Timmins Fire Fighters Induct Honourary Member, 11/02/2007

 

Local 535 has made six year old Sylvain Noel the newest member of the Timmins Fire Service. Sylvain has recently been diagnosed with a brain tumour and the Timmins Local, led by President Ellard Beaven, undertook a fundraising campaign to support the family while their son was being treated. This past weekend, Sylvain was presented with a plaque and a fire helmet by the Timmins local. Sylvain's uncle, Marc Thibault, is a firefighter and President of Local 1343 (Nelson, BC). Below are letters from Marc Thibault to IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger and from the Noel family. The OPFFA congratulates Local 535 for their support and comfort of Sylvain and for all the great charitable work firefighters undertake on behalf of the community.

 

Letter to IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger from Marc Thibault (Sylvain's Uncle), President Local 1343 (Nelson, British Columbia):

October 19, 2007

Dear President Schaitberger

Picture this:  Shortly after you lose your father to cancer, your 6 yr old son develops a brain tumour.  You live in Timmins (Northern Ontario), a community with limited cancer treatment options.  The treatment center is an 8 hour drive away and you end up making an untold number of trips there for assessments, (failed) operations, and increasingly intensive treatments.  Your son, in the meantime, is losing his ability to move, communicate, and ultimately to care for himself.  Obviously, you quit your job to tend to your youngest.  Every hope the doctors offer turns into disappointment as the tumour continues to grow.  After a few years of this, your husband, now the sole breadwinner, is temporarily laid off while medical bills and transportation needs increase.

It was difficult for me to hear of my sister-in-law's situation and to be unable to help her out as I'd like.  Living 3200 kms away, I felt there was little I could do.  You can imagine my feelings of relief and pride to hear that my brothers in Timmins Local 535 had stepped up the plate to raise funds for the family (http://new.iaff.org/Comm/Spotlight/07Stories/3807Timmins.htm).  As was reported in the story, the firefighters continued their support by hosting my nephew's birthday party at the fire hall.

I'm pleased to tell you the help continues to this day:  The firefighters have visited the family both at home and at the Toronto treatment center.  They persuaded their Member of Parliament to rush passport applications to enable a visit to Disneyland.  More recently, upon hearing the family needed to go for yet another round of treatments, Local 535 pulled some magic strings and set my in-laws up with a rather nice place to stay while they were in Toronto.  As stressful as their situation is, it's always easier when you are able to retreat to a luxury hotel penthouse at the end of the day.  By the time you get this letter, the local will have presented the family with the results of yet more fundraising and will have made my nephew, Sylvain, an honourary member (complete with personalized helmet).

The end of the story will not be a happy one, and it will come rather soon, we expect.  But I wanted my brothers in Timmins, and those throughout the IAFF, to know that by offering a means to make a difficult life a little easier, they affected the life of more than one young boy.  They offered levity and relief to the whole family.

For all of this, I am very thankful to, and very, very proud of the members of Local 535.  We often hear of firefighters helping others, but it seems the Timmins team has raised the bar for many of us and I would like to nominate them for whatever award is suitable for such efforts.

Fraternally and appreciatively,

Marc Thibault

Local 1343 Nelson, B.C

 

Letter of Thanks from the Noel Family to Timmins Fire Fighters:

Guess what! Sylvain has become an HONOURARY MEMBER OF LOCAL 535 TIMMINS FIREFIGHTERS.  It all happened yesterday, the 28th. What a surprise!

We knew the firefighters were coming for a visit and that they were planning something but boy were we surprised.

At one o'clock, 3 Firetrucks pull up beside our house. The doorbell rings, and in come 11 Firefighters,  Gilles Bisson and Charlie Angus. 

According to Ellard, Sylvain is the first recipient of such an Honour. Ellard Beaven (President of Local 535) presented Sylvain with a great big plaque, then Peter Osterberg (Treasurer) presented Sylvain with his firefighter helmet, then with his uniform and another plaque. It was all very moving but we, as a family, were the proudest.   

Sylvain was shy, and he feels a bit uncomfortable because of the way he looks, but when I asked him what he thought of his new title and the uniform, plaques, and the visit, he was very happy.  When he received his gifts he felt proud and his eyes expressed his happiness. 

What an event. Imagine having all of those important people in my house. We felt privileged. It was the beginning of a very beautiful, and special day as the joy went on until later that day. Some Halloween festivities were awaiting.

The award Sylvain received will be one of the most special moments ever.  The Firefighters have gone way beyond their call of duty. They've worked very hard to raise money for Sylvain this winter, they invited us to have Sylvain's birthday party at the firehall, they've been in contact and inquiring about Sylvain and his progress, they came for a visit at the house, they even came to meet us in Toronto at the Ronal McDonald House. They have adopted Sylvain and have been very caring and supportive to us all. They've added much happiness throughout this ordeal. 

They have become our HEROES. We think very highly of them and we will always be grateful.   

YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!

Thank you,

Love the Noels