, and he did not renew his contract.
His involvement as a TFFWVA executive, member of the Colour Guard, and the unofficial Historian continues, and he is currently working on a major project called, “Operation Never Forgotten”. It began during covid where he started documenting all the veterans that have served in the military and Toronto Fire. To date, he has documented 642 veterans from every conflict since the Northwest Resistance. Al was also instrumental in the planning and organization of their recent Consecration of their new Colour. In conjunction with this, Al also continues to be involved in the Toronto Fire Historical Society, as a regular member promoting and preserving the history of the fire department. Occasionally, opportunities arise where because of interest and need, other projects are taken on. In early 2022, he was asked to become a member of a NASCAR Canada Team, operated by Ed Hakonson Racing (EHR) of Uxbridge.
For the next two seasons, Al was a multipurpose member, from driving the hauler and helping in the shop, to being a member of the pit crew as fueller and tire changer. “The NASCAR gig was two full years of full-time immersion. The bonus was to be able to work with my two sons. “The two most memorable events for me were to be part of NASCAR’s first race in Newfoundland and becoming a Pit Crew Fueller. To see 17 NASCAR Haulers all on the ferry together was a site to behold, and watching a mass Screeching-In ceremony conducted on George Street for the drivers. The fuelling job is a daunting task for a first timer. Climbing the pit wall with 100 pounds of fuel perched on your shoulder is a task all by itself. Getting the nozzle into the car, wearing a fullface helmet, is another. I had great support from my team, which made the learning curve much easier to deal with.”
These days, Al’s adventures have settled into a bit of a routine. He is the President of the RTFFA and continues pursuing the advocacy of our retirees. He was elected as the Vice-President of the War Vets, where he continues to expand its role. He is also working on the documentation of our Veterans, which may become a book. Al still works with the Toronto Fire Historical Society and has recently accepted the Zone 4 Director position with the Municipal Retirees Organization (MROO). He has joined the Royal Canadian Military Institute (RCMI), which is a prestigious organization that his grandfather had been a member of from 1929 until 1965. His military service continues through the Royal Regiment of Canada Association and is still a Royal Canadian Legion member with Branch 165.
OF THE TORONTO FIRE SERVICES
BY KEN DE JONG, TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN, 445-A
Tattooing has been practiced around the world since the stone age (no, I’m not saying firefighters are neanderthals!) and many proud firefighters like to showcase their pride through the art of a tattoo.
I recently reached out to the TFS membership to share their fire-related tattoos and give a brief explanation of their meanings. The response was excellent. Thanks to everyone who made a submission!
Please enjoy the art and back-stories of some of the tattoos of the Toronto Fire Services!
Alex Chojnicki, 413-A
Alex’s tattoo is a mix of a phoenix, maltese cross and the Toronto skyline.
John Grosjean, 233-D
John’s tattoo is of him and his dad when John was two years old.
Ken de Jong, 445-A
Ken’s tattoo is a dragon clutching a maltese cross with a black banner remembering the fallen of 9-11.
Chris Corsi , 113-C
Chris’s tattoo is a combination of St. Florian, the Toronto skyline, and a remembrance of the 343 lost at 9-11.
Dean White 324 - D
An artist was offering any ribbon tattoo for a cancer fundraiser. The choice of the Canadian Fallen Firefighter ribbon was obvious for Dean.
Jeff
Richardson, 325-C
Jeff ’s tattoo reminds him and us to “Never Forget 9-11” and remembers his time at TFD station 334.
Danny Nystrom 222 – A
This is a fairly recent tattoo, highlighting Danny’s love for firefighting, hockey and his family.
Justin Daniels 313 – C
The main image is the maltese cross with the Toronto skyline in it. The first date is Justin’s grandfather’s (Ken France) and the second is Justin’s start date.
Dave Archer 445 - D
Worn by some of the Toronto Fire Pipes & Drum Band (including Dave), it follows the traditional Scottish clan crest by using the belt circle and has Pipes and Drums on the belt in Celtic font.
John Kerr, 143-A
John's tattoo has many elements, with the love of firefighting represented by the “irons”, an axe and a halligan bar.
Ethan Brunton, 331-A
Ethan’s tattoo represents his pride in working at Station 331 on the Squad. The “2” signifies old TFD Station 2 and the Squad was Rescue 2. The queen card (which embodies their station patch as well) represents their hall’s proximity to Queen Street.
Jeremy Pohner 232 – C
Jeremy and his identical twin brother had a lifelong dream of being firefighters. Both are now firefighters with Toronto Fire. The second tattoo is a tribute to 9/11 and the 343 fallen firefighters.
Phil Cabenaro 421 – A
Station 444 was Phil’s first hall assignment out of the academy and then he eventually transferred to 421. He considers his 421 crew a “family” and wanted to keep that memory forever in the form of a tattoo.
Rob RetiredFeeney, DC – PD&T
Rob had this done back around 2010, just a few years before retiring.
Dave Ciccelli 422 - B
Dave obviously loves firefighting and has four different tattoos related to the fire service.
Johann Halpern 115 - D
Johann designed this tattoo to represent the melding of nature, family and the fire department which he feels are all intertwined in many ways.
Glenn Watters
This tattoo is Glenn’s dad’s first leather helmet from 1966 (Glenn has his dad’s first and last helmet). His dad passed last November, and he got this done with his dad’s badge number (which is now his badge number).
Steve Robb 324 - D
Steve’s tattoo has his kids’ names on each axe head and his badge 858 and name on the band. He designed it with the tattoo artist over a period of 6 months.
Recap of the event:
November 8th, 2024, marked the 3rd annual Toronto Firefighters Battle of the Bands. The event was another success! With a change in venue and some all-new bands, we brought in more donations and a larger audience!
The TPFFA Movember team works very hard each year to raise money in support of Movember Canada. We are happy to say that this year’s show will be adding $19,000 to the team’s total! This money will go towards men’s health in the form of research for mental health, PTSD, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Those in the crowd, on the stage, and behind the scenes helped make a difference for those families affected.
The event sold out two weeks before the show, highlighting the passion that the members of the TPFFA and citizens of Toronto have for helping others. Over 700 people were in attendance this year, and you could tell! The crowd was electric and buzzed with excitement. People linked shoulder to shoulder connecting over live music! It was a beautiful thing.
Four new bands and four returning bands made up the lineup for the evening. All eight performances were packed with TPFFA members from Comms, Prevention, Training and Operations. Thirty total band members were from our own TPFFA! This is more first responders than any of our previous years. We would like to thank the performers for their countless hours of rehearsal and the energy they brought to the night.
All bands truly played their hearts out, but only one could take home the trophy. Our fantastic judges put their musical ears to the test and crowned a winner! The MC of the night, Chris Tessero, awarded ‘The Hose Loads’ with 1st place. Runner up was awarded to the previous year’s winners, ‘Low Hanging Fruit’. The winners then proceeded to rock the house with an amazing encore to send everyone home.
Special Thanks:
Events like this only work so well because of the hard work from the people behind the scenes. The following people gave away their Friday night in order to make sure that the show ran smoothly both on and off the stage. They worked tremendously hard to make sure this night possible. We cannot thank these individuals who volunteered enough:
Alivia Walker - Lead Vocals/Guitar/Harmonica - 346 D
Colin Mclaughlin – Bass - 315 D
Dave Hook - Lead Guitar - 331 D
Dave Heaton - Drums - Civilian
Sean O’Neil – Guitar - 331 - D
Lift Assists
Will Green - Accoustic Guitar/Vocals - 143 C
Kyan Parendeh - Electric Guitar - 241 D
Vlad Yudin – Drums - Civilian
Annie & the All Nighters
Stephen Coda - Bass - 334 A
Clint Graley – Drums - 313 B
Annie Tat – Vocals - TPS
Alfrado Magnante – Guitar - Civilian
Fit to SURVIVE
The fire fighter’s guide to health and nutrition
The fire fighter’s guide to health and nutrition
MAINTAINING BONE HEALTH OVER A LIFESPAN
BY ALEX BOERSMA, RETIRED TORONTO FIRE CAPTAIN
How strong are your bones? Not a question most firefighters ask themselves. The assumption is that if you are strong and fit enough to do the job, your bones are also probably strong and fit enough to do the job. But have you ever asked yourself what will happen to your bone health at the end of your career and into your retirement? Most of you have probably lived through, or at least heard of, elderly relatives who’s quality of life declined significantly after falling and breaking a bone. You will almost certainly have seen this happen on the job. And you will surely have heard dramatic statistics about high mortality after fall-related fractures in the elderly. But have you ever thought about what you can do to prevent this kind of thing happening to you? This is certainly worth thinking about, since, as it turns out, bone health is determined as much or more by the things you do throughout your life than by the things you do when you get older. This is especially true if you are genetically predisposed to diseases like osteoporosis. Peak bone mass is achieved by the time you are 30 and begins to decline after that, with precipitous declines in women after menopause. Lifestyle interventions like appropriate diet and exercise can help both to optimize peak bone mass early in life and to minimize its rate of decline later in life. Bone is composed primarily of a collagen matrix that is mineralized with calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. The collagen matrix provides toughness and tensile strength, while the mineralization provides rigidity and hardness. The ratio of matrix to mineral density varies between bones and even within them. However,
if there is too much matrix and not enough mineral, bones will be soft but overly flexible. If there is too much mineral and not enough matrix, bones will be hard but brittle. Bone strength can be compromised when there is a change in the ratio of matrix to mineral density, when there is a loss of bone mass, when there is a maladaptive change in bone shape and size, or when there is an accumulation of microcracks leading to stress fractures. Although some of these changes are genetically determined and unavoidably associated with ageing, there is much that we can do to minimize their impact.
Manipulating Lifestyle to Optimize Bone Health
Minimize the use of corticosteroid drugs like prednisone or cortisone.
Although these drugs are potent and sometimes essential anti-inflammatories, prolonged use can cause severe bone loss and even bone death. If you must take them long term, you should be that much more diligent about following the guidelines below.
Minimize alcohol and tobacco consumption.
Smoking increases oxidative stress and inflammation, resulting in loss of bone mass. Alcohol disrupts hormones associated with bone regulation, also resulting in loss of bone mass.
Ensure adequate dietary calcium consumption.
Most adults under 50 should get 1000mg/day from their diets. Using supplements is not recommended as 1000 mg/day from supplements is associated with increased risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney stones.
Ensure sufficient vitamin D.
Serum 25(OH)D (calcidiol) levels below 30 nmol/L of blood are considered deficient and can cause poor calcium absorption. Serum 25(OH)D should be above 50 nmol/L. Direct and safe sun exposure is the best way to maintain vitamin D serum levels but this is difficult in northern climates in the winter. Daily supplementation with 600 IU of D3 is recommended for most adults. Excessive vitamin D can lead to calcium deposits in kidneys, heart, lungs and blood vessels.
Gradual progression of appropriate exercise can impact bone health substantially.
When high muscle forces act on a bone, they bend the bone and stimulate bone growth. Similarly, high impact on a bone (from things like landing after a jump) bend the bones and stimulate bone growth. For resistance training, using relatively heavy loads (loads you can only lift for 4-8 reps) will be best for stimulating bone growth. Try to also include short bouts of dynamic loading (jump training, power training, plyometric training) with fast change of direction and absorption of momentum in multiple directions for optimal bone health. Shorter, more frequent bouts of heavy or dynamic loading are more suitable than longer, less frequent bouts. If you are not used to doing heavy lifting or dynamic training, progress very slowly or you will increase the risk of bone stress fractures or joint injuries.
Ensure adequate energy availability.
RED-S stands for relative energy deficiency in sport and is associated with estrogen deficiency and bone loss. It is most common in female athletes, but low energy availability can also be common in anyone with an eating disorder or a high drive for thinness. It can easily transpire in busy people who exercise frequently. If you exercise a lot, you will have higher than normal energy and protein requirements. If you don’t meet these, you will be at risk for compromised bone health.
Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 2pm
On this day we celebrated the unveiling of Captain Hawley Lane. A Leslieville resident, Captain William Hawley served with Toronto Fire Services for 35 years, responding to nearly 25,000 calls. Brother Hawley continues to serve his community through many hockey and fast pitch leagues, his local Legion branch and more.
William E. Hawley
Badge #348 Station 314 (3 Pump)
Joined TFD 13-Nov-1972
Captain 21-July-1993
Retired 31-Mar-2008
Burrrr it’s cold out there
2nd alarm fire this January 2025 on Lehar Court. Pumper 113 was first in and were able to quickly take control over the heavy fire from the second floor on a very cold and snowy evening.
TPFFA PINK Campaign
In support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Photo Credit: TFS Communications Fire Fighter John Hanely.
Happy 100th Birthday to Willfrid “Wilf” O’Hearn!
Brother O’Hearn was hired with the Toronto Fire Department on December 8, 1950 promoted to Captain in October of 1971, then DC in September of 1983, and retired on December 12th, 1988. He celebrated his 100th birthday on December 31st, 2024 and might be one of the oldest WWII veterans still living!
2025 TPFFA Events:
Toronto St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Sunday March 16, 2025
Toronto Easter Day Parade
Sunday, April 20, 2025
2024 Retiree Retirement Dinner & Dance at Parkview Manor
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Awards Dinner & Charity Gala at Parkview Manor
Friday, June 6, 2025
Toronto Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial at Stn. 334, Toronto
Sunday, June 22, 2025
TPFFA New Executive Board Commencement Date
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Family Picnic at Canada’s Wonderland
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Charity Golf Tournament at Royal Woodbine
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Toronto Labour Day Parade
Monday, September 1, 2025
Canadian Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Ottawa
Sunday, September 7, 2025
IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado Springs
September 20/21, 2025
National Truth & Reconciliation Day
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Ontario Fire Fighter Memorial at Queen’s Park, Toronto
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Remembrance Day Ceremonies
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Annual Children’s Christmas Party @ Variety Village
Saturday, December 13, 2025
If you have photos of your crew or a recent event you’d like to share with the membership, please email Suzanne Boss at the Association Office: sboss@torontofirefighters.org
