Firefighters in Brantford have a longstanding history of their desire to support the community.
Now, they have received status as a registered charity to be known as the Brantford Fire Fighters Community Support Fund.
“We’ve been involved with the community for decades, close to 100 years,” said Josh Van Horne, president of the Brantford Professional Fire Fighters Association that currently has 143 firefighters in its ranks.
“We used to run a benevolent fund when we would run charitable events, or reach into our own pockets to contribute funds to the food bank, Brant Community Healthcare System Foundation, and the Stedman Community Hospice.”
Van Horne said the members recognized a growing need in the community and supported the application for registered charity status through the Canada Revenue Agency, which was granted in July but is retroactive to January 2025.
“It’s run by (off-duty firefighter) volunteers, not part of our normal daily function of emergency response,” he noted. “It’s an extra thing we do, part of the nature of who we are.”
Their longest running fundraising event has been an annual boot drive that, since the 1970s, has raised more than $100,000 in support of Muscular Dystrophy Canada, with the money raised staying in the local community.
This year’s boot drive will be held September 12 and 13 at the Brantford Farmer’s Market.
The BPFFA is also hosting its 19th annual charity golf tournament at the Greens of Renton on September 5.
“It’s 60 per cent sold out and we would love to have members of the public come out for 18 holes of golf, dinner, raffle prizes, and socialization,” he said. “Typically, we support the BCHS Foundation and have raised about $200,000 (over the years).”