June 9, 2008

BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund elects new Executive and Board of Directors at Annual General Meeting

BURNABY, BC — Michael Hurley, Burnaby Fire Fighters Local 323, was elected by acclamation, President of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund and Larry Thomas, Surrey Fire Fighters Local 1271, was also elected by acclamation, Secretary/Treasurer, at the Burn Fund’s Annual General Meeting held Tuesday, June 3, 2008. The Burn Fund is the charitable arm of the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association.

Tony Burke, Coquitlam Fire Fighters Local 1782, was re-elected to his seventh term as Executive Director.    David Dales, North Vancouver District Fire Fighters Local 1183, was elected to the position of Executive Director, Programs & Events. 

Burn Fund Directors re-elected for a two-year term are:

• Heather Wilson, Burnaby Fire Fighters Local 323
• Tim Baillie, Surrey Fire Fighters Local 1271
• Jason Milne, Trail Fire Fighters Local 941
• Ray Boucher, Coquitlam Fire Fighters Local 1782

Newly elected as Directors for a two-year term are:

• Clint Howard, Burnaby Fire Fighters Local 323
• Erin Gardner, New Westminster Fire Fighters Local 256
• Umesh Lal, Nanaimo Fire Fighters Local 905
• Terry Hughes, Port Moody Fire Fighters Local 2399
• Rita Paine, Langley Township Fire Fighters Local 4550

Serving as Directors in the middle of their two-year terms are:

• Kris Anderson, Burnaby Fire Fighters Local 323
• Wil Patterson, Port Moody Fire Fighters Local 2399
• Kristy Storey, Delta Fire Fighters Local 1763

Two new director positions were created on the board.  Elected to the new positions include:

• Earl Steele, Prince George Fire Fighters Local 1372, Representing Retired Fire Fighters
• Lois Budd, Patient Services Manager, BCPFF Burn, Plastic and Trauma Unit at Vancouver General Hospital, Representing Hospital Staff

Stepping down from the Board are:

• Ryan Cail, Kamloops Fire Fighters Local 913
• Greg Batters, Victoria Fire Fighters Local 730
• Mike Canaday, Vancouver Fire Fighters Local 18
• Martin Drakely, Nanaimo Fire Fighters Local 905

About the Burn Fund

The Burn Fund is a registered charity established in 1978 by the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association.  The Burn Fund provides life saving, life supporting, and life enriching services to the people in British Columbia through its Burn Awareness, Research and Prevention Programs.

More than 3,600 professional fire fighters from forty-nine communities around the province are building the Burn Fund’s vision of leading the way in many aspects of burn survivor care and fire prevention programs.

The Burn Fund Building, Adult Burn Survivor Program – The Future is Mine, BCPFF Burn, Plastic and Trauma Unit and the BCPFF Burn & Wound Healing Research Laboratory at Vancouver General Hospital are just some of the programs and ways that BC Professional Fire Fighters and their Burn Fund are leaving a lasting legacy for the citizens and burn survivors of our province.

The Burn Fund Executive and Board of Directors are represented by professional fire fighters from around the province and hospital staff who donate their time.  All positions are unpaid.

For more information on the Burn Fund, or to make a donation, visit www.burnfund.org.

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Media Contact: Margo Bates Publicity Inc. Telephone: 604-536-9501 E-Mail: pr@burnfund.org