OPFFA Benevolent Fund
The tradition of Fire Fighters raising money for charity, is not new to the Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters Association. The OPFFA has been associated with many functions and has helped raise millions of dollars, over the history of the Association. The OPFFA helped raise over two million dollars, with the annual Magic Show. The funds from this event helped purchase the Hyper Baric Chamber at the General Hospital, The Aladdin Ventilator at CHEO, and the Cyber Knife at the Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital.
Our fire fighters raise funds to donate to such groups as Muscular Dystrophy, The Ottawa Heart Institute, Queensway Carleton Hospital and Easter Seals have all partnered for this fun money-raiser.
The OPFFA has also partnered with other fund-raising groups to help with everything from selling tickets at gala dinners, to playing ball hockey. Our volunteering has allowed us to help raise some much needed funds, for several deserving Charities.
Our Parades
Help Santa Toy Parade
One of the several charities that the Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters Association supports is the Help Santa Toy Parade, which it organizes every year.
The Help Santa Toy Parade was initially started by business leaders in 1968. The parade was taken over by the Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters Association in 1969. The parade costs are funded by the generosity of the our dedicated sponsors, allowing 100% of what is collected by Fire Fighters on the Parade route to go toward Christmas presents for children in need, in our community. Toys are also collected on the Parade Route and fill the Toy Wagon which is part of the Parade. Funds are used to buy additional toys and all toys are distributed through the Salvation Army. We have collected almost 1.7 million dollars in cash donations, in addition to the thousands of toys collected every year along the parade route and at local fire stations.
Visit the Help Santa Toy Parade Website
Santa’s Parade of Lights
Santa’s Parade of lights is a Christmas parade that takes place at night on the last Saturday in November each year. The parade makes its way along St-Joseph Blvd. in Orleans.
This parade was created in 1998) by Gloucester Firefighters supporting local charities. Today, Santa’s Parade of Lights is proud to entertain crowds in excess of 120,000 people with over 3000 participants both young and old. Toys and cash donations are collected by Firefighters walking the route which are then donated to the Salvation Army’s annual Toy drive.
Each entry is decorated in many types of lights by local schools, business’, and community groups who put hundreds of hours into making their entry unique. This parade is quite unique and really lights up the night sky!
For further information please visit our Parade of Lights Website.