BC Professional Fire Fighters are fired up for the CIBC Run for the Cure

BC Professional Fire Fighters are fired up for the CIBC Run for the Cure

Vancouver, BC – This Sunday, October 3, BC Professional Fire Fighters are Fired Up for CIBC Run for the Cure in a virtual experience. A team of 20 women fire fighters from across BC will be outfitted in their full turnout gear - an additional 50 lbs of equipment - to participate in the CIBC Run for the Cure. To date, this year they have collectively raised more than $5,000. 

“Fire fighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service according to The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). Bringing awareness and raising funds for breast cancer research is critically important, and specifically to  fire fighters both women and men,” says Gord Ditchburn, President of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (BCPFFA). 

In 2017, breast cancer was added as a WorkSafeBC occupational disease by the BC Government which affects all fire fighters, particularly, female fire fighters. The BCPFFA continues to urge the government to include other cancers pertinent to female fire fighters to the presumptive cancer list as more scientific research emerges. 

“On December 10th 2019 I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. In 2020 I conquered it during the pandemic! I am grateful for my successful recovery and want to pass it forward and help other women beat this,” says Jennifer Dawkins, a 21-year-fire fighter with Vancouver Fire & Rescue and Local 18.

Bringing increased public awareness to occupational cancer in the fire service helps to generate greater legislative support for states and provinces to establish presumptive disabilities for all cancers affecting fire fighters. 

Breast cancer continues to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian women. With this disease touching the lives of so many families every day, the CIBC Run for the Cure gives families, friends and supporters the opportunity to join together to honour and celebrate their loved ones, and make a real difference. 

To Support our BC Fire Fighter Sisters, Donate.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Gord Ditchburn

BCPFFA President 

E: gord@bcpffa.org 

C: 604.916.7110

ABOUT THE BCPFFA: 

Established in 1929, the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (BCPFFA) is an organization of 53 locals who represent over 4000 professional men and women fire fighters in BC, including the Yukon. The BCPFFA and its 53 are affiliates of the International Association of Fire Fighters. The BCPFFA is a service provider for its affiliates offering training and education in areas of provincial legislation, occupational health and safety, Worksafe advocacy, financial assistance, bargaining, labour law, and advocacy for best practices in both public safety and fire fighter safety.


National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30th this year marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. It is a time for reflection and a time to come together in the spirit of reconciliation, and to honour those who have been impacted by Canada’s residential school system.

We encourage everyone to wear an orange shirt during the week of September 27, to take time to participate in the many initiatives happening across the province and stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities across Canada.

To all BC Emergency Frontline Workers

To all BC Emergency Frontline Workers, 

To all of our fire fighters, paramedics and first responders on the frontlines during these past few days, working non-stop to support patients and communities through not only this strenuous heat wave, but through a pre-hospital care system that is clearly failing, THANK YOU!! Thank you for everything that you are doing to make life better for others, these are extremely hard days. 

Over the past few days, fire fighters across this province have faced an enormous wave of medical calls, far greater than we’ve seen in recent memory and coupled with fire responses we have seen our resources severely tested. Sadly, we have witnessed too many negative outcomes for those relying on our pre-hospital care system, the staggering amounts of call volume and outrageous wait times, people unable to access 911 call centres, and a dire shortage of ambulance units. Fire fighters, our sisters and brothers with CUPE 873 (paramedics and dispatchers) and all first responders are facing incredible odds in responding to the needs of the public. 

The pre-hospital care system and response of first responders is predicated on a quick response and quick relief by higher trained paramedics who can then further treat and transport necessary patients to the appropriate medical facilities. These past few days with the increase in heat related incidents, our crews are finding themselves more often waiting lengthy periods while awaiting a delayed ambulance response, creating time delays in response to other emergent needs. What we’re seeing today with calls going unanswered, lengthy delays in response due to triage determination which further delays response by fire fighters, and compounded by substantial delayed response from paramedics who have been stretched beyond their capacity is a system completely shattered. 

On behalf of not only all first responders but the public as well, we would like to know what is the plan from BCEHS to alleviate not only the current situation we find ourselves in, but the long term strategy for the entire province. The public is deserving of a first class pre-hospital care model, certainly not what we are experiencing today. All first responders would like to know how we are to support the citizens and communities we serve moving forward, for not only when we experience the next mini-disaster, but for the long term.

This has become all too common for the public to witness significant delays when calling for an emergency response to a medical incident. Numerous stakeholders have been calling on the government to provide positive change that reflects the needs of both the patient and community in delivering timely services, a service model that includes first responders, paramedics and hospital staff. 

I have contacted our various stakeholders about this ongoing issue and we are aggressively working towards solutions to fix the problem. The BCPFFA EMS committee and executive board will continue working on these issues as we identified during the convention and strive to keep you up to date as quickly as possible. Thanks for your ongoing efforts in keeping our communities safe. 

Fraternally, 

Gord Ditchburn

President

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Surrey & White Rock Initiate Priority Vaccinations for First Responders

For Immediate Release April 12, 2021

VANCOUVER, BC – Surrey and White Rock fire fighters and police officers now have priority access to vaccinations as part of the “Vaccinate Surrey / White Rock first responder priority program.” Under the direction of the Public Health Office, the program has been initiated to allow first responders to book their appointments online in the coming days. The program is being rolled out as the City of Surrey faces some of the highest case counts in the province. 

“Having Surrey’s and White Rock’s first responders vaccinated is clearly the right step in mitigating the opportunity of infecting a critical workforce. We commend the leadership of the Surrey Fire Service as well as White Rock Fire Service in achieving this necessary step of protecting its fire fighters and the community, and we are extremely hopeful that this advance can pave the way for all first responders in this province to access the vaccination program,” says Gord Ditchburn, President, BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association. 

“Surrey is not alone in experiencing high case counts, the Vancouver Downtown Eastside, and many areas of BC are experiencing high rates - it’s time to protect all first responders!”

The BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association is pleased to hear that the Public Health Office (PHO) and Minister of Health have initiated the immediate process of vaccinating fire fighters as previously prioritized. However, with AstraZeneca currently suspended by Health Canada, the BCPFFA continues to petition the PHO and Minister of Health to pivot brands and allow for the immediate vaccination for first responders.

COVID-19 has no borders. All first responders are at risk of catching this disease both off and on duty. Should this trend continue, it will negatively impact the workplace and health of fire fighters if infected. 

The BCPFFA is grateful to all of the hard work of the PHO and the Minister of Health in recognizing the importance of having first responders vaccinated as a priority group. The BCPFFA thanks its members for their continued commitment to service in every community in the province despite the anxiety of COVID-19 and the wait to be vaccinated.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Nicole Clark, Director of Communications

P: 778.789.0820

E: communications@bcpffa.org


ABOUT THE BCPFFA: 

Established in 1929, the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (BCPFFA) is an organization of 53 locals who represent over 4000 professional men and women fire fighters in BC, including the Yukon. The BCPFFA and its 53 are affiliates of the International Association of Fire Fighters. The BCPFFA is a service provider for its affiliates offering training and education in areas of provincial legislation, occupational health and safety, Worksafe advocacy, financial assistance, bargaining, labour law, and advocacy for best practices in both public safety and fire fighter safety.

Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 by Health Area of Case Residence

April 7, 2021 - The BCCDC released two new maps of the province's coronavirus infections on Wednesday, one showing the last week's worth of cases and the other showing cumulative cases since the pandemic began. (BCCDC)

Tickets are now available for the Hometown Heroes Lottery!

 
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Tickets are now available for the Hometown Heroes Lottery!

Be sure to get the hottest tickets in town. You'll be supporting our resilience-building programs for burn survivors - from Burn Camp for kids to the Home Away accommodation program for burn and trauma survivors who must travel to Vancouver to undergo treatment.

Tickets are on sale now until midnight, July 16, 2021, or until tickets sell out! https://heroeslottery.com/

International Women's Day Series with Maryann Dragovan

Maryann Dragovan

As part of our International Women’s Day Series we hear from Maryann Dragovan, the Secretary/Dispatcher for Cranbrook Local 1253. Maryann has served Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services for 18 years and is a member of the BCPFFA Women’s Advisory Committee. Read about a day in the life of Maryann in her role as a  secretary/dispatcher below. 

Why did you want to become a Secretary/Dispatcher with Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services?

I wanted to become a Secretary/Dispatcher because I enjoy helping people. It gives me great pleasure and I felt it would be very fulfilling to have a profession in which I was able to help people every day. I also appreciate and admire those who put their lives on the line to protect our community, and to be able to work as part of a team with those people gives me a great sense of achievement. I also felt this career would be very dynamic and never boring, being different every day. 

How would you describe a day in your role?

From the time I started my career, 18 years ago, my job has changed significantly.  I started out as a Secretary and a few years into my career my job changed to Secretary/Dispatcher.  Cranbrook Fire Department at that time dispatched for 17 communities.  I was the main Dispatcher Monday-Friday.  

Every day was different.  My day may have started out with some administrative duties such as payroll, typing letters and reports, auditing paperwork etc. to receiving an emergency call that required all my time and attention.  I would start out by taking the call, listening carefully to make sure I had the correct information.  I would then dispatch the fire department responding to that area and providing them the information required to respond.  My duties from there would be to dispatch agencies that the fire department may require such as EHS, RCMP, Hydro, Fortis Gas, Ministry of Environment, etc.  I would be responsible for tracking pertinent response times and would continue monitoring the call and assisting with any other resources until the call was terminated and the responding apparatuses were back at the hall.

Receiving these emergency calls would get my heart pumping and my day would become very exciting, fast-moving and challenging at times.  But knowing that I was able to assist someone in getting help right away made me want to do my job well.   At times I may have had 2 or 3 emergency calls at one time.  This can be very overwhelming depending on the type of calls and whether or not there are other firefighters/dispatchers in the hall to assist me.   But knowing that you are working for the safety and well-being of your friends, neighbours, co-workers and community makes this job a highly rewarding one.

Just over five years ago our department was no longer dispatching.  I continued on with my administrative duties and I was able to transition from Dispatcher to a role where I assist crews on scene at incidents.  My role has gradually migrated towards on scene support of firefighters, the Incident Commander and department administrative staff.  I feel I have found a valuable incident scene support role that continues to assist our members and citizens during incidents; just in a different capacity.

What do you find rewarding about your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is being part of a team that is helping those in need, and doing my part to the best of my ability to help the organization as a whole.  I also really enjoy helping others during our community events and through our fundraisers that assist Muscular Dystrophy and the BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund.  I find this very rewarding as well.

Another rewarding aspect of my job is being part of a second family.  Having 24 brothers is definitely overwhelming at times, but l am so happy to have this opportunity to work with such an amazing group of people! Lastly, it’s rewarding being part of a larger organization provincially, nationally and internationally.

International Women’s Day series with Paula Faedo

Today in our International Women’s Day series we feature Paula Faedo, a retired Captain with Coquitlam Fire Fighters IAFF1782 and breast cancer survivor.

In 2015, Paula was a part of a contingency of women in the fire service who travelled with the BCPFFA to successfully lobby the government to recognize breast cancer as a presumption. Learn more about her journey in the video below.

Photo by Dave Harcus