Iaff

[bestcoast]

When did your Department join the IAFF?? We became a part of the International on Feb 28, 1918. And i'm a proud member of it too!!.....BC.......

[Leafs Fan]

I only know the year. 1916. Our Union office has the original scroll or what ever you call it hanging in a real nice frame. It is signed by the original 16 members of our Association from 1916.
Interestingly when the Ontario Professional Firefighters Association was formed in the early 1980's we went with them. I wasn't around back than but I guess there was some pretty hard feelings and the OPPFA was declared a rival by the IAFF, and our Association along with many others in Ontario sent back these documents with some pretty harsh letters. YOu might expect the IAFF would destroy them, but , when the OPFFA and IAFF joined again in the Late 90's the IAFF sent back this historical document in perfect condition, as well gave us back our original local number 497. Very classy in my opinion.

[bestcoast]

LF, I could be wrong( I am most of the time) but I believe the IAFF wasn't even formed until 1918......BC....

[Leafs Fan]

16 ,18 maybe I am wrong but I am pretty sure it was 16. It was during the first world war.

[Leafs Fan]

Huh, You must be correct BC. It must be 18 for us than, I was sure it was 16 but there is no disputing your link. What is your local number? it must be lower than 497.

[bestcoast]

I took the link off LF, i was going to do a bit more digging. It has been interesting reading on the history of our union. We are local 18...........Cheers Brother...........BC...

[Leafs Fan]

I looked on the IAFF site earlier and couldn't find anything historic. I am surprised you found that link. I am also surprised that if our Associations joined in the same year that there is such a difference in local numbers. 18 - 497 . There couldn't have been that many fulltime depts around at that time.

[bestcoast]

I just googled some different word's and got a little info, not a lot though. I'm suprised there isn't more. As for the difference in local numbers I have no idea.........BC....

[scoop422]

When I was sworn in I got some IAFF literature and I believe it said that Vancouver was the first Canadian local. I was hired after six cities amalgamated and they decided to form a brand new local at that time in 1998.

[web-chief]

Thought you guys might be interested in this link it says the date was Feb. 28, 1918. I guess they should know :)
http://www.iaff.org/across/content/visitors/legacy.html

Also here is some other interesting info

1901 – The AFL charters the first Union of Fire Fighters in Washington D.C.

1903 – Pittsburgh fire fighters organize and affiliate themselves with the AFL, becoming Local #1 of the IAFF in 1918.

1917 – Firefighters in Vancouver B.C. become the first in Canada to form a firefighters union.

1917 – A motion is passed at the AFL convention in Buffalo, N.Y. authorizing the president of the AFL to form an international Union of Fire Fighters chartered under the AFL.

1918 – The average firefighter earns 29 cents an hour and works either a continuous duty system or 84 hours per week.

Source : http://www.iaff1171.org/iaff_history_and_mission.htm

[bestcoast]

Thanks for the info.....:D .....BC....

[colin911]

Brampton FD established in 1853 and joined the IAFF on Oct. 25, 1950 and we're local 1068.

Colin

[bestcoast]

What's attendance like at your union meeting's and how often are they held?? We meet once a month. Attendance is usually average I would say unless there is a topic floating around that get's everyone's interest and require's some kind of vote.........BC.....

[Leafs Fan]

Went to the regular monthly meeting this morning, and as usual no quorom (sp). Unless there is a money issue involved there is very little turnout for regular meetings that are held once a month. Special meetings that usually involve money are very well attended.

[colin911]

Same here ... I'm not a regular union attendee, but go at least 5-6 times a year. I've been to one meeting where there were only 4 other FF's and of course the executive. But I think the extent of the voting that month was to reimburse someone for paying for subs while babysitting a natural gas leak.
We do get the guys out for special meetings and like BC said, when there's something important on the table.

[wilderness]

Just for curiousity...don't shoot....if there is volunteer departments that belong to the IAFF...its only question union boys so don't shoot......lmao

[Leafs Fan]

Originally posted by wilderness
Just for curiousity...don't shoot....if there is volunteer departments that belong to the IAFF...its only question union boys so don't shoot......lmao

No, this trade union only represents career firefighters. Members of volunteer fire dept's are not eligible, but career members of composite dept's are.
In our area many of the volunteer (paid on call) dept's have unionized under the Christian Labour Association of Canada.

[Whitewater_419]

Hose: Charged.
Pressure: 200 PSI
Water Availability: 5,600 Litres
Target: Wilderness

};-)>

[iamvff]

Originally posted by Whitewater_419
Hose: Charged.
Pressure: 200 PSI
Water Availability: 5,600 Litres
Target: Wilderness

};-)>

geez...you should probably grab a couple of volunteers to stand behind you and help hold that hose...200lbs is a lot of pressure:D

Be safe
iamvff

[wilderness]

Just remember 419...i run the pump....some days....and you could become a target yourself... Also thanks Leaf Fan....... thats an awfull name.......

[Whitewater_419]

Originally posted by iamvff
geez...you should probably grab a couple of volunteers to stand behind you and help hold that hose...200lbs is a lot of pressure:D


Hey, if it's Wilderness we're talking about as the target, it think I could find a couple of guys to volunteer (looooong line up)

:) :) :)

(I'm just poking fun, of course! :) )

[Whitewater_419]

Originally posted by wilderness
Just remember 419...i run the pump....some days....and you could become a target yourself...

Sure - But I'm the one with the nozzle!

{Big evil fricken' grin}

(I think I'm gonna start checking my boots for the next couple of weeks.... )

:)

[wilderness]

yea think that would be a good idea

[bestcoast]

Anyone ever done a "Movie shoot". By that i mean stand by when they blow crap up. Vancouver as most know is "Hollywood North", so there are movie's being shot all over. Double time, and the food, oh man the food is great!!!.....BC....

[dentedhead]

Anyone ever done a "Movie shoot". By that i mean stand by when they blow crap up. Vancouver as most know is "Hollywood North", so there are movie's being shot all over. Double time, and the food, oh man the food is great!!!.....BC....

No, Toronto is hollywood north and they will tell you so.I used to work part time for a private ambulance service that did special events as well as movie and TV work.The craft service tables are worth the long hours for sure.If you knew what I looked like(my avatars close) you would have seen me in many fine Canadian shows,night heat,seeing things only topnotch entertainment!I also did alot of good movies too.

The best part was doing events at MLG lots of free concerts and hockey watched. Just for you BC, in one night I took Cliff Ronning and Gino Odjick to the hospital at different times.

Dentedhead
P.S My lower case "c" pal got back to me and said he did play a tune for the VFD brothers :-).

[bestcoast]

Don't get me going on the Gino stories.....BC...

[dentedhead]

Don't get me going on the Gino stories.....BC...

I think all canadians involved in Emergency services have at least one LOL.

Dentedhead

[bestcoast]

I think all canadians involved in Emergency services have at least one LOL.

Dentedhead
Had a few "issues" with Big Donald too before he got shipped out to Philly....BC......

[dentedhead]

Had a few "issues" with Big Donald too before he got shipped out to Philly....BC......

Who? Donald the diver.Couldnt see it, he seems like a fine young man.I would expect he volunteered an awful lot at the liberry and other establishments with those um things they have lots of words in them, some are hard on the outside some not so hard, his favourites have pictures.

Dentedhead

[bestcoast]

Who? Donald the diver.Couldnt see it, he seems like a fine young man.I would expect he volunteered an awful lot at the liberry and other establishments with those um things they have lots of words in them, some are hard on the outside some not so hard, his favourites have pictures.

Dentedhead
LOL....yup he was an upstanding citizen of Vancouver while he was here....NOT....i'll PM you a quick story DH......BC...

[bestcoast]

www.iaff.org/across/content/Spotlight/05Stories/041205mk.html

[Scuba]

Nice! .....

[bestcoast]

www.iaff.org/across/content/Spotlight/05Stories/060705nc.html

[BCFFFV]

What a bunch of crap that is.....I don't see that ever standing a chance of holding up in court if the city pushes the issue.

[smoke286]

I agree, but it is in a southren state, many of which are "right to work" states (i.e. anti union)

[bestcoast]

Cool IAFF History online link...........

http://www.iaff.org/history/main.htm

.............BC............

[bestcoast]

Some pretty cool pic's.

www.iaff.org/build/media/mediaawards06.pdf

............BC.................

[irsqyu]

Some pretty cool pic's.

www.iaff.org/build/media/mediaawards06.pdf (http://www.iaff.org/build/media/mediaawards06.pdf)

............BC.................


So....is that you on the Lions Gate Bridge , Bestcoast;)

[bestcoast]

So....is that you on the Lions Gate Bridge , Bestcoast;)
No, thats a brother from West Vancouver Fire. Half of that bridge is their problem the other half is our's. I'm not very photogenic anyways!!!!.......LOL.............BC.............. .......

[Raker]

When did your Department join the IAFF?? We became a part of the International on Feb 28, 1918. And i'm a proud member of it too!!.....BC.......

Proudly serving our community since 1938.