Canadian Fallen Firefighter Foundation official Doug Locke looks on to the planned memorial site in Lebreton Flats. The memorial may never be built if the group is unable to secure funds.
The memorial for fallen Canadian firefighters may never be built. That’s what Ontario fire marshal and firefighter advocate Patrick Burke is worried about.
The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation has been working to build the memorial since 2001, but a lack of funding has delayed the project.
The National Capital Commission has promised to dedicate a spot in LeBreton Flats across from the Canadian War Museum for the memorial.
But plans for construction can’t be executed until 70 per cent of funds have been secured, says Doug Locke, treasurer of the foundation.
The memorial is estimated to cost $4 million and so far, the foundation has collected just under $1 million.
The 70 per cent is needed to fund the nationwide competition that will decide the design of the memorial, as well as to ensure that construction begins immediately afterward.
“We get firefighters from across Canada who provide a valuable service to Canadians and many of them have lost their lives doing that, says Burke.
"To me, [a memorial] is a very simple recognition and not a very costly recognition."
Burke suggests the federal government’s help in funding this project should be beyond question..
Before the federal election, the Department of Canadian Heritage had offered to allocate $1 million to the funding of the memorial under certain conditions.
The foundation for fallen firefighters was unable to meet them, says Locke.
Those conditions included the start of construction within 18 to 24 months, something Locke says was unachievable simply because there wasn’t enough money.
“It was a catch-22,” says Locke. “A million dollars would bring us closer to 70 per cent, but they wanted 70 per cent before they’d give us a million dollars.”
But the negotiations aren’t over. The Department of Canadian Heritage will continue to work closely with the fallen firefighters foundation and the NCC to make the monument a reality, says Dominique Collin, spokesperson for the department.
Meanwhile, the foundation is relying primarily on donations, advertising revenues, and investment income to fund the memorial.
The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs is doing their part, pledging $5,000 a month over four years.
The donation was proposed by Burke, but he reiterates the need for public financial support.
“The federal government can assist in a big way with the funding of the monument,” he says. “There’s money spent everyday on items that aren’t as worthwhile as the recognition of the contribution of fallen firefighters.”
Locke says the building of the monument is crucial for the memory of the fallen firefighters.
“It’s important to us and it’s important to firefighters to get that national recognition,” he says.
And, he’s hoping the construction of the monument will at least be underway by May 2011.
“We’ll get there. If the government helps out, that’s fine, we’ll get there sooner," says Locke.
"If they don’t help out, that’s fine too. It’ll take us a little longer, but we’ll get there.”