THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE BRIGHT NIGHTS 50/50
For the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund, the New Year started with a bang with its Bright Nights 50/50 jackpot totalling $525,660. The draw took place at the Burn Fund Centre on Monday, January 4th with the Board of Directors observing the draw over zoom.
Congratulations to K. Hirji of Burnaby, B.C., who is walking into 2021 a winner with a $262,830 prize.
This was the first time that the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund hosted a 50/50 draw. Named for the beloved holiday tradition, the Bright Nights 50/50 was created to recoup lost funds from the cancellation of Bright Nights in Stanley Park. All proceeds support burn survivor programs and much-needed fire prevention education. Thank you to everyone who purchased a 50/50 ticket. Your support helps to ensure that the Burn Fund can continue operating its programs year-round.
Final Deadline: Midnight Tonight!
FINAL DEADLINE IS TONIGHT - BRIGHT NIGHTS 50/50 JACKPOT IS OVER $400,000 (WINNER TAKES HALF)
When the clock strikes twelve, will you be a winner? There’s only one way to find out: buy your Bright Nights 50/50 tickets by midnight tonight! The jackpot is over $400,000 and counting! Tickets are 1 for $15, 3 for $40, or 6 for $60 (SOLD OUT).
Deadline: Midnight, Thursday, December 31, 2020
Draw: Monday, January 4, 2021 9:00 AM
Bright Nights is the Burn Fund's largest annual fundraising event, raising important funds which support burn survivors across BC and the Yukon. Due to COVID-19, the traditional, full-scale Bright Nights light display did not happen this year. We hope you can support the charity of BC’s professional fire fighters, and purchase a 50/50 ticket. Proceeds support burn survivors through every step of their healing journeys.
Please consider purchasing a 50/50 raffle ticket to support important Burn Fund programs.
Supporting Burn Survivors for 42 Years
From enhancing survivor care at BC’s trauma hospitals to providing emotional support for survivors of all ages, the Burn Fund is there for survivors through every step of their recovery journey. Today, we have programs such as Little Lionhearts Family Camp, Youth Burn Camp and THRIVE program for young adults..
Fire and Burn Prevention
More than 1,000 adults and children are treated at VGH and BC Children’s hospital each year for burn injuries. The Burn Fund helps educate families and children about prevention through annual campaigns, including Fire Prevention Week.
A Home Away from Home
The Burn Fund Centre offers accommodations for burn survivors and their families traveling to Vancouver for treatment. This home away from home includes eight suites and amenities to support these families in their time of need.
Resilience-Building Programs
The Burn Fund offers resilience-building programs including the Future is Mine adult burn survivor programs which focus on peer-support and mental health workshops.
IAFF Media Awards In BC
We are pleased to report that the BCPFFA / BCPFF Burn Fund received recognition at the annual IAFF Media Awards January 2019 to May 2020. The BCPFF Burn Fund received four recognitions (3 honourable mentions and a 1st place). BCPFFA’s President Gord Ditchburn stated, “It is rewarding to see the impactful stories of our profession and community outreach being shared and recognized across the International Association of Fire Fighters. Congratulations to all IAFF recipients, and to our production team, burn prevention and survivor representatives who shared their stories.” The IAFF received 375 entries and selected 85 winning entries..
Here are the categories that BCPFFA received awards in;
Best Affiliate Community Outreach/Community Education Campaign, 1st Place: Face Equality
Best Digital Communications, Honorable Mention: Keira’s Story
Best Social Media Video , Honorable Mention: Kiera’s Story
Best affiliate public relations or political campaign or project: Fire Prevention 2019, Honorable Mention: Public Relations vIdeo
Also, in BC, congratulations to Surrey Fire Local 1271: Best fire service photo taken by an IAFF member, Shane MacKichan) receiving Honorable Mention.
First prize winners receive $500, a plaque and T-shirt- Second prize winners receive $250; certificate; Honorable mention winners receive a certificate.
Media Award Category: Best affiliate community outreach/community education campaign
Place: First Place
Entry Title: "Face Equality Day"
Produced by: Nicole Clark, Dave Harcus, Heather Beveridge, Staci Mansor, Joshua Peng, Tyler Bruce
Submitted By: British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association
Excerpt: The British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund collaborated with Fire Equality International to capture portraits of burn survivors to promote the message that differences should be accepted and celebrated.
Media Award Category: Best digital communication (audio/podcasts, e-newsletters, blogs, video messages)
Place: Honorable Mention
Entry Title: "Keira's Story"
Produced by: British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association
Submitted By: British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association
Excerpt: This video honours 11-year-old Keira McKenzie who suffered a severe burn injury and highlights the impact Burn Camp has had on her life and the committed efforts to raise funds for the program.
Media Award Category: Best social media video
Place: Honorable Mention
Entry Title: "Keira’s Story"
Produced by: British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters
Submitted By: British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters
Excerpt: This video honors 11-year-old Keira McKenzie, who suffered a severe burn injury. The video highlights how Burn Camp helped with her recovery and was used for fundraising efforts to support the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund.
Media Award Category: Best affiliate public relations or political campaign or project
Place: Honorable Mention
Entry Title: "Fire Prevention Week 2019"
Produced by: British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters' Association
Submitted By: British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters' Association
Excerpt: Each year, the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund leads an integrated public relation, digital and social media campaign to raise awareness and to promote fire prevention. The outreach also included a Fire Prevention Week poster contest to engage elementary schools across British Columbia.
Congratulations to the winners in the 2020 Media Awards Contest!
The complete list of winners in the affiliate and journalist categories is online and will appear in the latest edition of Fire Fighter Quarterly magazine.
The contest recognizes affiliates for their best work in communicating with their members and the public, and honors reporting and photography that best portray professional fire fighters and paramedics as dedicated all-hazards responders. The IAFF Media Awards Contest also helps create a greater awareness of the important and dangerous work IAFF members in the United States and Canada do to keep the public safe.
Winners are recognized in 13 categories, including communications, reporting, photography, social media and public relations.
Thank you to all who submitted entries; we received 375 entries and selected 85 winning entries.
BC First Responders’ Mental Health Speaker Series
2021 BC First Responders’ Mental Health Speaker Series
January 21 - March 11, 2021
The 2021 BC First Responders’ Mental Health Speaker Series — Leadership for the mental health of your workplace — is scheduled for six sessions between January 21 and March 11, 2021. Registration opens November 30, 2020. To learn more about the schedule, topics and featured speakers for this free webinar series, visit BC First Responders’ Mental Health Speaker Series.
The BC First Responders Mental Health Committee invites you to attend an interactive, multi-session webinar speaker series aimed at creating positive conversations about mental health in the first responder community. Learn about resources to help support your team, benefit from the experience of other influential and effective leaders, and discover new tools to support first responders in caring for their mental well-being.
The 2021 BC First Responder Mental Health Speaker Series — Leadership for the mental health of your workplace — will focus on actively developing the knowledge and skills of first responders in leadership positions, so they can take a proactive approach to promoting positive mental health in their organizations. Most first responder leaders are aware of the increased risks facing their workforce when it comes to mental health issues, and yet many leaders are only just taking the first steps towards being able to actively promote positive mental health. This speaker series showcases people and programs proven to effectively promote positive mental health. Leaders will conclude the webinar series with increased confidence in their knowledge and abilities when it comes to fostering a mentally healthy workplace.
Scheduled between January 21 and March 11, there are six different, ninety-minute morning sessions addressing different, and equally important, topics. This free webinar series allows for à la carte registration so choose all, or a few, sessions. Attendees will be able to ask, and have their questions answered, during each live event.
Please join us!
Bright Nights Christmas Train in Stanley Park is Temporarily postponed until Dec 7th and/or further COVID-19 updates.
The provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry expanded a public health order banning all social gatherings until Dec. 7.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said all major events are on hold. It means families will not be able to attend annual events such as the Stanley Park Bright Nights Christmas Train.
SOURCE: https://globalnews.ca/news/7478389/major-b-c-holiday-events-to-be-cancelled-amid-covid-19-order/
Bright Nights Christmas Train in Stanley Park
The Bright Nights train will once again be sounding its whistle and chugging through the sparkling magically-lit forest of Stanley Park this Christmas. Kids of all ages will be signing along to their favourite carols as they take in the whimsical displays along their ride.
The Vancouver Parks Board is excited to welcome you back to a nostalgic and much loved family event to help create a bright Christmas memory in a very challenging time. They have focused our efforts on making sure the train will be a fun, happy, and safe experience. This year, there will be no plaza lights and Santa won't be visiting. All the decorating efforts will be concentrated on the train ride itself. All the same memories of riding the train through countless twinkling lights will still be there.
Buy tickets starting November 6 at 10am
Tickets available online in advance only. There will be no same day tickets available on site.
Only valid ticket holders will be admitted to the site.
Due to limited capacity, we are not able to accommodate group bookings.
Information icon Service fees and charges apply.
Hours of operation
Dates Times November 26 to January 14pm to 10pm
Information icon Closed December 25, 2020
There will be one train every 20 minutes with limited tickets per train. The last train is scheduled for 9:40pm.
Ticket holders must board the train at the time specified on their tickets due to restrictions on capacity.
Ensure that you are at the front entrance 30 minutes in advance of your train ride to join the queue in the designated waiting area. Be prepared to enter the site as soon as the preceding train has boarded and is enroute.
Latecomers may not be accommodated.
Ticket prices
Age Price: All ages 3 and up$10 + GST Children 2 and under Free
Information icon Service fees and charges apply to advance ticket sales
LEARN MORE: SAFETY PROTOCOLS, ACCESSIBLITY, FOOD AND BEVERAGE
BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund
A favourite holiday tradition for the community and fire fighters alike, Bright Nights is also the single largest fundraiser for the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund While a full-scale light display is not possible this year, fire fighters will add some holiday spirit by hanging lights from the gate entrance to the Christmas Train. Be sure to stop by the gate and make a cash donation in support of burn survivors and their families.
The Burn Fund has launched a Bright Nights 50/50 raffle to raise important funds enabling burn survivor programs to operate year round.
Location
Bright Nights is located on Pipeline Road in Stanley Park, via the West Georgia Street park entrance.
Take public transit , ride your bike, or walk.
Free parking compliments of the Vancouver Park Board
The railway lot will be open mainly for pedestrian use this year, with limited disabled parking and a drop-off/pick-up zone. Free event parking is available in the main lot across Pipeline Rd after 3pm daily. Vancouver Aquarium lots are paid lots during Bright Nights operations.
Overflow lots include the Info Booth, North Pipeline Road, and Beaver Lake lots. These lots are free parking after 3pm only.
New Raffle from your BC Fire Fighters
BRIGHT NIGHTS 50/50 TICKETS ARE ON SALE!
Deadline: Midnight, Thursday, December 31, 2020
Draw: Monday, January 4, 2021 9:00 AM
Bright Nights is the Burn Fund's largest annual fundraising event, raising important funds which support burn survivors across BC and the Yukon. Due to COVID-19, the traditional, full-scale Bright Nights light display will not move forward and the Christmas Train will operate at a reduced capacity.
The charity of BC’s professional fire fighters, the Burn Fund supports burn survivors through every step of their healing journeys. Please consider purchasing a 50/50 raffle ticket to support important Burn Fund programs.
Supporting Burn Survivors for 42 Years
From enhancing survivor care at BC’s trauma hospitals to providing emotional support for survivors of all ages, the Burn Fund is there for survivors through every step of their recovery journey. Today, we have programs such as Little Lionhearts Family Camp, Youth Burn Camp and THRIVE program for young adults..
Fire and Burn Prevention
More than 1,000 adults and children are treated at VGH and BC Children’s hospital each year for burn injuries. The Burn Fund helps educate families and children about prevention through annual campaigns, including Fire Prevention Week.
A Home Away from Home
The Burn Fund Centre offers accommodations for burn survivors and their families traveling to Vancouver for treatment. This home away from home includes eight suites and amenities to support these families in their time of need.
Resilience-Building Programs
The Burn Fund offers resilience-building programs including the Future is Mine adult burn survivor programs which focus on peer-support and mental health workshops.
BRITISH COLUMBIA FIRE FIGHTER ELECTED TO PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE
IAFF affiliates in British Columbia are celebrating a major election victory, including the first-ever election of a fire fighter to the province’s legislature.
Mike Starchuk, a retired Surrey, BC Local 1271 fire fighter and former Local 1271 secretary, was elected October 25 in the Surrey-Cloverdale riding as one of 55 New Democratic Party (NDP) legislators who will form a majority government. He was elected on a wave of support from Local 1271 and its members and from IAFF locals and members across the region who made personal campaign contributions, installed lawn signs, rang doorbells and dropped leaflets on his behalf.
Starchuk, who retired in 2014 and then served one term as a Surrey city councillor, has strong ties to the IAFF. He’s an IAFF Partnership Education Education (PEP) instructor and former District Field Services Representative (DFSR) and is also known throughout the province as a staunch defender of fire fighters having won $11 million in claims as a workers’ compensation advocate, a role he held until recently. Starchuk is an honorary member of the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association (BCPFFA).
In a message on his website, Starchuk, who won 50 per cent of the vote in his riding and defeated a longtime Liberal incumbent, says he is proud to be the first NDP candidate elected in the province’s Surrey-Cloverdale riding and proud to be the first fire fighter elected to the British Columbia legislature. He gives thanks to the members of Local 1271 in Surrey.
Surrey Local 1271 President Saverio Lattanzio says he is extremely proud of the grassroots work members of his local and nearby locals did in a short, 30-day period between the election call and polling day, and the amount of money that fire fighters personally contributed to his campaign. Only personal campaign contributions are permitted in British Columbia and IAFF members contributed significantly to Starchuk’s election effort.
Having a fire fighter in the legislature as a member of a majority government will be a great boost to the BCPFFA, which has 53 locals and 4,130 members. The BCPFFA lobbies the British Columbia government annually on a number of key issues, such as occupational disease presumptions and emergency medical response.
“There’s no question the IAFF’s voice will be carried stronger and louder in the British Columbia legislature with Mike Starchuk there,” says BCPFFA President Gord Ditchburn.
Overall, the BCPFFA fared extremely well in the election; it endorsed a total of 55 NDP and Liberal candidates and 51 were elected, a record of 92 per cent. ( Source, https://www.iaff.org/news/british-columbia-fire-fighter-elected-to-provincial-legislature/ )
IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial – Virtual Ceremony
September 19, 2020
10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (11am MT / 1pm ET)
With the significant health concerns related to COVID-19 and all the restrictions across the U.S. and Canada, the IAFF Executive Board on May 14, 2020, approved a motion to conduct the 2020 Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial ceremony without attendees, broadcasting it as a respectful virtual ceremony on September 19, 2020. We will still be engraving members’ names on our Wall of Honor this year and will note those etched on our Memorial during the virtual ceremony.
You can watch the ceremony from this page or on YouTube (www.youtube.com/IAFFTV/live) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/IAFFonline).
At this year’s memorial service, the IAFF will add 245 fallen fire fighters from the United States and Canada to the Wall of Honor.
No IAFF staff or Colorado Springs Local 5 members will be available to provide assistance, so we ask everyone to avoid visits to the Memorial site during these times of significant health challenges presented by COVID-19.
All 2020 honoree families will be invited to attend the 2021 Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial where our fallen members will receive proper recognition along with those lost in 2020 at a traditional ceremony, with all families receiving their flag.
Like all of you, we are disappointed that we are unable to hold our memorable, beautiful ceremony, but the IAFF believes this is the safest and best path to ensure that we honor our fallen this year as best we can under the circumstances, guided by the information available to us today.
We will continue to provide updates on plans for the virtual ceremony. For more information, contact fffm@iaff.org.