The Firefighter

The Firefighter
Successive images of The Firefighter who points to the names of the fallen. These photographs were taken between September 2012 and August 2013.

Viewing the Photographs

This blog features many photographs. These are shown on the page in a small size. They can be viewed in a larger size by clicking on them. When you do that you will get a large size photograph with a series of thumbnails below it. Clicking on any of those will bring it up in a larger size. To go back to the view of the blog, click the area outside the photograph.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Canadian Firefighters Memorial Ceremony 2017

On Sunday, September 10, 2017, firefighters from across Canada gathered at the Canadian Firefighters Memorial, in Ottawa, on Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, east of Booth Street, to honour Canada's firefighters who have died in line of duty.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Making this fourteenth annual ceremony historic is that it marks the first Firefighters’ National Memorial Day. The Canadian government has designated the second Sunday of September as Firefighters' National Memorial Day. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated, “Every year from now on, to honour the service and sacrifice of Canada’s firefighters, the Canadian flag will fly at half-mast on all federal buildings and establishments — including the Peace Tower — from sunrise to sunset on the second Sunday in September."


I took more than 250 photographs of the ceremony. They appear below, with a few exceptions, in the order I took them.





Mike Dunlop on the left played a key role in organizing the first ceremony and has
continued to do so since then. Bob Rainboth on the right started several years ago
as music director, which he still does, in addition to managing just about every
other aspect of the ceremony.




















Arnold Lazare, Director of Community
Protection, Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, QC.







The Ottawa Fire Services Band under Paul Casagrande's
direction enters the ceremony site.







Paul Casagrande, Ottawa Fire Services Band Director




























































Mike McKenna, Master of Ceremonies






Doug Wyle, reading names added to the wall since the 2016 ceremony,
not including names of those who died in line of duty in 2016.


Remarks from Robert Kirkpatrick,
Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation President



Remarks from Brian Gray, Acting Fire Chief,
Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency


Remarks from The Honourable Ralph Goodale
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness




The following photographs involve the reading of the names of the thirteen firefighters who died in line of duty during 2016, and the presentation of a medallion and helmet to their families. I took many photos during this part of the ceremony. I hope I included everyone.




























































Ringing of the Bell




Last Post


Moment of Silence


Lament



Reveille


John den Holander, Chaplain, Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency and
Captain Michel P. Gagné, Chaplain, Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa)
close the ceremony with the Firefighters Prayer





















Amazing Grace






March Past









John Sobey, Ceremony Chairman