Chestermere, Alberta, fire fighter-paramedic and Local 5284 President Kimball Yorston first noticed minor physical symptoms in 2021. By late 2024, he was experiencing weakness in his left leg and foot drop.
“It wasn’t just to do with age, for once,” he says. “There was something going on.”
Yorston, 52, who joined the fire service in 2004 and has served as Local 5284 president since 2020. As his symptoms progressed, he moved from his fire fighter-paramedic position into inspections. In 2025, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells responsible for voluntary movement.
Since his diagnosis, Yorston has received overwhelming support from his 39-member Local, IAFF affiliates across Canada, and the Chestermere community., located east of Calgary.
In a feature on the ALS Society of Alberta, Yorston described the difficult transition from helping others as a fire fighter-paramedic to accepting help from others.
“That new reality has not been easy to accept. For most of my life, I have been in a role where I was the one responding when others needed support. Learning to slow down, ask for help, and rely on others has been one of the biggest adjustments for me.”
His advocacy now extends beyond his own diagnosis. Yorston is helping advance an effort to make Alberta the first jurisdiction in North America to recognize ALS as a presumptive occupational illness among fire fighters, allowing affected members to access workers’ compensation benefits.
IAFF members and the community rally to support ALS research and services
When Yorston informed his Executive Board about his diagnosis, they immediately asked what they could do.
“The first thing that they all asked is, how can we help? I didn’t really have any needs at that point, and still have very few, but we pushed forward, saying let’s make this better for everyone.”
That commitment led to a series of fundraising and awareness initiatives benefiting the ALS Society of Alberta.
After six months of planning, Local 5284 held its Campout for a Cause Oct. 17-19 on the roof of Chestermere’s firehall.
Yorston and fellow members participated in the event, which surpassed its $20,000 fundraising goal on the first day.
The first thing that they all asked is, how can we help? I didn’t really have any needs at that point, and still have very few, but we pushed forward, saying let’s make this better for everyone.
chestermere Ab local 5284 president kimball yorston
The campaign has since raised $50,000, with additional donations continuing to pour in. Local 5284 also revived the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, a social media campaign that gained widespread attention in 2014. Participants film themselves dumping a bucket of ice water over their heads, donate to an ALS charity and challenge others to do the same.
The campaign quickly spread among IAFF affiliates across western Canada and beyond. generating donations and drawing attention to Yorston’s diagnosis and the broader issue of ALS in the fire service.
Among those nominated to partake in the icy activity was 6th District Vice President Mike Carter, who posted his video Oct. 14 and in turn challenged other IAFF leaders, including Saskatchewan Professional Fire Fighters Association President Aron Gidluck and British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association President Todd Schierling.
Carter praised Local 5284’s fundraising efforts and Yorston’s willingness to advocate publicly for fire fighters affected by neurogenerative disease. “It’s critical that our members are protected and taken care of, and Kimball is putting himself out there for the betterment of everybody,” Carter said. “The funds they’ve raised are fantastic and we need to continue raising funds across the IAFF and to make sure that neurodegenerative diseases are at the forefront of the steps we take to protect our membership.”
The ALS Society of Alberta supports approximately 400 Albertans living with ALS, along with their families and caregivers, including equipment loans, home support, support groups and programs for youth and families. It also funds research into promising treatments and clinical trials.
Yorston said he is grateful for the support of his Local, his community and IAFF affiliates across Canada, particularly the donations benefitting others affected by ALS.
Research points to an increased risk of ALS among fire fighters
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or motor neuron disease, progressively damages and destroys motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord.
According to the ALS Society of Canada, there are 4,000 Canadians living with ALS, and about 1,000 new cases are diagnosed annually.
Research cited in an IAFF position paper indicates that fire fighters face approximately twice the risk of dying from ALS compared to the general population. Occupational exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, heavy metals and other toxins are among the potential contributing factors being investigated.
In the U.S., the IAFF is further studying the potential link in partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).
At the IAFF 58th Convention in Arlington, Texas, in August, delegates adopted Resolution 54, commits the IAFF to advancing research into occupational neurodegenerative disorders, including ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions potentially linked to fire service exposures.
The work will be led by the IAFF’s Science and Research Department in partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and other organizations.
IAFF resources are helping Yorston pursue his compensation claim
While attending IAFF events, Yorston connected with IAFF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Danny Whu and other experts, who helped him access research supporting his ongoing workers’ compensation claim.
“Without that help, it would have been much harder for me to submit a WCB claim,” Yorston said. “We’re in the midst of it now, awaiting their rulings, but the resources made available through the IAFF go far beyond rooftop campouts and things like that.”
IAFF Alberta will push for presumptive coverage of ALS and Parkinson’s disease
No province or state currently provides presumptive workers’ compensation coverage for ALS for fire fighters.
IAFF Alberta plans to pursue that recognition during its provincial Legislative Conference, Nov. 16-18 in Edmonton, with Yorston participating in the effort.
IAFF Alberta President Elliott Davis said the developing science around ALS and firefighting follows a path similar to earlier research into occupational cancer.
Initial observations of increased cancer rates among fire fighters led to further studies, stronger scientific evidence and ultimately presumptive coverage legislation.
Davis hopes Alberta will take a similar approach to neurogenerative diseases.
“We really want to encourage the Alberta Government to be ahead of the curve on this. We’re not asking them to go out on a limb, but to see what the science is telling us about neurogenerative disease and firefighting,” Davis said.
He also praised Yorston’s leadership and willingness to share his experience to help others.
“The work he has done as a union leader is incredible. He’s done an excellent job just being humble and transparent, and he’s quite prepared to continue with letting not just us, but the government know what this diagnosis means to him and his family, and to let us use this private medical fight for what will be the greater good of fire fighters.”
Affiliates and others who would like to donate to the ALS Society of Alberta in support of Yorston and all Albertans affected by ALS can do so here.
