Firefighters and their loved ones gathered today in Toronto to honour those who lost their lives on the job or because of work-related diseases.
The annual Toronto Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service commemorated 222 firefighters who have been named to the Memorial Honour Roll since 1848.
Deb Keep's firefighter husband died ten-years ago from a workplace-related cancer and she attended the memorial.
"He loved it, he loved being on the job. He loved going to the job. I mean, he influenced so many others to take the job, including his younger brother," she told CTV Toronto, her voice cracking.
There were four additions to this year's Honour Roll:
- Firefighter Bruce Arthur Catchpole, died January 26, 1964
- Captain John Thewlis, died March 4, 2001
- District Chief John James Lalonde, died February 2, 2010
- Firefighter Erik Christensen, died March 19, 2010
All four men added died from workplace-related cancers.
Bruce Catchpole's son was in attendance and spoke to CTV.
"He loved it. I remember in the middle of the night, hearing him go down the stairs heading out to emergency calls," Bill Catchpole said.
With a report from CTV's Tamara Cherry
