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Web Exclusives
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Meet our writers at the OAFC trade show |
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Written by Olivia D'Orazio
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Ever disagree with Flashpoint columnist Peter Sells’ point of view (we’re betting you have!), or wondered if blogger Jen Mabee is as funny in person as she is in print?
Join Fire Fighting in Canada writers Peter and Jen (along with other writers and columnists who will be around the trade-show floor), editor Laura King, rookie assistant editor Olivia D’Orazio, sales manager Catherine Connolly and publisher Martin McAnulty at our Firehall Bookstore booth (booth 624) at the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs trade show Sunday afternoon.
The show opens at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Toronto Congress Centre
(http://www.oafcevents.com/oneitem.asp?itemcode=OAFC-EVTS-EX ), as part of the 60th anniversary celebration of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs.
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The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs trade show opens Sunday at the Toronto Congress Centre — come and meet the FFIC fire team at the Firehall Bookstore, booth 624. Photo by Laura King
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Come and talk to our writers, editors, sales manager and publisher, and check out our Firehall Bookstore booth and place your orders.
We’ll have copies of the May issue of Fire Fighting in Canada on hand (hot off the press!). Read our story about the Via derailment in Burlington in February and the fabulous response by Halton Region’s emergency agencies – and enjoy our new columnists: Richard Boyes, Kevin Foster and Tom Bremner.
Stop by to chat – remember to bring your business cards! – and let us know what’s going on in your department.
We look forward to seeing you Sunday!
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Peter Sells
Columnist
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Jennifer Mabee
Blogger
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Laura King
Editor in Chief
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Catherine Connolly
Sales Manager
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Olivia D'Orazio
Assistant Editor
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Ladders Up exceeds expectations |
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Written by Olivia D'Orazio
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May 8, 2012, Toronto - The inaugural Ladders Up for the Foundation fundraiser exceeded expectations of organizers, participants and the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation, raising $26,550 and ensuring a repeat performance and a bigger and better event next year.
The idea for Ladders Up started in Indianapolis in 2011. Mark Prendergast, president of M&L Supply, successfully bid on a commemorative 9-11 helmet, which instantly became the talk of Canadians at the conference. That night, at an event called Stop, Drop, Rock & Roll, a fundraiser for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation in the United States, Mark thought about doing a similar event in Canada?
A committee was formed that included Barry Malmsten and Mercedes Foulon with the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC), FFIC sales manager Catherine Connolly, David Sheen with Toronto Fire Services and Ontario chairman for the CFFF, Kip Cosgrove with VFIS, and, of course, Mark. The group worked tirelessly for months to bring the event to fruition.
“The committee thought, f we can raise $10,000 – wow,” Mark said. “But to raise over $26,000; it’s just . . . I’m still smiling.”
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| Ladders Up for the Foundation organizers and volunteers took a few minutes during Saturday night's fundraiser for the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation to enjoy the fact that the online auction and the weekend event raised $26,500. The inaugural event, as part of the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs conference in Toronto, drew 250 fire chiefs, training officers, firefighters, suppliers and manufactures. Photo by Alan Hooper. |
The first part of the event featured an online auction in which fire departments bid on donated items such as thermal imagers, bunker gear, hose kits and training packages. The silent auction raised $23,000 – and bidders snagged some new equipment and training at great prices.
Mark said manufacturers and suppliers donated some $55,000 worth of products for the online auction, and many more have already expressed interest in the next event.
“Suppliers already want to be involved next year with bigger donations,” he said.
The gala event on Saturday was also a huge success. Raffle tickets sold out, boosting the total amount raised to $26,550. The 250 participants enjoyed live music courtesy of Better Under Fire, hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and great company.
A portion of the proceeds raised will go toward the final the payments for the CFFF memorial in Ottawa, which is expected to be completed in the next 45 days – in time for the annual memorial service in September. Remaining proceeds will go into a trust intended to pay for post-secondary education of the children of Canada’s fallen firefighters.
“The CFFF asked us if it’s a go next year,” Mark added. “And I said yes!”
Click here to donate to this worthy cause, and be sure to attend next year’s event!
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Dispatches |
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Written by Jennifer Mabee
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Jan. 17, 2012 – Swim test? Oh, OK, no problem. I can do a swim test. After all, I was
known to be a bit of a fish back in the day. (Meaning that I used to
swim like a fish, not drink like one . . . ) How hard can the swim test
be? Fifteen minutes of treading water and a 100-metre swim with a
personal flotation device (PFD). Got it. This is a requirement of the
OFC Ice Water Rescue course, which I’m doing this weekend through a
joint training initiative.
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Dispatches |
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Written by Jennifer Mabee
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Jan. 16, 2012 - Tomorrow is my first conference call with the board of
directors of the Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Association (CVFSA).
Since becoming the assistant director for Ontario in December, this
whole endeavour is still very new to me, and I’m not quite sure what I’m
in for. Heck, I’ve never even been on a conference call before. I know,
I’ve lived a sheltered life.
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Dispatches |
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Written by Jennifer Mabee
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Jan. 9, 2011 – Can you imagine doing the same thing for 20 years? Seems
like a long time to me. It’s half of my life, actually. (Yes, I said it,
I’M 40! Stop snickering!). I’m cool and I know it – doesn’t matter how
old my birth certificate says I am. (I know, about as cool as those two
guys are sexy who sing Sexy and I Know It.)
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