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Are you prepared for the challenges of retirement? This episode of Fire Fighting in Canada: The Podcast explores the crucial topic of firefighter mental health during the transition out of service. Retirement can bring a loss of identity and purpose, disconnect from the fire service family, and a resurgence of unresolved trauma. This episode features captain Steve Farina, a leader in first responder mental health, who shares his insights from 30 years in Fire.
Steve began his career as a paid-on-call firefighter with the Township of Langley Fire Department in 1992 and five years later, joined the Coquitlam Fire Rescue full-time in 1997. Steve was promoted to Captain in 2015 and is currently a Captain in the Fire Suppression Division on Engine 1. He was elected to the Union Executive of IAFF Local 1782 (Coquitlam Firefighters) in 2005 - 2023 and is the Executive Vice President for the BC Professional Fire Fighter Association (BCPFFA), which represents 56 Affiliate IAFF Locals and over 4,500 professional firefighters across BC. He is the vice chair of BCPFFA's Health and Safety Committee and Mental Health Committee. He is on Coquitlam Fire Rescue’s Critical Incident Stress Team and a Peer Support. Steve has travelled all over BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, training healthcare professionals and ensuring they have an understanding of fire service culture. He also represents the BCPFFA on the BC's First Responder Mental Health Steering Committee, chaired by WorkSafeBC.
Learn about the three phases of retirement, from pre-retirement planning to thriving in your post-service life. The podcast emphasizes the need for mentorship, succession planning and community connections for all firefighters, including volunteer and paid-on-call personnel. Don't let valuable experience and knowledge fade away; instead, create a culture of support from recruitment to retirement. Tune in to gain actionable strategies that will ensure thriving during and after service.
This episode is brought to you by VFIS of Canada. A division of CVIS incorporated , Canada’s largest insurer of firefighters since 1991.
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