The Barrie Professional Fire Fighters Association – Community Projects Committee is responsible for fundraising and distributing monies to organizations, community groups and individuals who are in need of assistance within our community. Our commitment and dedication to where we live, work and play is what motivates the Barrie Professional Fire Fighters.

You can view more pictures at our Facebook group.
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Out of the Cold Dinner

BPFFA recently supported a successful Out of Cold Dinner at the Salvation Army. BPFFA Members, Chiefs, City Councillors and family members contributed their time to make this years dinner another success. This was the 6th year that BPFFA hosted the event and this year over 120 people were served. A special thanks goes to Dom F and Charlie G for all there efforts in organizing the event.

 

Dear Barrie Fire Community Projects,

Thank you! Thank you for supporting my journey. Thank you for supporting The Princess Margaret, one of the top 5 cancer research hospitals in the world. Thank you for recognizing that the fight against cancer continues. And thank you for your donation - your gift will help save lives. You can read more about The Ride to Conquer Cancer and the efforts your donation goes to support at www.conquercancer.ca.

I'll be keeping all of my donors in mind, and in my heart, as I ride over 200 kilometres for The Ride to Conquer Cancer in June 2008. Without your generosity, none of this would be possible.

Sincerely,
Kyle Stasiuk

WILD WING Donates $1000 to BPFFA Community Projects

Despite some early rain, the Wild Wing Tournament was a success. They had a great response from all the participants and decided the tournament will be an annual event. Wild Wing was happy to announce they raised $4000.00 dollars for charities. On Sunday Oct 21 BPFFA Community Projects received a $1000 donation.

 

OCTOBER 10, 2007 - Barrie Fire Fighters put on another successful Hot Night in the City fashion show. Please be patient the video may take up to a minute to load.

 

 

 

Sirens for Life Challenge
July 2 - September 3

Barrie Fire Fighters

Thank you so very much for coming out on Thursday last week for the Sirens for Life Kick-off 2007! It was great to have such a huge response to the Challenge and we are very grateful that you were able to take the time and throw your support behind the event.

I will be in touch later in the summer to keep you posted as to results etc (just to keep the momentum going!) but in the meantime, thank you for encouraging your co-workers to participate and come in to donate... We thank you as do the patients whose lives you are ultimately helping.

Regards,

Julie Rose
Clinic Recruitment Coordinator
Canadian Blood Services, Barrie

March 28 - Big Brothers

Thank you once again for bringing out some of your fellow firefighters to bowl with some of our Littles. We really appreciate you coming out every year and making the day extra special for those kids on our waiting list.

Thank you also for your generous donation. It will bring us that much closer to reaching our goal and helping to match mentors with these Littles.

Thank you for sharing a little magic, a little moment, a little memory...
Yolanda Lucoe
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Barrie & District

 

SPECIAL OLYMPICS CHEQUE PRESENTATION

 

COPS FOR CANCER

On feb 24, 2007, community projects sponsored a team to play in the Cops for Cancer Winter Golf Tournament on Kempenfelt Bay. We did not win anything but I am sure we had the most fun. Here are some photos.

 

 

OUT OF THE COLD DINNER -Dom and BPFFA Community Projects once again supported another successful dinner.

 

January 23, 2007
Dear Barrie Fire Fighters,

If a community is only as stron as it's members, then it is people and organizations like yourselves that build better places to live. It always amazes me how much a community comes together over the holidays to help out those less fortunate. The Christmas Sponsorship Program that you participated in through the County of Simcoe Ontario Works Department is only one example.

I would like to thank you and everyone from the firehall that helped sponsor this mother and her children on social assistance this Christmas. These words do not give justice to what your generosity has done. I can tell you that Mom couldn't believe how many gifts were carried into her home, and that I received a comment about how caring and generous her sponsor must be. I left her in the garage smiling at the piles of gifts that you donated.

On behalf of the County of Simcoe Ontario Works Department and my self, know the kindness and thoughtfulness that you have demonstrated are appreciated and valued.

Sincerely,
Laura Cole
County of Simcoe Ontario Works Department

 

Chase McEachern Foundation

BPFFA cheque presentation to the Chase McEachern Foundation on December 1 at the Dunlop Arena for $1700.00.

 

 

 

Wal Mart on Bayfield Street

Mike Fontaine, Manager of Walmart on Bayfield Street is seen here donating $1000 to Charlie G., of the Barrie Professional Fire Fighters Association . Walmart is a continual supporter of the Barrie Professional Fire Fighters Association Community Projects through financial means and with their support of the Annual Barrie Firefighter Tollgates Fundraiser.

 

 

 

Steel Street Public School

Barrie Fire Fighter Paul S. read in the paper that Steel Street Public School was broken into and some of the students Terry Fox money was stolen. Barrie Firefighters Community Projects decided to help out by donating the $200 back to the students to replace what was stolen. In the photo are Firefighters from Station 2 and Station 1.

 

Other Donations

November 2006 - Donation of $200.00 to Lick's Burger Day for Rainbows for Children.

Toll Gates

Since 1972, the Barrie Professional Fire Fighters have organized one of the most successful Community Projects/Muscular Dystrophy Toll Gates in Canada. Barrie firefighters have raised a total of $786,820.00 for Muscular Dystrophy since its inception. Another record-breaking year was achieved in 2006 with over $93,000 being collected. Since 1985, half of the monies collected through the toll gates have remained within our community. Coordinators for this event are Jamie and Paul.

The success of the tollgates makes the following events possible:

• 4th Annual Out of the Cold Dinner is a midwinter event that helps in feeding the homeless. Coordinator is Domenic.

• 4th Annual Calendar fundraiser has raised in excess of $40,000.00 dollars. Monies are split between Camp Bucko, a burn camp for kids, and community events. Coordinators are Jay Mole and Brian Kearsley.

• 4th Annual Mothers Day Brunch is in support of Mothers Against Drunk Driving helps to raise awareness regarding the dangers of impaired driving and is always well attended. Coordinator is Mick C.

• 3rd Annual Bill Wilkins Memorial Golf Tournament has raised over $25,000 with the proceeds directed towards a Georgian College Scholarship Fund. This event has become one of the largest and best attended tournaments in the area. Coordinator is Paul S.

Additional fundraising events have included:

• Advertisements within the Fire Safety Booklet have contributed to over $50,000 being raised in 5 years

• In 2001, over $20,000 was raised for the RVH CANCER CENTRE in partnership with the Royal Bank of Canada.

• In 1997, the City of Barrie was the recipient of over $72,000 from a year long campaign for the purchase of thermal imaging cameras.

We are proud to support the following organizations:

Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada Women and Children’s Shelter
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe County David Busby Centre
Eat to Excel School Breakfast Club Ontario SPCA- Barrie Branch
Barrie Community Health Centre Georgian College Scholarship Fund
Victoria Village Salvation Army
Out of the Cold Program M.A.D.D.
St.Baldrick’s Cancer Fundraiser Lung Association of Simcoe County
Army Navy Air Force Club Royal Canadian Legion
Corporation of the City of Barrie Ducks Unlimited
Easter Seals Barrie and District Food Bank
Christmas Cheer RVH Cancer Care
Rock 95 Toy Drive RVH Client Services
B101 Toy Drive Rainbows
Kids and Kops Barrie Kempettes Gymnastics Club
Simcoe County Brain Injury Association Big Brothers and Big Sisters
Rotary Club of Barrie Lung Association
Civitan Club Huronia Rotary Club of Barrie
Camp Bucko Seasons Centre
CIBC Run for the Cure Multiple Sclerosis
School and Organized Sports Teams Under 17 Soccer–Barrie Soccer Club
Canadian Paraplegic Association Private Citizens in need
B.D.A.P.S.N. Pet Therapy
Barrie Kiwanis Music Festival Canadian Blood Services

The Barrie Professional Fire Fighters wish to thank you for your continued participation in our many fundraising and community events. Your involvement, support and commitment are instrumental in the success of each event. Thanks for taking the time to step back and celebrate this success.

Together, we make a difference in the community we so proudly live and serve.

Yours in Community Spirit,

BPFFA

 

Barrie Fighters, Local 1753
Above and Beyond the Call!

Aside from the icon of Jerry Lewis, there is but one organization which symbolizes the work and effort involved with the fund raising towards Muscular Dystrophy and that organization is your local fire department. The men and women of the Barrie Fire and Emergency Service are no exception to this. Since 1970 we have proudly exerted our persona in fund raising towards the betterment of our community and towards a cure for Muscular Dystrophy. There is more to a successful campaign than simply erecting some signs and holding out your hand, just ask any politician! Our campaign is no different. It takes strategic planning, improving on past campaigns, forging partnerships and hours and hours of volunteer time from our members. On only one occasion, the devastating tornado to hit Barrie in 1985, did we suspend fund raising.

After the MD toll gates drive of 1995, we as an Association wanted to improve fundraising for MD as well as address the growing need to develop a Community Projects’ branch within our Association and the funds required to operate it. These funds specific for Community Projects would be raised and spent within our own community. After a heated debate during an Association meeting it was determined to marry the MD toll gates with the Community Projects Fund. This would entail a 50/50 split of the funds raised to go to each organization. At first glance one may assume that sharing the cause would have meant diminished resources for each initiative. Nothing could be further from the truth! Our totals have increased exponentially from $30926.00 in 1996 to an astounding $102, 315.00 in 2007! A quick summary of monies has Local 1753 fundraising well over $600,000.00 for MD and since 1996 over $300,000.00 for Community Projects. Not too shabby considering this was accomplished from a local of 124 members and a municipality with a population of 125,000. Local 1753 can proudly say we are one of the top fundraisers for Muscular Dystrophy in Ontario!
What factors are leading the charge to our success? Well, one element is our ability as an Association to maintain a high volunteer turnout. Beginning a career as a firefighter in Barrie under the umbrella of the Barrie Professional Fire Fighters Association carries an enormous responsibility not only to the municipality and its citizens we serve but also to the Association itself. A new recruit is given a preliminary education of Association business but also their role and expectations of them as members in good standing. They are strongly encouraged to participate in the toll gates and other avenues of fundraising. Most importantly it is the positive image that we as fire fighters possess within our municipality, the value of this image and the stake that this image holds in a successful future. It is explained that this outlook towards fire fighters has not been gifted but rather earned through hard work and community involvement. Participation at some level is a must! We are also very fortunate to have volunteering along side our members, family and friends, retirees, students from the local pre-fire service program at Georgian College(which requires their students to participate in community service hours) and politicians from all three levels of government.
The participation of this last group has produced a spin off effect and generated for us in roads into the field of political action as it allows us to educate the politicians on what we do beyond the scope of responding to emergencies and shows them how well received we are as a group in the community at large! These forged political relationships also remind those participating that fire fighters are a political force than can work for you as a politician but also against you on issues of disagreement. Our focus on political action easily meshes with our golf tournaments which we sponsor for various charities. This avenue allows us to forge relationships with local sponsors, politicians as well as municipal administrators. Truly a grand slam!
Since our decision to start up the Community Projects Fund, we have been fortunate to not only create partnerships with all levels of government but also with prominent members of our local business community. Without these partners, who give regularly to our fund, we would not have the success we so cherish today. A strong pat on the back goes out to our local Royal Bank who in the past has donated their time and effort into the counting of not only the bills but the numerous blue boxes of coins collected at the toll gates. Also, in 2001, we raised in partnership with the Royal Bank over $20,000.00 for the Royal Victoria Hospital Cancer Center! Participating in that amazing community spirit is Georgian Air which operates out of the local airport just north of Barrie. Shortly after 9-11, the owner of Georgian Air flew two plane loads of local fire fighters down to New York at no cost. Coupled with this generosity was Avis who provided us with the vans for transport! It does not stop here though. Other avenues of fund raising or benefits there of are our annual calendar which raises thousands of dollars for Camp Bucko, a burn camp for kids where we not only donate funds but also volunteer time as counselors for the kids. Along side this we participate in local fashion shows (a fun night for those participating and viewing), the Lung Association Truck Pull against our local police force, bowling tournaments and the staple of summer time, the ever popular golf tournaments. Our flagship golf tournament is in honour of our fallen Brother, Bill Wilkins who died in the line of duty in 2002. Firefighters from all over North America participate to raise funds for a scholarship at Georgian College in Barrie for their Pre-Service Fire Program. This tournament alone has raised over $25000.00 to date!
The Barrie Professional Fire Fighters Association Community Projects Committee’s responsibility for fund raising is enormous but extremely rewarding. They and others in our Association who coordinate events, not only fund raise but distribute monies to organizations, community groups and individuals within our community who are in need of assistance. The “Toll Gate” has by far been our most successful avenue to raise funds. Our signs are custom made reflecting our pledge to support the MD cause, our desire to raise money for our community and our commitment to our fallen Brother Bill Wilkins. Pride permeates from everyone that has donated their time to stand by one of these signs and ask the public for a contribution. It is this pride that infects the citizens of Barrie and these same people can rest assured that the fire fighters in their community will continually work towards a better community not only on a local level but a national level as well.