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Presumptive Line of Duty Deaths

Here I am, and I’m trying to be dignified and professional, and present this flag to this member’s widow. It took everything I could to get through it and I still broke down, I was still a sobbing mess by the time I got through the speech.

Senior Firefighter Derek Rogers

Guardsman John Judge in full uniform and white gloves holds black ceremonial helmet with yellow patches at Tribute Plaza with chief and crowd in background.

2015 Firefighters Memorial, with Honour Guard member John Judge carrying the ceremonial helmet alongside Chief Dongworth.

As well as the Fallen Nine, the department recognises another 34 members as line of duty deaths. These firefighters died from occupational cancers, linked to exposure to smoke and fire.

The Alberta legislature passed Bill 202 in 2003, officially identifying the presumptive link between firefighting and certain cancers. Any firefighter diagnosed with one of the recognised forms after a certain period of service is presumed to have developed the condition as a result of their work. However, many firefighters continue to fight for recognition of their disease, and its links to their service.

Those who fall victim to recognised presumptive cancers are eligible for a full line of duty burial. During these events, the Guard can play a major role in the organisation of the ceremony, at the family’s discretion.

  • Arthur Scotten, Captain Occupational Cancer, Dec. 3, 1985
  • Ron J. Renard, Captain Occupational Cancer, July 2, 1998
  • Kenneth D. Moody, Division Chief Occupational Cancer, Sept. 14, 1999
  • Maurice Simonin, Division Chief Occupational Cancer, March 21, 2000
  • Garry Kendall, Captain Occupational Cancer, July 31, 2000
  • Terrance Burton, Senior Firefighter Occupational Cancer, Nov. 16, 2000
  • George Heming, Chief Training Officer Occupational Cancer, June 26, 2003
  • Edward Briggs, Captain Occupational Cancer, Jan. 23, 2004
  • William Beattie, Deputy Chief Occupational Cancer, May 9, 2005
  • Alan H. Edwards, Captain Occupational Cancer, May 12, 2005
  • Thomas Minhinnett, Fire Chief Occupational Cancer, June 28, 2005
  • Reuben Poffenroth, District Chief Occupational Cancer, Sept. 5, 2005
  • Robert Elder, Firefighter Occupational Cancer, Sept. 9, 2005
  • James Symon, Captain Occupational Cancer, Nov. 24, 2005
  • James Keats, Captain Occupational Cancer, May 30, 2006
  • Bruce Dancy, Captain Occupational Cancer, Aug. 31, 2006
  • Sidney Gilbert, District Chief Occupational Cancer, March 15, 2007
  • Gordon Paul, Senior Firefighter Occupational Cancer, Aug. 7, 2007
  • Olaf Wilson, Captain Occupational Cancer, Oct. 17, 2007
  • James Carrington, Division Chief Occupational Cancer, Nov. 24, 2008
  • C. Ronald Lindberg, Captain Occupational Cancer, May 18, 2010
  • Bruce Seitz, Captain Occupational Cancer, Aug. 11, 2010
  • Robert Derrheim, Captain Occupational Cancer, July 11, 2011
  • Rik J. Taylor, Captain Occupational Cancer, April 23, 2012
  • Wayne Morris, Fire Chief Occupational Cancer, Aug. 1, 2012
  • Leslie Badry, District Chief Occupational Cancer, March 6, 2013
  • Allan Anderson, Captain Occupational Cancer, April 9, 2013
  • Robert D. Moore, Captain Occupational Cancer, Aug. 11, 2013
  • Henry (Hank) Goldsworthy, Captain Occupational Cancer, Sept. 7, 2013
  • William McCaw, Captain Occupational Cancer, Sept. 11, 2013
  • Neville Cave, District Chief Occupational Cancer, Feb. 13, 2014
  • Richard Befus, District Chief Occupational Cancer, July 31, 2014
  • John McLeod, District Chief  Occupational Cancer, Nov. 6, 2014
  • Francois Rivest, Training Officer Occupational Cancer, Aug. 17, 2015
The Fallen Nine Organizing Tragedy