'They are priceless': Fallen firefighter's family ask for return of memorial plaques
A memorial dedicated to honouring the contribution of the city’s fallen firefighters has been vandalized for the second time.
The Edmonton Firefighters Memorial Society believes the plaques inscribed with the names of firefighters who died in the line of duty were stolen sometime between Thursday and Friday.
The Renaud family lost their son Marc, who was a firefighter battling PTSD, to suicide in August of 2018. His family said his name had been remembered and honoured at the memorial.
“This is where our son's name would’ve been,” his mother Brenda said. “It’s an honour for us, really.
“It is an honour to see his name there for the service and time he gave to Edmonton fire. It is a beautiful tribute to our son Marc and to all the firemen whose names have been stolen.”
Rob Cavell, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services retired captain, said all retired and current members are disappointed by the plaque theft.
“They are priceless to us. The metal itself may be considered valuable itself, but recycling dealers in the area will not accept plaques without proof of ownership,” Cavell said. “The owners, in this case, are the firefighters of the city of Edmonton.
“They want them back,” he added. “Those are their brothers, their colleagues, their friends, and now it could be their sons.”
Edmonton Firefighters Memorial Society monument in Strathcona neighbourhood. Saturday July 24, 2021 (CTV News Edmonton)
Bronze plaques belonging to the Edmonton Firefighters Memorial Society have been stolen (CTV News Edmonton/Brandon Lynch)
The firefighters memorial society says it’s the second time since the plaza housing the monument was created in the late 90s that the plaques have been removed.
In the first instance, the plaques were returned within a few hours.
The society maintaining the memorial says if the plaques are not returned they will need to be replaced, with an estimated cost of $10,000 to $15,000.
“That’s money out of the pockets that supposed to be going to the families as we help them deal with the loss of a loved one that was a firefighter in the city of Edmonton,” Cavell said.
The plaques can be returned to any Edmonton fire hall without any questions asked, the society said.
“Bring them back,” Cavell said.
“If that could be done, that would be the best thing they could do,” Marc's father Ray said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.