The Oshawa Professional Firefighters Association (OPFFA) represents the men and women that make up the Oshawa Fire Service. The Association has a long a proud history in the community of Oshawa. In 1936 the Oshawa Professional Firefighters became affiliated with the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

The IAFF was formed in 1918 when 24 locals with 36 delegates representing firefighters from across North American gathered in Washington, DC. The first order of business for this group of firefighters was to adopt a constitution and bylaws then that was followed by decisions that included publishing a firefighting magazine, a salary structure for officers and creating a firefighters fund to benefit orphaned children of firefighters.

The founding group of firefighters worked hard to unite in order to improve working conditions for the fire service which suffered form long working hours (84 hour work weeks), low wages, and minimal safety standards. This affected not only their own lives, but the service they were able to give to their communities.

Over the years the IAFF has been instrumental in areas of occupational health and safety, working towards fire-based emergency medical services, hazardous materials training, RIT training and many more.

The OPFFA, also known as IAFF Local 465 works to ensure that the firefighters that protect the City of Oshawa are treated fairly and with respect. The OPFFA represents members in all divisions of the fire department; Suppression, Training, Mechanical, Prevention and Communications.

The OPFFA is also a member of the Ontario Professional Firefighters Association.

The OPFFA is active in our community, the City of Oshawa, through the benevolent committee, that’s works to raise money each year through donations that can in turn be donated to support local charities and organizations. The largest event is the annual boot toll that takes place at the end of the summer at the Oshawa Center.

The Association is run through a democratic process by the Executive Board that is made up a President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Executive Assistant.

For more information on the Association and how the Association works in our community please email [email protected]