Memorial hockey game honours firefighters and raises awareness of on-the-job hazards
Greater Victoria firefighters will be lacing up their skates Saturday to honour three members who died after serving their communities.
Esquimalt’s Archie Browning Sports Centre will host the first “Ken Gill and Forrest Owens Memorial Hockey Game” to celebrate the lives of the fallen firefighters. Organizers of the family-friendly event also want to raise awareness of the high incidence of cancer suffered by members of the fire service across Canada.
“Two of the greatest risk factors for firefighters are occupational cancer and mental illness,” said Esquimalt Fire Chief Steve Serbic.
"We want to acknowledge that these are issues in our profession and we want to create and environment where people can come and talk about it.”
Ken Gill died in 2018 after serving the communities of Langford, Sidney, Oak Bay and CFB Esquimalt for more than 33 years. After retiring in 2014, Gill served as the fire department chaplain for both the Esquimalt and Oak Bay fire departments and was a strong advocate for mental health.
Forrest Owens was a member of the Central Saanich Fire Department for 35 years, serving as a volunteer firefighter, fire captain, and assistant fire chief. Owens died in his home on June 21, 2022, due to complications resulting from his battle with cancer.
Langford Assistant Fire Chief Lance Caven will also be honoured at the memorial hockey game. Caven served the community of Langford for more than 30 years. He died earlier this week after an 18-month battle with cancer.
“We will have families in the stands of those fallen firefighters and we will also have BC Cancer Agency to answer questions," said Serbic. “We’re going to create a space where people can come and talk about mental health or cancer awareness.”
Serbic says before the puck is dropped to start the game, there will be a special presentation made to two Esquimalt High School students as a legacy for Gill and Owens.
“We’ll be giving two scholarships, one will be in Ken Gill’s name and the other in Forrest Owens' name,” said Serbic. “The scholarships will be going to two great kids who’ve done great work in their community.”
Serbic says he hopes the event will bring awareness to the unseen perils faced by firefighters as they serve the residents in their communities. He says it is also a way for the community of firefighters to come together to remember and celebrate three valued members who were lost.
“It's for firefighters who knew those individuals to get out there and pass the puck around and have some fun,” he said.
The doors open at the Archie Browning Sports Centre on Esquimalt Road at 11:30 a.m. The puck drops at noon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.