James “Jim” O’Toole, a champion of presumptive cancer coverage for members in Newfoundland and Labrador, has lost his own battle with cancer. The St. John’s, NL Local 1075 President was 46 when he died April 26.
O’Toole’s work helped establish and expand presumptive cancer protections that ensure fire fighters across Canada diagnosed with occupational cancers are covered without having to prove the illness was job-related – a model affiliates across North America continue to use in their own fights for coverage.
“The IAFF has lost one of its best. Thanks to his advocacy and hard work, Newfoundland and Labrador members have presumptive protections in place for 19 cancers,” General President Edward Kelly said. “Jimmy showed us how to fight.
“We will never forget his dedication to our profession and what a true friend he was to so many of us,” he added. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Crystal, Gavin, and Ryan, all of Jimmy’s family and friends, and our brothers and sisters in Local 1075.”
O’Toole joined the St. John’s Regional Fire Department in 2001, working his way through the ranks to lieutenant.
From the beginning, O’Toole wanted to help the people in the communities he served and his fellow fire fighters. He served in several leadership positions over the years, including St. John’s Local 1075 vice president and president, Atlantic Provinces Professional Fire Fighters Association vice president, and was an IAFF Occupational Health and Safety committee member.
O’Toole stood with fellow members on all issues important to the fire service, but occupational cancer was his priority. In 2006, O’Toole joined a steering committee to push for presumptive legislation covering all fire fighters in Newfoundland and Labrador.
That work helped secure a landmark legislative change in 2016, when the provincial government amended the law to presume 11 types of cancer were job-related for fire fighters, including brain, breast, bladder, colorectal, esophageal, kidney, lung, testicular, ureter, leukemia, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
His accomplishments were officially recognized in 2020 when he was awarded the IAFF Local Leadership Award for the 15th District.
“It is incredibly difficult to put into words what the loss of Jimmy O’Toole means to the 15th District and to me, personally,” 15th District Vice President Chris Ross said. “He led with a rare combination of grit and compassion, always keeping the well-being of his members at the forefront of everything he did. Our profession is better because of his service, and our lives are richer for having known him.”
O’Toole was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2018 and underwent immediate surgery. Just months later, he was diagnosed with melanoma.
But none of that stopped him from continuing to advocate for more fire fighter protection against occupational cancer. His continued work led to an amendment to the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation, which added eight cancers to the presumption list in 2022 [https://www.iaff.org/news/newfoundland-and-labrador-government-improve-cancer-presumptions/].
His service and dedication to protecting IAFF members against cancer continued through his service on the IAFF Occupational Health and Safety committee until the end.
O’Toole is survived by his wife, Crystal, and their sons, Gavin and Ryan.James “Jim” O’Toole, a champion of presumptive cancer coverage for members in Newfoundland and Labrador, has lost his own battle with cancer. The St. John’s, NL Local 1075 President was 46 when he died April 26.
O’Toole’s work helped establish and expand presumptive cancer protections that ensure fire fighters across Canada diagnosed with occupational cancers are covered without having to prove the illness was job-related – a model affiliates across North America continue to use in their own fights for coverage.
“The IAFF has lost one of its best. Thanks to his advocacy and hard work, Newfoundland and Labrador members have presumptive protections in place for 19 cancers,” General President Edward Kelly said. “Jimmy showed us how to fight.
“We will never forget his dedication to our profession and what a true friend he was to so many of us,” he added. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Crystal, Gavin, and Ryan, all of Jimmy’s family and friends, and our brothers and sisters in Local 1075.”
O’Toole joined the St. John’s Regional Fire Department in 2001, working his way through the ranks to lieutenant.
From the beginning, O’Toole wanted to help the people in the communities he served and his fellow fire fighters. He served in several leadership positions over the years, including St. John’s Local 1075 vice president and president, Atlantic Provinces Professional Fire Fighters Association vice president, and was an IAFF Occupational Health and Safety committee member.
O’Toole stood with fellow members on all issues important to the fire service, but occupational cancer was his priority. In 2006, O’Toole joined a steering committee to push for presumptive legislation covering all fire fighters in Newfoundland and Labrador.
That work helped secure a landmark legislative change in 2016, when the provincial government amended the law to presume 11 types of cancer were job-related for fire fighters, including brain, breast, bladder, colorectal, esophageal, kidney, lung, testicular, ureter, leukemia, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
His accomplishments were officially recognized in 2020 when he was awarded the IAFF Local Leadership Award for the 15th District.
“It is incredibly difficult to put into words what the loss of Jimmy O’Toole means to the 15th District and to me, personally,” 15th District Vice President Chris Ross said. “He led with a rare combination of grit and compassion, always keeping the well-being of his members at the forefront of everything he did. Our profession is better because of his service, and our lives are richer for having known him.”
O’Toole was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2018 and underwent immediate surgery. Just months later, he was diagnosed with melanoma.
But none of that stopped him from continuing to advocate for more fire fighter protection against occupational cancer. His continued work led to an amendment to the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation, which added eight cancers to the presumption list in 2022.
His service and dedication to protecting IAFF members against cancer continued through his service on the IAFF Occupational Health and Safety committee until the end.
O’Toole is survived by his wife, Crystal, and their sons, Gavin and Ryan.
