British Columbia Professional Firefighters Will Honour Their Fallen Colleagues at the Provincial Capital
For Immediate Release
February 27, 2025
Victoria, BC – On Monday, March 3, 2025, the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (BCPFFA) will honour twenty-seven (27) of the province’s fallen fire fighters in a memorial parade and service. The Memorial Service will welcome the families of the fallen fire fighters and more than 500 professional fire fighters who will participate in the parade through downtown Victoria. The parade culminates in a ceremony on the south lawn of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.
Every day, fire fighters work to protect the lives and property of citizens in their communities. In doing so, some pay the ultimate price. The Biennial BC Fallen Fighter Memorial Service is held to honour and remember those British Columbia professional fire fighters who have died in the line of duty.
This biennial, in collaboration with the Speaker of the House and BC General Employees' Union (BCGEU), we are unveiling a plaque at the base of the monument, recognizing the Wildfire Fighters, “who have lost their lives battling wildfires. Their sacrifice shall never be forgotten.”
"This memorial is both a tribute and a call to action. As the President of the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters Association, I urge everyone to recognize our duty to ensure every firefighter returns home safely after each shift. We need to enforce high safety standards, reduce exposure to toxic substances and trauma, improve mental health resources, emphasize early detection screening access, and strengthen training and education." - BCPFFA President, Todd Schierling
The memorial service starts at noon, with the Fire Fighters parade starting at 11:25 am from the Black Ball Ferry Line Terminal and ending at the south lawn of the BC Legislature building. A map of the parade route and memorial location can be found here. More information can be found on the memorial webpage. The memorial will be live streamed on the following platforms: BCPFFA 2025 Memorial webpage, BCPFFA Facebook or bcpffa.net/live
Memorial Program QR Code
-30-
Media Contact
Jane Spitz
BCPFFA Communications Manager
T: (604) 916-8499
ABOUT THE BCPFFA
Established in 1929, the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Association (BCPFFA) is an affiliate of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF). The BCPFFA comprises 56 IAFF locals who represent over 4,700 professional men and women fire fighters, dispatchers, prevention officers and support members in BC, including the Yukon.
ABOUT ROBERT E. HALL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
Robert was a fire fighter with the City of Vancouver and led a campaign as BCPFFA’s Secretary-Treasurer to have the BC Government recognize the health risks faced by fire fighters. On October 31, 2005, he led a group to Victoria's Legislature for the first reading of the Worker's Compensation Amendment Act. It recognized seven cancers as occupational diseases for fire fighters.
On August 27, 2007, Rob succumbed to Occupational Cancer. BC Fire Fighters will be forever grateful for his leadership and vision in working with the provincial government to recognize and improve fire fighters' health and safety.
Today, the Workers Compensation Act recognized eighteen occupational diseases as being casually related to the profession of fire fighting.
ABOUT THE BIENNIAL FALLEN FIRE FIGHTER MEMORIAL
The Biennial Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial is a solemn occasion where the British Columbia firefighting community, families, and the public come together to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This memorial serves as a tribute to their bravery and dedication, while also underscoring the inherent risks of the profession and the vital importance of continued efforts to enhance firefighter safety and well-being.