Fill the Boot and Support Muscular Dystrophy Awareness With the Peterborough Professional Fire Fighters Association

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Help Canadian Fire Fighters Fill the Boot for the 2022 fiscal year and raise critical funds and awareness for Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC).

photo courtesy of stephanie page.

Fire fighters have answered MDC’s call for more than 67 years. Those who donate are making a difference for all Canadians affected by neuromuscular disorders and ensuring more of these individuals can access the programs, services and supports they need.

Every year, starting usually in October, Stephanie Page of the Peterborough Professional Fire Fighters Association (PPFFA) says boot drives, ladder sits, car pulls, car washes and all types of fundraising events are hosted to help raise funds for muscular dystrophy.

Page, who has newly taken on the donations committee role for Peterborough’s local department a few months ago, says with their raffle and the Peterborough Axe Throwing Club event from March 17, she hopes they’ll have hit over $1,000 raised.

“(I’m) in awe with how many funds firefighters have raised in the last few years,” said Page. “I’m excited to kind of take the reins on that and start it back up again, and then hopefully continue making it an annual thing.”

photo courtesy of stephanie page.

Page will soon be representing her department at a muscular dystrophy conference at the end of April.

She’ll get to network with other departments and discuss the effectiveness of their fundraising efforts, Page shares.

“I was honoured to be invited and hopefully I can gain some insight on what to do in the following years- and with more time,” Page said. “People have been really supportive, we’ve got a bunch of volunteers on the committee who try to get donations from local businesses.”

Donations for this fundraiser need to be submitted by March 30, though people can donate year round. The website is always open for donations and donating directly to the Peterborough team via the website.

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Mass Casualty Incident Simulation Puts Hands-On Learning To The Test at Fleming College

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Students in multiple Fleming College programs put their hands-on learning to the test in a Mass Casualty Incident simulation at the Sutherland Campus on Tuesday.

photo courtesy of fleming College.

The exercise started at 9:30 a.m. and lasted into the early afternoon, led by students in the Paramedic, Pre-Service Fighter Education and Training and Pre-Health Sciences programs.

The stimulation had emergency vehicles on site, and the exercise involved students and volunteers dressed up to appear distressed or injured.

Fleming says the simulation is a valuable, hands-on learning experience for students to apply their knowledge in a realistic scenario.

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Enbridge Gas Assisting Douro-Dummer Fire Services in Supporting Firefighter Training

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Enbridge Gas Inc. is helping Douro-Dummer Fire Services (DDFS) purchase firefighting training materials through a Safe Community Project Assist $5,000 donation announced Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Enbridge Gas and Douro-Dummer fire services.

The announcement was made at Fire Station 4 in Warsaw with Fire Chief Chuck Pedersen, Deputy Fire Chief Derrick Huffman, Mayor Heather Watson and Ian Moase, GTA East Region operations manager of Enbridge Gas in attendance.

The Safe Community Project Assist program with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) supplements existing training for Ontario volunteer and composite fire departments in the communities where Enbridge Gas operates.

“At Enbridge Gas, safety is our priority. We’re proud to support Ontario firefighters who share our commitment to keeping our communities safe, healthy and vibrant,” said Moase.

This year’s $250,000 donation from Enbridge Gas will be shared by 50 Ontario fire departments including Douro-Dummer Fire Services. Funds will be used to purchase educational materials to assist in training firefighters in life-saving techniques.

Since the launch of Safe Community Project Assist in 2012, 294 grants have been provided to Ontario fire departments for additional firefighter training according to Enbridge Gas in a press release.

“These resources from Enbridge Gas are timely and much appreciated as we ramp up testing for firefighter certification to meet our new legislative requirements,” said Pedersen.

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Norwood Boy Given VIP Treatment When Saying Thanks To Local Fire Department

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After a birthday surprise from The Asphodel Norwood Fire Department for Jayden in January, the four year old delivered a thank you card to fire fighters at the station.

For Jayden’s fourth birthday, on Jan. 25, his mom Ashley Fraser arranged a surprise with the Asphodel Norwood Fire Department.

Fire Chief Darryl Payne and firefighter James Jordan arrived at Jayden’s house with a fire truck in tow and blew Fraser away with their kindness, she says.

“James got right down to his eye level, Jayden was just so comfortable with him, it was just amazing that he was so drawn to him and was able to have that connection.”

@ptbo_canada Happy Birthday Jayden! Someone’s day was made and we don’t know if it was Jaydens our ours ❤️ #PTBOCanada #firefighters #firedepartment ♬ today was a good day - ✗

When it came time for Jayden to say thank you on March 18, Fraser arranged to drop off a card to the station.

“We had no intention of getting a tour,” she said. “I thought we were just going to drop it off and say thanks again for everything, as I know they’re busy.”

She says when they arrived the garage door was opened and the fire truck had been pulled out.

Jayden was given a tour, shown the jaws of life and the fire hose, and given the VIP treatment, says Fraser.

“We couldn’t be more grateful for their kindness.”

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St. Paul Elementary School Lakefield Students Thank Selwyn Fire Department For Putting Out Fire on School Property

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Students at St. Paul Elementary School Lakefield sent cards to the Selwyn Fire Department on Tuesday to thank them for responding to a fire on school property on Feb. 16.

Photo courtesy of PVNCCDSB.

At approximately 8:30 p.m. last Wednesday, officers were called to a shed fire at St. Paul Catholic Elementary School in Lakefield.

Selwyn Township firefighters responded and prevented the fire from spreading to the school building. While the shed was destroyed, there was no damage to the school or portable classrooms as classes resumed the following day.

“On behalf of the students, staff members and families of St. Paul Catholic Elementary School, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Selwyn Township firefighters who worked hard to protect our school,” said Principal Lisa Gemmiti-Folz.

Fire prevention officer Andrew Bowyer and firefighter Greg Frost picked up the cards in person at the school on Tuesday.

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Norwood Boy Gets A Birthday Surprise From Local Fire Department

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Jayden, a 4-year-old from Norwood, who lives with a rare genetic disorder called Coffin-Siris Syndrome, got a special birthday surprise from the Asphodel Norwood Fire Department (ANFR) on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Ashley Fraser.

Ashley Fraser, Jayden’s Mom, says that while he is non-verbal he has always shown an interest in big trucks and lights so she thought he may like firetrucks.

“We noticed when we went to the Santa Clause parade in Norwood and he was just amazed when he saw the firetruck,” she said. “He sits in our window and he loves to watch cars go by and big trucks, that’s his thing - he’s not interested in toys.”

Because of his interest, Jayden’s mom reached out to the local fire department in hopes that they would drive by in their truck on Jayden’s birthday.

ANFR Fire Chief Daryl Payne and firefighter James Jordan arrived with a firetruck in tow to Jayden’s house to celebrate.

“James got right down to his eye level, Jayden was just so comfortable with him, it was just amazing that he was so drawn to him and was able to have that connection.”

Fraser says that the department blew her away with their kindness and how they treated her son.

@ptbo_canada Happy Birthday Jayden! Someone’s day was made and we don’t know if it was Jaydens our ours ❤️ #PTBOCanada #firefighters #firedepartment ♬ today was a good day - ✗

Living with coffin-siris syndrome, Jayden is non-verbal. His mom says his squeals of delight showed her just how happy he was when he saw the fire truck pull up to their home.

“He doesn’t get excited like the average little kid gets excited on birthdays or Christmas, it just doesn’t do it for him like a regular little kid, so it was so awesome to see him enjoy this.”

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Otonabee South Monaghan Fire Chief Retires After 47 Year Career

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Otonabee South Monaghan (OSM) Fire Chief Ted Bryan will officially retire at the end of January, after a 47 year career with the fire department.

Fire Chief Ted Bryan and Fire Prevention Officer Cara Wood. Bryan says FPO Wood made his job a lot easier. Photo courtesy of OSM.

Looking back on his career Bryan says it’s hard to sum up 47 years of experience.

Bryan joined the volunteer fire department in 1975 when he graduated high school. He became chief in 1986, which became his full-time career in 1997 when the Otonabee department amalgamated with South Monaghan.

“When I started I was the chief of the station in Keene and I had maybe 18 firefighters,” he said. “Today we have four fire stations and 82 members.”

Bryan notes that over the course of his almost 50 year career the training available to firefighters has changed immensely.

“The evolution in the fire services - it went from being handed a hat, a pitch coat and a pair of long rubber boots, being told ‘here you’re going to fight fires for us when the siren goes off’ to volunteer firefighters in todays world being certified, full fledged firefighters.”

When a recruit joins the volunteer fire department they attend training at The Eastern Ontario Emergency Training Academy (EOETA) in Norwood. There they receive the same certifications needed to pursue a full time firefighting career.

“It’s so exciting to watch new recruits come on and grow with the department, then one day tell you they’ve gotten a full time fire job elsewhere. It’s heart warming to see that, a very satisfying part of the job.”

In his retirement Bryan says he will continue to teach at the EOETA, The Ontario Fire College and at Fleming College in their Pre-Service Firefighting program.

“I’m looking forward to being able to decompress and maybe sit at the end of my dock for a little bit.”

Bryan says he will miss the people he works with the most.

“To say you don’t have any issues with 82 people wouldn’t be telling the truth, but certainly we’re a good group and we see each others differences,” he says. “They’re wonderful to work with, as well as the council and management here in the township.”

Chuck Parsons will be taking over as Fire Chief of OSM, effective Feb. 1.

“I am excited to be joining the Township of Otonabee South-Monaghan team and working with Council, Volunteer Fire Fighters, Staff and the Community including Hiawatha First Nation in this role,” said Parsons. “The Municipality of Otonabee South-Monaghan is vibrant and receptive and I welcome the opportunity to live and work in the area and continue the excellent leadership provided to the Municipal Fire and Emergency Services for the benefit of the township’s citizens and businesses”

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Enbridge Assists Selwyn Fire Dept in Supporting Firefighter Training

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The Selwyn Fire Department with 49 other fire departments is getting $250,000 from Enbridge Gas for educational materials for firefighters to enhance life-saving techniques. announced Wednesday.

Andrew Bowyer, Fire Prevention Officer (left), and Gord Jopling, Fire Chief for the Township of Selwyn (right) pose with a $5,000 cheque from Safe Community Project Assist and the educational materials purchased through the program. Photo Courtesy of Township of Selwyn.

The aid is through the Safe Community Project Assist, a program with the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council that supplements existing training for Ontario volunteers and composite fire departments in the communities where Enbridge operates.

“Safety is our priority. We’re proud to support Ontario firefighters who share our commitment to keeping our communities safe,” says Steve McGivery, Director, GTA East Operations, Enbridge Gas.

Since the launch of Safe Community Project Assist in 2012, 244 grants have been provided to Ontario fire departments for additional firefighter training.

“Safe Community Project Assist improves access to training materials for fire departments,” says Jon Pegg, Ontario Fire Marshal and Chair of the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council. “Firefighting can be dangerous and unpredictable, and these training materials positively contribute to the health and safety of firefighters and the broader community.”

“Selwyn Fire Department is honoured to have been selected by the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council and Enbridge Gas for this valuable donation. With these funds, we can help to continue educating our firefighters in their skills as we work to keep our community safe,” says Selwyn Fire Chief Gord Jopling.

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