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.

Chronological View of the Firefighter

When the statue of the firefighter was first installed he was all shiny gold. Since then he has taken on a patina that has added to his character. I decided to make this page, in which I will post photographs of him over time to see him take on his patina over time.

June 24, 2012. The base for the firefighter is all but complete, ready for the arrival of the statue.

June 28, 2012. The firefighter has just been installed. The fire pole will be added much later.

June 28, 2012

June 28, 2012


July 5, 2012

July 5, 2012


July 12, 2012


July 20, 2012


July 26, 2012


August 2, 2012.


August 8, 2012.

August 16, 2012. Landscaping has started.

August 23, 2012

August 25, 2012. The fire pole has been installed. The story is that the contractor that made the pole didn't know it was to be made from bronze. It was made from another material and then coated with a material that looks like bronze. Whatever it was coated with it does not take on a patina the way the statue does. As the pictures progress you'll see him change while the pole remains a golden yellow. Although it was an error I think it makes for a nice contrast.

August 29, 2012

September 5, 2012. I finally got onto the site and was able to take a picture of the firefighter without obstructions. At this point the dedication ceremony was just days away.

September 8, 2012, the day before the memorial ceremony and the dedication of the memorial site. At around this time I was wondering if he would stay shiny. He didn't.

September 9, 2012. This was taken hours before the memorial and dedication ceremony began. The next few photographs will be from that day.
September 9, 2012. I may not be the best photographer there is but I know a good picture when I see it. If there were a contest this would be a strong contender.


September 9, 2012. Here are the culprits who started this. From left to right in front of the firefighter are Dr. Will Brooks, Georges Potvin, myself, Bill Williams and Gary Barnes. Will Brooks and I began working toward this day in the fall of 1996. Georges Potvin came on board almost immediately. Gary Barnes joined us very soon after that. On May 28, 2003 Will, Georges and I signed the incorporation documents that brought the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation into existence.

September 9, 2012. The memorial and dedication ceremony begins with the firefighter looking on.

September 9, 2012. After the ceremony, many participants had their picture taken with the firefighter.

October 3, 2012. I went to the site to get pictures of the firefighter in the dark with the lights on him. I had been out the week before but the lights didn't come on. In this picture the lights have not yet come on.

October 3, 2012. In this picture the lights have come on. As you can see they light the firefighter and the pole.

October 3, 2012. I took this picture and the next one with the flash disabled.

October 3, 2012.

October 10, 2012
November 30, 2012.

December 26, 2012

February 2, 2013. As you can see the firefighter is not longer shiny.

February 2, 2013. Most likely the salt spray from the nearby traffic and the prevailing west wind had much to do with his very rapid transformation.

March 10, 2013

March 10, 2013. You might see from this picture that the back of the statue is not quite so dark as the front.

April 7, 2013

April 27, 2013

May 11, 2013. You can see how the firefighter has developed a patina while the pole has remained golden. As I said I think it's a nice contrast.

May 26, 2013

June 8, 2013

June 22, 2013. The statue had been in place for almost a year when this was taken.

July 15, 2013

July 27, 2013

August 10, 2013

August 18, 2013

August 25, 2013

September 2, 2013

September 8, 2013. This was taken very early on the day of the memorial ceremony, with the sun very much on the firefighter's back. The light for him is best in mid afternoon.

September 8, 2013. With the ceremony yet to be underway it's a good time to pose for pictures.

September 8, 2013. The ceremony was fully underway.

September 8, 2013. The ceremony was drawing to a close.

October 6, 2013

October 27, 2013

November 17, 2013

December 1, 2013

December 28, 2013

January 12, 2014

January 25, 2014

February 16, 2014

March 9, 2014

March 23, 2014. It looks like the patina has not changed in the last few pictures. Perhaps it has stabilized.

April 6, 2014

April 20, 2014

May 19, 2014

June 1, 2014

June 15, 2014

July 6, 2014
The firefighter has been coated with something to give him a dark bronze patina.

July 20, 2014

August 3, 2014

August 17, 2014

August 31, 2014

September 14, 2014

September 28, 2014

October 12, 2014

November 2, 2014

November 30, 2014

December 14, 2014

December 28, 2014

January 18, 2015

March 1, 2015

March 15, 2015

March 29, 2015

April 12, 2015

April 26, 2015

May 17, 2015

May 31, 2015

June 14, 2015

July 5, 2015

July 19, 2015

August 9, 2015

August 23, 2015

September 13, 2015
Canadian Firefighters Memorial Ceremony

September 27, 2015

October 11, 2015

October 25, 2015

November 15, 2015

November 29, 2015

December 13, 2015

December 28, 2015

January 17, 2016

January 31, 2016

February 14, 2016

March 6, 2016

March 20, 2016

April 3, 2016

April 17, 2016

May 8, 2016

May 22, 2016

June 19, 2016

July 24, 2016

August 28, 2016

September 11, 2016

October 10, 2016

November 6, 2016

December 4, 2016

January 8, 2017

April 2, 2017

May 21, 2017

June 18, 2017

August 6, 2017

September 9, 2017

October 22, 2017

April 22, 2018

June 17, 2018

September 9, 2018
September 8, 2019