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Help Grace!!!
 LOCAL 4449: Maple Ridge Needs Our Help!!!
iaff4449.org/news/2010/5/22/grace.html There is not enough time to explain the pain and suffering that the teBoekhorst family has gone through with Grace’s heart-rending situation. Our hopes are that you will understand enough of the frustration the family is going through and assist by sending your comments to the Ministry of Health Services via MLA Kevin Falcon.
Grace teBoekhorst is a courageous five-year old girl fighting a rare kidney disorder that has left her requiring a transplant. Hearing the story of the pain and suffering that Grace has gone through and continues as she battles this is one of the most devastating stories; that is until you hear how the medical system is going to fail her causing her to live her life in more pain and agony than any person should have to, especially an innocent five-year little old girl.
Currently, Grace is required to have a Hemo-Dialysis tube surgically inserted directly to her heart to allow her body to function; this tube is required until her transplant takes place. This process requires Grace to be taken to BC Children’s Hospital four to five times per week to get the required treatment and will continue this until she receives her new kidney.
The medical system has assisted Grace with getting to where she is today but unfortunately, the same system has created a major road-block that is putting Grace in unnecessary pain and could possibly cost her life: Grace’s ideal living donor, her dad, is unable to get the required workup appointment and surgery date within the specs that Grace’s doctors have asked for.
Unfortunately, the financial cuts in the medical system only allow two days of workup appointments per week. The consequences of such a prolonged wait is already being felt today by the teBoekhorst family, the Hemo-Dialysis tube can fail requiring Grace to undergo yet another unsafe surgery; worse yet, failing to get the proper dialysis will cost Grace her life. On top of this, the transplant must be performed at least three months before the cold and flu season begins so Grace has enough time to heal. Failing to complete the surgery in this time frame will not allow Grace's weak immune system to fight off even the most common cold which will most likely put her back into the hospital on life support.
This five-year old little girl has been fighting this battle for several years. So many potential childhood memories replaced by tests, surgeries, needles, trips to Children’s Hospital are just the beginning of some of the struggles she has had to overcome. Her family and friends have been praying that this ten hour surgery will be the last hurdle she will have to conquer before she can begin living her life as any child should, but now have to adjust their prayers that she can get the transplant in time.
This glitch that is not allowing Grace’s father to get his surgery prioritized needs to be fixed. The system has helped Grace thus far and with the end in sight, we need to come together and request to Kevin Falcon, the man with the power to fix this problem, to find a solution that will get Grace’s father into surgery as soon as possible.
Story in Maple Ridge News PLEASE go to this link and sign the petition for Grace and her family: iaff4449.org/news/2010/5/22/grace.html
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2010 Scholarship Winners!
 2010 L1286 Scholarship Winners
Local 1286 administers three scholarships to help students with their post secondary education. The three scholarships and the winners are: Family Scholarship: Brittany Williams (BCIT:Nursing) **Awarded to L1286 family members who are deemed to be well rounded, with an emphasis on volunteering and community involvement. Community Scholarshp: Jaime May (Hugh McRoberts Secondary) **Awarded to a Richmond resident who gives back to their community through volunteering. Jock Murdoch Memorial Scholarship: Crystal Chan (Burnett Secondary)
**Awarded to a Richmond resident who is pursuing a Fine Arts Diploma or Degree. Congratulations to all three successful applicants and thank you to Darren Rowley, Darren Pighin and Al Billings in helping with the selection process.
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New Smoke Detector Laws: May 1st
New B.C Smoke Alarm Law in effect May 1st 
Changes to the BC Fire Code require that every private home and hotel or motel room built before 1979 must have smoke alarms installed by May 1, 2010. Owners of these older buildings can install battery-operated smoke alarms, rather than connecting smoke alarms to the buildings’ electrical system. Battery-operated smoke alarms are an affordable way to improve safety.
Previously buildings built after 1979 were required to have smoke alarms, and most municipalities have established bylaws that require smoke alarms be installed and maintained. The new law will increase public safety and awareness, helping to reduce the health risks and property damage caused by fire in older buildings. The Province developed the new smoke alarm regulations with advice from the Office of the Fire Commissioner and the public. Changes will make the BC Fire Code more consistent with the National Fire Code. For more information about this new Law you can visit the BC Government Website's **Click on picture to download Safe At Home pamphlet.
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Past Member of Local 1286 Dan Holland
IN MEMORIUM Thank you to everyone who attended today in honour of Dan and to pay respects to Tanya, Ethan, Julia, Isabella and the rest of Dan's family. 
 
Past member of the Richmond Fire Fighters, Dan Holland, has succumbed to his fight with Brain Cancer The Richmond Fire Fighters, IAFF Local 1286 would like to forward their thoughts and prayers to the Holland family. .gif)
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Mediquest Technology & Noah Yelizarov Foundation Donation
From http://bcfirefighterswithoutborders.com/ December 17th 2009. Firefighters Without Borders Canada in association with Mediquest Technologies and the Noah Yelizarov Foundation held a formal handover ceremony at Richmond Fire/Rescue Fire Hall #1 of 6 Automated External Defribrillators (AED) and accompanying equipment. This donation of equipment is valued at approximately $12,000.00 and will be delivered to the Thai Fire Service in March of 2010, with 5 members of Firefighters Without Borders Canada travelling to deliver the training to place these units in service. Thanks to Richmond Fire/Rescue and Richmond Fire Fighters Local 1286 for hosting this event.
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BCPFFA Legislative
Updated
On: Apr 07, 2010 (21:24:00)
Above is a portion of your Union Executive, Jim Dickson, Ed Selinger and Rich McMillan with the Richmond Provincial Politicians, MLA Rob Howard, MLA Linda Reid and the Honourable John Yap - Minister of Climate Action. Ed, Rich and Jim travelled to Victoria for the BCPFFA Legislative conference. The issues we were lobbying for this year are - Esophageal cancer, (to add on to the current Cancer presumptions we have), Right to Know legislation, and EMR Licencing issues. We had a great meeting with all three of the MLAs and felt that we would be able to get their support on our issues. In the past, all three of the Richmond MLAs have been great champions for our causes, and we do appreciate that. We are attending their Liberal fundraiser coming up and will also be meeting up with all three of them individually to make sure that there are no other concerns and to make sure that they are all kept abreast of our issues. If anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Ed, Rich or Jim.
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US Political Lobby - Washington
Updated
On: Apr 18, 2010 (22:44:00)
This is the BC Contingent that attended the Washington Lobby in front of the Capitol Building. Larry Thomas (Secretary-Treasurer, BCPFFA), Chris Keon (Treasurer, Surrey Firefighters), Mike Hurley (President, BCPFFA), Gord Ditchburn (President, Vancouver Firefighters), Cory Parker (President, Richmond Firefighters), Ed Selinger (Secretary, Richmond Firefighters) 
Your President and Secretary in front of the Capitol Building. 
President Cory Parker, General President of the IAFF Harold Schaitberger, Secretary Ed Selinger and Assistant to thre General Secretary Treasurer of the IAFF Jim Lee at IAFF General Secretary Bollon's retirement. Cory and Ed were fortunate enough to attend the US Alfred K. Whitehead Legislative conference in Washington, DC. The issues that were brought up were: Collective Bargaining, Fire/Safer Reauthorization, Federal Fire Fighter Retirement, Job Recovery, Urban Search and Rescue, and 911 Responder Health and Compensation. You can see by the items that needed to be lobbied for in the US that we are quite fortunate to have some of the labour laws that we have that govern such things as Retirement and Job Recovery. we learned quite quickly that the lobbying in the states is also quite effective and that utilizing Political Action and Firepac funding is the key. While we were down in Washington, another Hot Bed issue was the debate going around on centralized health care. As Canadians, we were asked quite constantly on our thoughts and pros and cons of the system. Wem quite enjoyed the sometimes "heated" discussions that ensued, but it was a learning curve for everyone involved. We were also requested by the 6th District VP, Lorne West to attended the retirement of General Sectretary Treasurer Vincent Bollon. Vinnie was elected as the IAFFs Secretary Treasurer in 1988. In his tenure he was able to turn around a union that was almost broke, to a thriving business consisting of positive balances, Insurance Companies and a Financial Corporation. Vinnie was the most decorated firefighter in the FDNY, and was stationed out of the Bronx, Truck 31. We were glad to be a part of the tribute and were thanked by a number of IAFF Vps for being in attendance. If you would like any further information, contact Cory or Ed.
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