IAFF leaders from BC recognized for their outstanding service, dedication and leadership.
The IAFF 56th Convention was held in Ottawa, Ontario August 7-12. Over 1700 were in attendance. From BC, 72 delegates representing 30 locals, and 140 members from 50 6th District locals (BC, AB, Sask, Yukon, NorthWest Territories). The 6th district stood in solidarity on the issues at hand. BC had a couple of key individuals who were recognized within the 6th district, Mark Brise Local 913 Kamloops and Jeff Clark Local 323 Burnaby.
Congratulations to both Mark and Jeff, and to all those who were recognized throughout the IAFF who provide leadership and service for their members and community.
District 6 - Mark Brise joins GP Ed Kelly, GST Frank Lima, US Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell; CAL FIRE Local 2881 President Tim Edwards; Kamloops, BC Local 913 Secretary Mark Brise; Austin, TX Local 975 Vice President Randy Denzer and Boston, MA Local 718 member Scott Wahlen.
Denzer and IAFF Headquarters staff first looked at existing training to see which pieces might be applicable to structural fire fighters responding to the interface. Then, they thought about how to train these fire fighters to effectively operate in the interface using their departments’ existing equipment.
The result was the development of the IAFF Responding to the Interface (RTI) training program. It has since been beta tested and is now available.
Brise is one of the program’s instructors.
“In Canada, we know that fire fighters responding to these fires are not necessarily going to be IAFF members. All Canadian fire fighters need this training,” said Brise. “I spoke with IAFF 6th District Vice President Mike Carter who decided to make the need for this training a federal lobbying issue.”
Lobbying efforts were successful. The Canadian government earmarked $37.9 million of its budget in April 2022 to wildland firefighting response, $600,000 of which will be specifically used for the IAFF RTI training.
See full story here.
More information about IAFF training and wildland fires can be found here.
District 6 – Jeff Clark, Past President of Burnaby Local 323. Unmatched in energy and tenacity, he led a successful fight for cancer presumption, helped elect a friendly mayor, led the creation of new union hall, and brought the World Police and Fire Games to Burnaby, British Columbia.
Outstanding affiliate leaders from across the IAFF were honored on the final day of the 56th Convention in Ottawa, Ontario, as the union presented its Local Leadership Awards.
The ability of the IAFF to defend and improve conditions for fire fighters and paramedics depends on the quality and dedication of thousands of local affiliate leaders. Every two years during Convention, Local Leadership Awards are presented to 16 outstanding affiliate leaders, one from each of the union’s 16 districts in the United States and Canada.
Each Local Leadership Award recipient was recognized on stage and presented with a carved glass award.