Ken Gill and Forrest Owens will always be at the heart of a growing hockey tournament in Esquimalt.
But in a way the late firefighters would appreciate and likely admire, the annual hockey game B次元官网网址� turned one-day tournament for 2024 B次元官网网址� is building bonds and highlighting valuable causes as it expands.
The Ken Gill and Forrest Owens Memorial Hockey Tournament is named for firefighters who died from key work-related health issues B次元官网网址� cancer and mental health B次元官网网址� it started as a one-off.
The game memorialized Gill, whose firefighting career spanned the region, from Langford to Esquimalt, Sidney where he was born and eventually Oak Bay for the last 17 years of his 32-year career, before official retirement in 2014. After a year off he returned as chaplain to Oak Bay and Esquimalt fire departments. By all accounts he was always willing to lend an ear or grab a coffee to help support those he worked with.
when he died by suicide in 2018.
B次元官网网址淭hat was a direct result of all the burdens he saw during his career,B次元官网网址� said tournament organizer and Esquimalt firefighter Scott McMillan.
The original one-off game was struck to bring people together, remember Gill and serve as a reminder B次元官网网址渆ven the people checking in on people need someone checking in on them.B次元官网网址�
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Owens, who played in those early games, wasfrom complications of work-related cancer in 2022.
HeB次元官网网址檇 served as assistant fire chief in Central Saanich during a career that spanned 35 years and was known as a pillar of the Saanich Peninsula.
B次元官网网址淭he two of them are the faces we had when we started this idea,B次元官网网址� McMillan said. B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檒l always try and keep their names in mind but itB次元官网网址檚 going to become more of a memorial hockey tournament and people will be able to remember people theyB次元官网网址檝e lost in their own departments.B次元官网网址�
Langford recently marked the first anniversary of the death of longtime firefighter Lance Caven.
Caven spent 30 years with Langford Fire Rescue, first as a volunteer when he joined in 1991, and then moving into a career position in 2002, and finally working as assistant chief since 2017.
Caven died at the age of 50 after a battle with cancer.
The two health concerns remain the focus of the event, as occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service and first responders are at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress.
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a different world now. The men and women who used to be in the fire service used to bottle it up. ItB次元官网网址檚 the same as army, the same as military, put one foot in front of the other and go until you canB次元官网网址檛. WeB次元官网网址檝e learned thatB次元官网网址檚 not the way B次元官网网址� you want people to retire and have a great life post career,B次元官网网址� McMillan said.
B次元官网网址淭his tournament brings that to light.B次元官网网址�
This year, it grows to a one-day, eight-department, four-on-four tournament with each team playing for a charity. Teams from Victoria (Courtnall Society), Esquimalt (Neighbourhood House), Department of National Defence (Wounded Warriors Canada), Oak Bay (Courtnall Society), Saanich (Wounded Warriors Canada), Central Saanich, Langford (Goldstream Food Bank) and a combined View Royal/Colwood team (Victoria Hospitals Foundation).
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e representing something thatB次元官网网址檚 near and dear to them,B次元官网网址� McMillan said. The top two winning teams earn cash for their cause.
The event runs April 5 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Archie Browning Arena.
From 1 to 3 p.m. mental health and wellness practitioners will be on hand.
With games rolling all day, the final puck drops at 5:20 p.m.
B次元官网网址淭here will be a little area of remembrance for people to come and pay their respects,B次元官网网址� McMillan said.
It brings Greater Victoria fire departments together in a way they havenB次元官网网址檛 before. It reflects a shift in the region, the last two to three years the majority of the south Island departments have become IAFF locals, joining the ranks of the Professional Firefighters of Greater Victoria, McMillan said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one of the first times weB次元官网网址檙e all together, playing in the same sandbox so to speak.B次元官网网址�
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