TIM BAILLIE

Tim Baillie is a retired fire captain serving over 27 years in Surrey. During his time in the fire service, he was a community activist and has been recognized as a good example to people in relation to employment and networking.

He was asked to speak to the British Columbia Teachers Federation’s Annual General Meeting, when they were taking a vote on whether they would join the BC Federation of Labour. He spoke from experience about community relations role of Labour, and why teachers would benefit from joining the federation.

He was the co-chair the Community and Social Action Committee of the New Westminster and District Labour Council, a body of over 50,000 union members, to help the unions understand the role unions can play in the community and how this can positively affect their workplaces.

He started and ran the program that speaks to the students of Surrey on all aspects of professional fire fighting and the interaction with the community. This role keys on areas such as volunteering and the way it can positively influence future employment possibilities.

Following those initiatives, Tim was asked to speak to career classes on how community activism can help students gain employment through networking and interaction with community leaders.

On behalf of the United Way of the Lower Mainland, he spoke to companies and employee groups about leadership, fundraising, and social planning. This lead to representing the social sector in the Greater Vancouver Regional District’s (GVRD) Economic Sustainability Forum, where he made sure that the social service sector was not forgotten in the planning of the future economy of the Lower Mainland.

On behalf of the Surrey Food Bank, he was a key presenter at the annual fundraiser. This is the only fund raiser that the Surrey Food Bank does and now raises in excess of $100,000.00 per annum.

He represented the firefighters of British Columbia for more than 20 years. He lobbied, and achieved to get legislation enacted to provide coverage for presumptive cancers. Cancer is the number one killer of firefighters.

He has more than 25 years of personal and professional experience with homelessness programming and people living in poverty. He started "Toque Tuesday", where he is known as the Supreme Commander. Toque Tuesday is an annual community ball-hockey tournament, that supports the Raising the Roof national campaign “by working to provide solutions for those experiencing homelessness in the community.”

He has coached youth sports for more than 40 years and understands the need to create opportunities for inclusivity and activities for all young people. Sports participation creates opportunity to learn life-long skills around communication, teamwork, and physical literacy that supports physical and mental wellness.

Without a doubt his most challenging and rewarding experience is that of being a single parent to his two sons Kyle and Reese. This experience taught him more than any other educational or personal event and has given him a unique set of eyes to view the world with.

Tim is also an active member of the Surrey Firefighters Pipes & Drum Band.

Tim lives with his partner Karen in South Langley. He shares the property with his younger son and daughter in-law, two young grandchildren, and, of course, the family dog Fergus.