Firefighters union president Tom Bilous announces retirement

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This article was published 29/11/2024 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The union leader representing firefighters in Winnipeg is stepping away from the role after three years as president.

United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg Local 867 president Tom Bilous announced his departure this week, saying he is turning his attention to family, friends and prioritizing his health after more than three decades of union advocacy.

“It’s been a huge honour and privilege to represent our members,” Bilous told the Free Press Friday.

“I encourage my members to keep being strong and keep being firefighters. And to the public, I say keep supporting your firefighters. They will always answer the call for you. They have your backs, so please have their backs.”

Bilous will take pre-retirement leave effective Jan. 7 until his official retirement begins in August.

He intends to spend his retirement prioritizing his health and focusing on friends, family and new hobbies, he said.

“I’m going to try to strike a good balance now and deal with a lot of stuff I’ve put on the back burner for far too long. I’ve never skied, I’ve never golfed — I’ve never had the time — so just looking forward to spending that time,” he said. “It’s about being there for everybody real close to me.”

Bilous, who served as a captain with the Winnipeg Fire Department, was involved with his union for most of his 32-year career. He served in various roles, including 18 years as an executive board member, four years as treasurer, five years as vice-president and five years as compensation chair.

During his tenure as president, Bilous advocated for increased mental-health supports for firefighters — a call he reiterated during his farewell interview.

“The mental-health problems that are derived, just from the sheer volume and the unnatural things our members see, I think that has to be a big focus going forward to keep everybody well and thriving,” he said.

“I’m sad to say I’ve attended eight suicide funerals for our members (over my union career) and that has to change. We are taking steps and I believe this can be corrected…. I’m sure the team will take the baton and keep going in that direction.”

Bilous thanked his fellow union executives and firefighters, calling them his “brothers and sisters.”

“I’m leaving the job, but never the family,” he said in a separate statement to members. “I’ve been incredibly lucky to have served a membership of such wonderful human beings.”

Union vice-president Nick Kasper will serve as interim president until the union’s next election cycle, which is expected to take place around March, Bilous said.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca