Delegation at the 2021 Legislative Conference with invited special guests from Government.
On Monday, March 8th, over 100 IAFF delegates from 53 affiliates gathered for the 10th Annual Robert E. Hall Legislative Conference / Virtual Educational Day to discuss important issues to fire fighters, primarily for the safety of our men and women who are on the frontlines each and every day. Guest speakers from government attended for a brief greeting. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier John Horgan, Interim Leader of the Official Opposition Shirley Bond, Minister of Labour Harry Bains, Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth, and MLA Mike Starchuk - our first fire fighter to ever serve in the office of the BC Legislature.
This year, our we are lobbying for improvements to cancer presumption and psychological safety in the workplace.
Cancer Presumption and Latency Periods
Mandatory Cancer Prevention Programs
Mandatory Psychological Safety in the Workplace
Primary Care Cancer Evaluations for Fire Fighters
Prevention and education is the key and our BCPFFA health & safety committee and Mental Health Task Force continue to seek for resources and best practices to share with the Fire Service.
The BCPFFA has partnered with First Responder Health in producing a video series on accessing a Directory for Occupationally Aware Clinicians Directory. To access the BCPFFA endorsed Directory for Occupationally Aware Clinicians visit firstresponderhealth.org.
Following the Educational Briefing we took time to honour our fallen with a special tribute video.
We took a moment to recognize “International Women’s Day”. This is a significant day for us all as we gather here to advocate and lobby for improvements to the fire service, improvements that encompass all of the women and men who proudly wear our uniform . We are incredibly fortunate to have a number of very progressive women committed to bettering not only the fire service, but bettering the experience for women in the fire service through dialogue on issues facing women in the fire service. The newly formed BCPFFA Women’s Advisory Committee are collaborating on issues that include training, health & safety, clothing & equipment, and workplace and employment issues.
About Robert E. Hall: We remember Brother Robert E. Hall on this day for his efforts in bringing our cancer lobbies to the floor of the Legislature. Rob, a Vancouver fire fighter, was a proud member of Local 18 and during his tenure, served the BCPFFA board for 10 years from 1998 to 2007 (2 as Vice President; and 8 as Secretary Treasurer). On October 31, 2005, with the Legislature Gallery full of fire fighters, 7 cancers were recognized by the BC Government. Sadly, on August, 27th of 2007, Robert E. Hall succumbed to Occupational Cancer. BC Fire Fighters will be forever grateful for his leadership and vision in working with the provincial government to recognize and improve fire fighters' health and safety. Since then, over the past decade and a half, 6 additional cancers have been added to the list, plus the return of the previously removed Heart Injury 2014 and Occupational Stress Injuries in 2018 for a total of 15 presumptive coverages. Brother Hall would be pleased with our success, but would also remind us that we have more work to do, and so we carry on in his honour.
Honouring our fallen is a tradition we uphold with great pride. The south lawns of the BC Legislature, where our monument stands, is a place for us to respect and remember. On March 8, 2021, we would have been gathering in Victoria to stand side by side to honour our 24 fallen members. For now, we will remember together, with a virtual tribute video.
We will be together again, when it is safe to do so.
NAMES OF OUR FALLEN 2021 MEMORIAL
Stanley E. Brook, Vancouver L18 - 10/13/2017
Kenneth M. Gill, Oak Bay L1856 - 03/29/2018
Thomas William,Haydon, Delta L1763 - 10/08/2018
Lloyd C. Mitchell, Kitimat L1304 - 03/06/2019
James B. Blundell Vancouver L18 - 03/31/2019
Richard A. Tingle, Burnaby L323 - 04/14/2019
Brian R. Helme, Richmond L1286 - 04/28/2019
Ron R. Renville, Vancouver L18 - 05/04/2019
Arthur P. Wick, Vancouver L18 - 05/20/2019
Allen L. McLeod, Vancouver L18- 05/31/2019
Ken J. Kinney, Burnaby L323 - 06/07/2019
William J. Robertson, Surrey L1271 - 06/30/2019
James G. Loseth, Kelowna L953 - 08/16/2019
G. Henry Threlfall, Richmond L128 - 09/27/2019
Joseph Kolar, Kelowna L953 - 10/31/2019
Kelly M. Mullin, Vancouver L18 - 11/01/2019
William A. Anderson, Vancouver L18 - 12/13/2019
Kenneth W. Swan, Vancouver L18 - 12/16/2019
Ronald A. Fyffe, Vancouver L18 - 01/20/2020
Robert A. Bruce, Burnaby L323 - 04/12/2020
Thomas Keith McMillan, Vancouver L18 - 05/21/2020
Stephen M. Letourneau, Vancouver L18 - 06/24/2020
David Rivett, Surrey L1271 - 07/16/2020
Brian A. Oxenbury, Vancouver L18 - 08/29/2020
