ONTARIO FALLEN FIRE FIGHTER MEMORIAL
TORONTO – On Sunday, October 1, 2023, Ontario’s fallen firefighters will be honoured for their bravery, heroism, and sacrifice at a special ceremony held at the Ontario Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial located on the southeast corner of Queens Park.
The ringing of the bell is a tradition which reflects our respect and honour to those who have died in the line of duty, paying the supreme sacrifice for the good of their fellow citizens. When the fire was out and the alarm had come to an end, it was the bell that signaled to all the completion of that call. When a firefighter dies in the line of duty, it is the toll of the bell that solemnly announces a comrades passing. This year we will ring the bell 49 times in honour of the 49 fallen firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities. Their names will be added to the Memorial Wall.
The Memorial is staged on a red Maltese Cross, which is an international symbol for firefighting. A bronze sculpture depicts a modern-day firefighter rescuing a child from peril with a towering black granite monolith representing a building behind. Engraved on the polished granite walls surrounding it, are the name, rank, and date of death of 962 firefighters whose deaths are considered in the line of duty.
The memorial ceremony will begin at 13:00 hours.
The ringing of the bell is a tradition which reflects our respect and honour to those who have died in the line of duty, paying the supreme sacrifice for the good of their fellow citizens. When the fire was out and the alarm had come to an end, it was the bell that signaled to all the completion of that call. When a firefighter dies in the line of duty, it is the toll of the bell that solemnly announces a comrades passing. This year we will ring the bell 49 times in honour of the 49 fallen firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities. Their names will be added to the Memorial Wall.
The Memorial is staged on a red Maltese Cross, which is an international symbol for firefighting. A bronze sculpture depicts a modern-day firefighter rescuing a child from peril with a towering black granite monolith representing a building behind. Engraved on the polished granite walls surrounding it, are the name, rank, and date of death of 962 firefighters whose deaths are considered in the line of duty.
The memorial ceremony will begin at 13:00 hours.
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CONTACT:
Marcia Kim Executive Director Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association mkim@ontariofirefighters.org | O: 905-681-7111 x101 |
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ONTARIO GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN FIREFIGHTER HEALTH & SAFETY
Funding for Behavioural Health and Mayday Training.
| 2023-05-15 MEDIA RELEASE |
ONTARIO GOVERNMENT PRIORITIZES FIREFIGHTER HEALTH & SAFETY
Two new cancers added to presumptive legislation.
| 2023-03-03-PL Release |
RESPECTING CANADA’S CHARTER OF RIGHTS & FREEDOMS
| CHARTER RIGHTS |
ONTARIO FALLEN FIRE FIGHTER MEMORIAL
TORONTO – On Sunday, October 2, 2022, Ontario’s fallen firefighters will be honoured for their bravery, heroism, and sacrifice at a special ceremony held at the Ontario Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial located on the southeast corner of Queens Park.
This is the first time since the pandemic started that an in-person memorial has taken place. The families of the fallen impacted by the cancellations in 2020 and 2021 have also been invited to join in person for the ceremony.
This year the names of 36 fallen firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities will be added to the Memorial Wall, in addition to the 98 names of those lost in 2020 and 2021.
The Memorial is staged on a red Maltese Cross, which is an international symbol for firefighting. A bronze sculpture depicts a modern-day firefighter rescuing a child from peril with a towering black granite monolith representing a building behind. Engraved on the polished granite walls surrounding it, are the name, rank, and date of death of 913 firefighters whose deaths are considered in the line of duty.
The memorial ceremony will begin at 13:00 hours.
CONTACT:
Marcia Kim
Executive Director
Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association
mkim@ontariofirefighters.org | O: 905-681-7111 x101
This is the first time since the pandemic started that an in-person memorial has taken place. The families of the fallen impacted by the cancellations in 2020 and 2021 have also been invited to join in person for the ceremony.
This year the names of 36 fallen firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities will be added to the Memorial Wall, in addition to the 98 names of those lost in 2020 and 2021.
The Memorial is staged on a red Maltese Cross, which is an international symbol for firefighting. A bronze sculpture depicts a modern-day firefighter rescuing a child from peril with a towering black granite monolith representing a building behind. Engraved on the polished granite walls surrounding it, are the name, rank, and date of death of 913 firefighters whose deaths are considered in the line of duty.
The memorial ceremony will begin at 13:00 hours.
CONTACT:
Marcia Kim
Executive Director
Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association
mkim@ontariofirefighters.org | O: 905-681-7111 x101
| MEDIA ADVISORY |
A Letter to Honourable Lecce
Emergency Childcare for Emergency Service Workers
| 2021-12-31_-_oafc_and_opffa_-_updated_public_health_measures.pdf |
A Joint Letter to Honourable Jones
Ontario Public Health Measures re: COVID
| 2021-12-31_-_oafc_and_opffa_-_updated_public_health_measures.pdf |
BCU Foundation & BCU Financial Fire Fighters Partner
with the OPFFA to Support Camp Faces
Together with the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation, who will serve as program administrator, BCU Financial Fire Fighters and the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association are pleased to announce a partnership that will make a difference to Ontario’s Fire Fighters and their families.
By its very nature, Emergency Services is a high risk occupation which can result in a tragic loss, not only to Line of duty death but also by the suicide of a member. The loss of a loved one to a family is tremendous and incredibly challenging to deal with but to a child it can be even greater. Many children experience feelings of confusion, anger, fear, isolation and depression.
Camp F.A.C.E.S. provides families who have suffered this tragic loss the opportunity to be with others who have experienced similar loss. Along with trained personnel and mental health oversight, these families will have the opportunity to experience some normalcy all while developing lifelong friendships.
Camp Faces, through the oversight of the Canadian Critical Incident Stress Foundation, also offers retreats for families who require ongoing counseling who are living with a serving or retired member who has been diagnosed with a PTSI. These weekend retreats on Pidgeon Lake in the Kawarthas offer an opportunity for families to come together with a common thread. Through the power of peer support, trained personnel and mental health oversight, these families will have the opportunity to share, connect, grow and learn, all while building lifelong friendships.
The BCU Foundation has established an initial donation of $10,000 in support of this new partnership. The Foundation will also accept individual donations from Ontario’s Fire Fighters and the general public in order to build up an even greater level of support, while issuing tax receipts for these individual donations. The contributions will flow to the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation who will ensure that all monies raised through this initiative will be directed exclusively to Ontario Fire Fighters and their families. As a result of this partnership, the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters will join the CFFF’s new partner council to provide input, along with other industry partners, on the direction of the Foundation.
Additionally, individual contributions are welcome to further build up the financial resources for this program. Donations can be made through the BCU Foundation. Please go to: https://bcufoundation.com/donate-today and select “Fire Fighter 911 Fund” from the drop down menu. Donations of $25.00 or more will be issued a tax receipt.
By its very nature, Emergency Services is a high risk occupation which can result in a tragic loss, not only to Line of duty death but also by the suicide of a member. The loss of a loved one to a family is tremendous and incredibly challenging to deal with but to a child it can be even greater. Many children experience feelings of confusion, anger, fear, isolation and depression.
Camp F.A.C.E.S. provides families who have suffered this tragic loss the opportunity to be with others who have experienced similar loss. Along with trained personnel and mental health oversight, these families will have the opportunity to experience some normalcy all while developing lifelong friendships.
Camp Faces, through the oversight of the Canadian Critical Incident Stress Foundation, also offers retreats for families who require ongoing counseling who are living with a serving or retired member who has been diagnosed with a PTSI. These weekend retreats on Pidgeon Lake in the Kawarthas offer an opportunity for families to come together with a common thread. Through the power of peer support, trained personnel and mental health oversight, these families will have the opportunity to share, connect, grow and learn, all while building lifelong friendships.
The BCU Foundation has established an initial donation of $10,000 in support of this new partnership. The Foundation will also accept individual donations from Ontario’s Fire Fighters and the general public in order to build up an even greater level of support, while issuing tax receipts for these individual donations. The contributions will flow to the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation who will ensure that all monies raised through this initiative will be directed exclusively to Ontario Fire Fighters and their families. As a result of this partnership, the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters will join the CFFF’s new partner council to provide input, along with other industry partners, on the direction of the Foundation.
Additionally, individual contributions are welcome to further build up the financial resources for this program. Donations can be made through the BCU Foundation. Please go to: https://bcufoundation.com/donate-today and select “Fire Fighter 911 Fund” from the drop down menu. Donations of $25.00 or more will be issued a tax receipt.
| nr_camp_faces.pdf |
A Letter to Honourable Premier Ford
| 2021-09-28-truth___reconciliation_to_premier_ford.pdf |
| 2021-09-13-statement_regarding_planned_protest_at_ontario_fire_fighters_memorial.pdf |
| 2021-07-19-media_release-opffa-wsib_mental_health.pdf |
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OPFFA President Carmen Santoro Addresses False Rumours Regarding Ontario Fire Fighters Jumping the Queue for COVID-19 Vaccines
LISTEN NOW: |