Toronto firefighter memorial rescheduled for Sunday

· Toronto Sun

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A memorial ceremony for Toronto firefighters that had been hastily postponed in the spring will instead take place on Sunday.

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The Toronto Fire Service announced the new date on social media earlier in the week but the city didn’t issue a press release until Saturday morning.

The ceremony honours 14 men who died in the line of duty. Their names are etched in a large stone monument at HTO Park, next to a marine fire hall on Queens Quay W.

The ceremony was to take place in May but was postponed on less than 24 hours’ notice.

‘Asinine’ decision

A veteran Toronto firefighter told the Toronto Sun at the time he had “ never heard of anything so asinine .”

Toronto Fire blamed the weather, but the ceremony had taken place in rain before.

While sources have told the Sun that the event was put off because the names of the 14 firefighters weren’t put on the monument in time, the TFS has denied that.

The Sun has confirmed their names are now on the stone.

Mayor Olivia Chow and Chief Jim Jessop are scheduled to speak and lay wreaths at Sunday’s ceremony, the city’s press release said.

“The annual ceremony brings together Toronto firefighters, along with the families and friends of those who have died in the line of duty, to recognize their service and sacrifice,” the statement said. “Since 1848, 367 Toronto firefighters have lost their lives while protecting the city’s residents, property and environment.”

The 14 being honoured include David Wilcox, who fought fires in Toronto for 28 years. His widow spoke with the Sun in June about the frustration the sudden postponement caused her family.

Sunday’s ceremony will take place at 10:50 a.m. at Toronto Fire and Marine Station 334, 339 Queens Quay W, and the adjacent park.

Rain is not in the forecast.

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