'Courage, valour and ultimately sacrifice': Langford Fire Rescue honours 30-year member Lance Caven
Langford Fire Rescue is in mourning. Flags outside the hall are at half-mast as the department honours Assistant Chief Lance Caven, who died Sunday after an 18-month battle with cancer.
“I just can’t put into words what it’s like right now and how much he’s going to be missed,” said Chief Chris Aubrey.
Caven was only 50 years old.
“He was a member of this organization for over 30 years,” said Aubrey. “He spent his entire career serving and protecting the residents of this community.”
Caven is being remembered as a deeply committed firefighter who began his career as a volunteer after graduating from Belmont High School.
“(He served) with incredible courage, valour and ultimately sacrifice,” said Aubrey.
Firefighters say the job he loved so much may have contributed to his death.
“We certainly here have no doubt that his cancer was related to the firefighting,” said Aubrey.
Occupational cancers are the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for firefighters in North America.
Every two years, firefighters from around the province gather at the Last Alarm Memorial at the B.C. legislature to honour those who have lost their lives as a result of the job.
This year, 48 names were read allowed.
“We’re talking probably out of the 48, in excess of 40 died from cancer,” said Gord Ditchburn, president of the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association.
In two years, Lance Caven’s name will be one of those read aloud.
It’s not just smoke and flames that put firefighters at risk. Studies have linked synthetic chemicals in turn-out gear to certain types of cancers.
Firefighter associations are lobbying the federal government and pushing manufactures to find an alternative product to the chemicals that are currently being used in the gear.
“No one embodied the values of the fire service more than Lance,” said Aubrey.
The chief will remember Caven for his laughter, kindness, enthusiasm and as a mentor to him and all those who had the pleasure of working with Caven over the years.
“We’re all better for knowing him and his passing has left a huge void in this organization that will never be filled,” said Aubrey.
Caven leaves behind a wife, a daughter and a community that he spent three decades protecting.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Apple unveils new iPad Pro with 'outrageously powerful' AI-powered chip
Apple is hoping its latest iPad lineup will breathe new life into its sluggish tablet market. In a pre-recorded live streamed event from its Cupertino, California headquarters, the company introduced the latest versions of its iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets, and an all-new Apple Pencil Pro.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.