Toronto Soon?

[DoubleHelix]

With all these places recruiting like Ajax, Markham, London and other places does that mean Toronto is losing alot of guys? I know of atleast 10 full time guys that were at the London testing.

Even if they still have that list with retirements and all these boat jumpers you'd think that list would be running low. All I know is if you don't get on their new list then you can kiss working there goodbye for a while.

[DoubleHelix]

Talked to a DC at my gym today and he said in like a year or 2 30% of the 3000 toronto firefighters will be up for retirement. So that means if you don't get hired in their next recruitment then you can kiss working for them unless you wanna wait like 5 or 6 years. Good news though forsure.

[Jurassic]

Toronto has 3000 firefighters?? Wow, 900 retiring...those are pretty huge numbers. Makes the 300 or so that have jobs on the list seem almost insignificant. Good news forsure...thanks for letting everyone know!

[DoubleHelix]

Remember thats eligible. Tons of guys are eligible right now and theyre still on the trucks because the money is too good and I guess they still love the job. But definetly still some good numbers. It's going to be good too because im friends with a couple acting DC's right now so by then theres a good chance they'll be DC's. Not much pull can be done in Toronto but it can't hurt.

[jeffhubb]

Lots of guys are waiting to try the 24, our raise in 2005 & 2006 and retirement age is now 65. So lots of them are waiting for some if not all those factors. Slow turnover rate as of the last few years. I heard in 2004 only 30 - 40 retirements (not 100% positive on the exact number), therefore, only 30 - 40 promotions and no huge recruitment drive.
It will happen (big turnover) just don't know when!

[DoubleHelix]

If you're not a DC or on a desk somwhere don't you think still riding the trucks at 65 is pushing it a bit much?

Mind you those guys would have boatloads of pointers and knowledge but physically isn't it a bit too old?

[hosemonkey]

I just noticed that Toronto has finally changed their recruitment information page. I'm sure alot of you are aware that for the longest time the little note under the title "probationary firefighter" read "test are currently postponed indefinately"...they've finally changed it. It now says that the applications are now available online but they are not accepting them at this time. I figure they must be gearing up for something. Don't they usually start the testing in late May or June?

www.city.toronto.on.ca/fire

[DoubleHelix]

Thats pretty interesting. Maybe Red Devil can chime in on this?

[Red_Devil]

sorry dont know anything about it

[BillyBlazes]

Sorry guys, I work for Toronto Fire and nobody is retiring. Everybody is staying for the money. There has been stories about a massive amount of guys leaving, but nothing yet!

[DoubleHelix]

With you guys being there whats your view on the whole retiring thing?

There must be some guys that should retire but holding on for the money. Some of those old guys must be struggling at some calls.

[bestcoast]

"old guys struggling at some calls" ....those guys are the ones that will save your rookie ass at a fire my friend.......BC....

[hosemonkey]

I'm just wondering if they're going to do a recruitment drive anytime soon. I'm not even on Toronto's eligibility list for starters....but I'd like to be on it down the road when the positions open up.

[DoubleHelix]

I don't mean it like that. It's a fact that as you age your physical performance gets worse unless you keep in awesome shape which im sure not everyone does.

I was just asking if they think theres alot of guys that shouldn't be on the job still.

[Red_Devil]

My young friend DH,....You still got a ton learning to do about the fire service my friend......These "old guys" as you put it are the veterns that will be there for you when you need them the most, You gotta respect these veterns because there still doing the job and not missing a beat. Just for your info, Firefighting is a TEAM effort, and if ANYONE be it a guy with 2 yrs experience or 20 yrs experience needs help from another member of the TEAM then you for sure there gonna be there for you. Just cause some guys getting close to retirement age...we should give them a thank you handshake and a kick in the ass??? to get out the door so we can replace this extremely valuable experience with some rookies who have zero experience???? give me a break bud, these 'old guys" as you are in ASSET in my books

[DoubleHelix]

You guys totally misunderstood me.

I wasn't implying that at all. And im pretty sure I saw how valuable experience is when I was at my placement and heard the stories and saw the hands on aspect of it too. But I also heard some guys from other stations complaining about people who should be retired and such.

All I wanted was an opinion and I never meant just because theyre old they should be kicked out. But isn't the age of retirement now 65?

[BCFFFV]

I'm pretty sure our dept. retirement age is 60. But I am often wrong.....:)

Some people should retire but I mean it's there right to decide if they retire at 58, 59 etc.

[Red_Devil]

whatever!

[hosemonkey]

Easy fellas. I don't think DH meant anything really harmful with what he said,,,but he did pretty much apologize. I totally agree with Devil though, the veterans deserve all of our respect. Their experience and knowledge is invaluable. We have lots to learn from them. We just have to watch how we express our opinons. We're all part of a brotherhood here, no matter how green or grey we are.

[mikeeps]

Very entertaining reading this thread guys! Some of these comments add so much to this site!
Pissing contests and alpha male syndrome. Can't wait to hear more.

Michael

P.S. I can't wait to hear the old line "if you don't like what you see go someplace else" line. Very predictable!

[dentedhead]

mikeeps, where ya been hiding. I have missed your sarcasm.I mean that in a good way!How'd you make out on the 29th?

BCFFFV apparently thanks to some lobbying by 3888 I believe they have raised the retirement age to 65 in T.O.I know our executive were involved in some seminars at the fall IAFF convention and this was discussed.

I understand there are alot of mixed feelings about it.This could affect alot of locals negotiations if the cities push for it as it will change your pension contributions etc.Me myself I dont want to be humpin a line up a downtown stairwell for a fire in an apt over a store when I am 55 let alone over 60.If its an option thats fine, mandatory would really suck

Dentedhead

[BCFFFV]

Wow.....65 does seem a little old. Okay seems really old.

[mikeeps]

Pulled off a 86% Hopefully hear back someday. In the final stages of hiring process here in Alberta. Should hear more by the end of the month.

Michael (fingers crossed)

[dentedhead]

Right on congrats,I passed as well 77% math really killed me, as usual.I dont know if you saw that I posted that I was talking to a buddy in Kitchener and he told me that it was a 50/50 pass fail rate so those are decent odds.

Good luck with out there. You are westerner anyways are you not?Or was it a military move?

Dentedhead

[mikeeps]

Lived all acrossed Canada! Personally like the west way better but the people out east are alot nicer. Anyways good luck with the recuitment.
i know you are happy where you are but the more options the better!
50\50 that is a good thing for those who passed!

Michael

[dentedhead]

After the last set of shifts who knows. Anyone else experiencing a bit of cabin fever?It seems this week was the who pissed on your corn flakes festival?From the chief right down to the floor, man it was a long week.

I'l probably go as far as they let me, interview all that stuff.Just to have a safety net,my wife could be facing a layoff as well.No harm done in staying active.

Dentedhead

[BillyBlazes]

Toronto's retirement age is 60 when on the trucks and 65 in management and support division positions.

Guys that are waiting for promotions are complaining about the veterans staying on the job. The vets are staying because of retention clauses (extra money), the future possibility of the 24 hour shift and the chance for them to get promoted.

The one disadvantage that I can see is that we might some guys (line of duty deaths) because of their age.

[dentedhead]

Billy,just so I have my facts straight.Is it only an option for PC and up the golden chain or is it going service wide?

The reason I ask, as I stated in an earlier post our guys came back from Niagara in the fall and said that there was a capt from T.O who was adament that they were pushing this for everyone.This guy said he wanted to work to 65 so why shouldnt he be able to. This was someone who by all accounts has a few years before 65 is even around the bend.Our vice spent a fair bit of time with him as they were attending mostly the same seminars especially the OMERS ones.

Any clarification would be appreciated.

Dentedhead

[scoop422]

You can no longer ride the trucks after 60 but you could work in stores or training or whatever until 65.

[mtlienz]

...if you don't get hired in their next recruitment then you can kiss working for them unless you wanna wait like 5 or 6 years. Good news though forsure.

Doesnt Toronto Fire and most urban departments recruit every three years to have an updated hiring list?

[DoubleHelix]

Well I know theyve recruited in consecutive years in the past so every 3 years doesn't sound right. What im saying is the department is getting older so in the next couple years is your best chance of getting hired if toronto is the place you want.