Line of Duty Deaths Database

Henrick Batelaan
Name
Henrick Batelaan
Local
L3888, Toronto Professional Fire Fighters
Gender
Male
Age
59
District
13
Occupation
District Chief
Type of Duty
Fire Suppression
Fatal Injury Cause
Contact/Exposure - Contact/Exposure: Insufficient Info.
Nature of Fatal Injury
Cancer - Pancreatic
Date of Death
7/17/2023
Year Placed On Wall
2024
Multiple Line of Duty Incident
No information available
Name
City/State
Date
Summary
Website Comments
It is with deepest regret and sorrow that we report the line-of-duty death of District Chief Rick Batelaan, IAFF 13th District Local 3888, Toronto, Ontario. Brother Batelaan, 59, passed away on July 17, 2023, after succumbing to occupational cancer.

Visitation will be held on Tues., Aug. 8, 2023, from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Bayview Glen Church, 300 Steeles Avenue E, Thornhill, ON; phone: 905-881-5252. A memorial service will follow at 12:30 p.m. at the church.

Expressions of sympathy and condolences for the local or the family can be sent to IAFF Local 3888, 14 Cosentino Dr., Toronto ON M1P 3A2.
Biographical Comments
Passing of Active Member
District Chief
Henrick “Rick” Batelaan

Jan 31st, 1964 – July 17th, 2023

It is with great sadness that we inform the membership of the passing of our active member DC Rick Batelaan, at the age of 59. He passed at home with his family by his side.

District Chief Batelaan started with the Scarborough Fire Department on May 27th, 1985.

His records show he was designated an Acting Captain and worked at stations 235 and 225 until his promotion to Captain on March 15th, 2010, on P232 A-platoon. Then on May 28th, 2012, transferred to S232 A-platoon, then designated as an Acting District Chief on August 17th, 2015, to P132 A-platoon. On March 13th, 2017, he returned to the East to R225 on A-platoon, then moved to A231 on A-platoon on July 30th, 2018. On September 23rd, 2019, Rick was promoted to District Chief on Car 14 at station 142 D-platoon. On January 5th, 2021, moved with Car 14 to station 141 D-platoon then back to 142 D-platoon when Car 14 moved back on March 29th, 2022, to D-platoon.

The C&B committee met with District Chief Batelaan and his wife Jenn last week, to discuss his wishes. Rick is resting at Kane Jerrett Funeral Home, and we will be meeting with his family tomorrow to finalize his ceremony. We currently are planning a Active member ceremony, and hoping this will be changed shortly to a LODD ceremony as we are awaiting approval from WSIB. The family wishes to wait a few weeks before the ceremony.

TPFFA C&B committee will keep you all up to date once details are finalized.

Members that are struggling with the news are encouraged to reach out to any of the following support services.


TFS Pear Support – (416) 338-9327
Chris Rodrigues – (416) 338-9557
The city of Toronto EAP – (416) 392-6633
North Chaplin Ted Leck – (647) 461-4047
East Chaplin Tahseen Gill – (647) 568-6050
South Chaplin Daniel Chandran - (647) 262-9897
West Chaplin Todd Riley – (416) 318-9167
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