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Fallen Surrey firefighter among 15 to be remembered in Victoria

Leslie A. Dionne and others honoured during annual BC Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Service
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A moment during the BC Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Service in 2017. (Photo: bcpffa.net)

A firefighter who worked in Surrey will be among 15 professionals remembered during a parade and service in Victoria on Monday (March 4).

The BC Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial Service welcomes more than 500 firefighters and their families for the annual event, which concludes with a ceremony near the Parliament buildings.

The memorial will be live-steamed at bcpffa.org/live.

“Our association is formally recognizing 15 of our members who have lost their lives due to injury and illness related to their occupation,” Gord Ditchburn, president of BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association, said in a release.

“The toxic environments we work in have been scientifically proven to increase the incidence ratio to double that of the general population, for certain cancers and coronary disease,” Ditchburn added.

“It is fitting for our provincial organization to honour these members from all over the province. It helps bring awareness to the dangers which continue to exist in the occupation of fire fighting, despite technical improvements in fire fighting protective equipment.”

The honoured firefighters include Leslie A. Dionne, a member of Surrey union local 1271.

Dionne died of acute myeloid leukemia at Sechelt Hospital on Feb. 16, 2018, according to an obituary posted to dignitymemorial.com.

“Les lived most of his life in White Rock, B.C,” the obituary reads. “After graduating from high school he was immediately hired on to Sea Span Tugs and worked the next four years along the coast of B.C. He loved being on the water, just not in it. In October 1972 Les was hired on as a full-time firefighter with the City of Surrey Fire Service and retired as Captain Les Dionne Badge #55 in June 2009, after 40 years of service including his volunteer time.”

The other firefighters to be honoured in Victoria on Monday are:

Douglas Angrove, Nanaimo Local 905

James Armstrong, Richmond Local 1286

Karl Heinz Bessler, Richmond Local 1286

Tim Boutin, Trail Local 941

Robert W. Chapman, Vancouver Local 18

Richard A. Couch, Victoria Local 730

Roy Davies, Burnaby Local 323

Donald M. King, Cranbrook Local 1253

Tim Kernighan, Coquitlam Local 1782

Bryan Kongus, Richmond Local 1286

Robert H. Martens, Richmond Local 1286

Joseph Nick, Port Coquitlam Local 1941

Robert R. A. Rosenlund, Vancouver Local 18

Troy Russell, West Kelowna Local 4457

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Tom Zillich

About the Author: Tom Zillich

I cover entertainment, sports and news stories for the Surrey Now-Leader, where I've worked for more than half of my 30-plus years in the newspaper business.
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