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Lorne West - 6th District IAFF Vice President
http://www.6thdistrictiaff.com
Lorne the Leader
For most of his life, Lorne has
been a social activist in one form or another. Starting in high school
Lorne has always made time to advocate in support of social and community issues. For
almost his entire adult life, Lorne has represented fire fighters issues to
all levels of government. He has been a strong leader for fire fighters
in Surrey for 25 years.
Surrey City Council was the first community in
British Columbia to pass a resolution in support of a WCB Cancer Presumption
for their fire fighters as result of Lorne’s lobby efforts.
Local 1271 under Lorne’s
leadership has become a political force to reckon with in Surrey.
Candidates
from all parties often call Local 1271 first to seek advice before deciding
whether or not to enter a political race. Under Lorne’s stewardship
Local 1271 has also become the number one charitable organization in the city. Surrey
Fire Fighters’ Foundation has a higher profile than any other community
organization in the city, supporting and delivering more programs than any
other like organization to their community, Surrey fire fighters have become
community leaders in every way. This year Local 1271 has won the most
prestigious community award, the "Community Leader" sponsored by local media
outlets to be presented to Local 1271 June 2, 2004 at the Bear Creeks Arts
Centre.
Lorne has been an IAFF Provincial
Representative since 1999, when he was first appointed to bargain IAFF Local
3944 Whistler Fire Fighters' first Collective Agreement.
Lorne has also
helped many other Locals at the bargaining table. He has led or assisted
successfully no less than 30 agreements with over a dozen Locals throughout
various regions of British Columbia. Surrey Fire Fighters enjoy the highest
wage and benefits of any fire fighters in British Columbia as result of Lorne’s
long standing efforts at the bargaining table in Surrey
Lorne,
the IAFF and BCPFFA
Lorne has been the 6th District
appointment to the IAFF Policy Committee since 1996 to present. Prior
to that he sat one term on the Credentials Committee. He chaired the
BCPFFA Stipend and Expense committee in 1999-2000. In 1998 Lorne sat
on the BCPFFA Convention Rules Committee and in 1996 he participated as a committee
member with the BCPFFA Training and Jurisdiction, and EMS Committees. Lorne
was a presenter for the IAFF at their EMS conference presenting a session on
GIS Mapping and the related services provided by the IAFF. At present
Lorne is participating in the British Columbia Police and Fire Pension Committee
as well.
Following the 1999 civic election
the City invited Lorne to participate in a Fire Service Review Task
Force, which resulted in a Council Resolution to staff all fire response apparatus
with four fire fighters and saw a thorough review of management practices
and a new Administration installed in the Surrey Fire Department. From
1980 through 1990 Lorne was a WCB advocate and presented appeals on behalf
of Surrey’s
fire fighters. During that time he was also chair of the Surrey Fire
Fighters Occupational Health and Safety Committee. Lorne is also
an active member in the National Fire Protection Association.
 Lorne
with Labour
Lorne has been active in the Labour
movement in British Columbia as well participating in many BC Federation
of Labour events, and holding the position of BC Federation of Labour Trustee
from 1996-2002, and he has been a delegate to the New Westminster and District
Labour Council since 1994. Lorne has attended all CLC Labour School Studies
available, and continues to educate himself wherever possible. He attended
the CLC Labour Bargaining forums, and has spoken as a panel speaker for the
IAFF, CLC and other Canadian Education Labour Forums.
Lorne the Fire Fighter
Lorne is currently a Captain at
Surrey Fire Hall #11 in the Panorama area near the Delta Border. He has
recently completed his Battalion Chief pool exams and is qualified as a Training
Officer. He has been an instructor for the Fire Academy and is a Rope
Rescue instructor as well as a Field-Training Technician in the Surrey Fire
Department. As a Fire Academy instructor, he co-developed the first HazMat
course for British Columbia relying on IAFF educational material. He
played a role in bringing the first IFSTA accreditation to British Columbia.
Lorne first showed interest in
the Fire Service by joining a forest fire fight in the summer of 1973
at the age of 17, later that year at the age of 18 he joined the paid-call
force in Surrey and started his career as a professional fire fighter
at the age of 21 in 1977. Two years later he was elected to a
union position within Local 1271, and has been representing fire fighters
ever since.
Lorne in the Community
Lorne has raised Surrey Fire Fighters’ profile
in the community tremendously in the past 15 years or more. Under Lorne’s
stewardship Local 1271 has become the number one charitable organization in
the City, raising nearly $450,000 every year. Local 1271 has created
the first Fire Fighters’ Foundation, an endowment trust that will see
the interest earned from a 10 million dollar trust keep on giving on behalf
of fire fighters forever.
Lorne remains active in many community
organizations such as the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation, United Way,
the Surrey Family YMCA and the South Fraser Child Development Centre, to
name a few. He currently sits at the BC Business and Economic Roundtable on
Mental Health, advocating on behalf of fire fighters and the community at large,
mental health issues. Always representing Surrey’s fire
fighters at every turn, Lorne has made sure that the community knows we are
there, and what we stand for, respect, integrity and community.
Lorne and Politics
Lorne first cut his teeth on politics
when at the age of 18 he successfully lobbied civically to achieve land rezoning
and development and provincially for regulatory approval and Land Use Act
amendments. By
the time he was 21 and a rookie in the Surrey Fire Department he was experienced
and wise to the success political action can bring to any organization. Life
is about relationships and Lorne has built relationships with all levels
of government and established a vast network of very influential people at
each level.
Lorne was not only the first fire
fighter but he was the first Union leader to meet with Gordon Campbell
after being elected Premier of British Columbia. When Paul Martin arrived in
Vancouver for the leadership debate, Lorne was able to secure as much time
as needed for our Police and Fire leaders to meet with Martin’s senior
campaign team to discuss key federal initiatives and lobby for support of our
Special Agreement Pension concerns. He has been invited to meet with
Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
the Honourable A. Anne McLellan and participate in her Crime and Safety Forum
to bring debate from the fire fighters perspective. Lorne has been able
to secure debate and time with most any leader of any political stripe in assisting
many Locals to be heard at the decision making table.
Lorne
at Home
Lorne now at the age of 48 lives
in the quiet community of Fort Langley, happily married to Lori Bowie who
together have two boys, Aidan age 10 and Liam age 7. They share many passions
and pursuits together. They both participate in water skiing at a competitive
level with the boys just beginning to share that passion. They are
a physically active family and can often be seen on the hiking trails, walking,
biking, or simply just taking a family stroll.
After carefully consulting all
who may be able to provide insight to the responsibilities and tasks associated
with the role of IAFF 6th District Vice-President we have made
a family decision that we are prepared for the hard work expected of the
IAFF 6th District Vice-President for the next four years!
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