Monday March 20, 2023 | LANGFORD, BC [Updated 7:35 pm on March 21, 2023]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Update: A public memorial for the late Assistant Langford Fire Chief Lance Caven will be held on Saturday April 29, 2023 at Belmont Secondary School, at 1 pm, preceded by a procession along West Shore Parkway and Langford Parkway, which will arrive at the school around 12:45 pm. | EVENT CALENDAR
Langford Fire Rescue has lost one of its own.
“The City of Langford is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Assistant Chief Lance Caven after a valiant battle with cancer,” it was stated in a city news release this morning, March 20, 2023.
Caven was the Langford Fire Department‘s Fire Prevention Officer and Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention. He did fire investigations, fire inspections, and public education. Most of his job took him out into the community, interacting with the public and businesses. He got to know a lot of people.
Dedicated to firefighting & prevention:
“Assistant Chief Caven dedicated 30 years of his life serving the Langford community. He joined the fire service, starting as a volunteer in 1991, stepping into a career position in 2002, and finally as Assistant Chief since 2017,” as stated in the City of Langford’s news release.
Caven first joined the service in 1991. He stepped into a career position in 2002 and had served as assistant chief since 2017. In 2012, Caven was awarded the Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada.
“He dedicated his life to preventing fires, and saving lives and will always be remembered for his love and passion for firefighting and fire prevention. He will be greatly missed, and his legacy will remain in our hearts forever,” a City spokesperson said. “Safety never takes a holiday,” was a buzz line Caven was known for repeating often.
As recently as 2021 he was doing active firefighting, including on July 17 that summer attending to a fire blazing on the roof of a row of townhouses under construction on Echo Valley Place, just off lower Bear Mountain Parkway.
Over the years, Island Social Trends noticed that he seemed to have a lot of fun at public events including the annual pumpkin smash at Westshore Town Centre, the Halloween fire hall community events, and doing public information displays about fire safety. He really engaged with the public and local businesses, inspiring action by residents and business owners to do their best around fire prevention and emergency preparedness.
Langford Fire Chief Chris Aubrey estimates that Lance would have met “tens of thousands of people” over the course of his years with the fire service. Through what people learned about fire prevention during safety sessions with now former Assistant Chief Lance Caven has probably saved many lives, mused Aubrey.
Pancreatic cancer related to firefighting:
But about 18 months ago Caven went on leave, with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer which was definitely linked to his career in firefighting, said Chief Aubrey.
Aubrey says that the firefighting gear that firefighters wear for protection actually has carcinogenic components. He says that pancreatic cancer and thyroid cancer were both was just added (back in November) to the known list of presumptive cancers related to firefighting. The first list of presumptive cancers was first issued in BC in 2005; the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs is trying to get the list standardized across the country as part of their advocacy around firefighter cancers, says Aubrey.
Fires nowadays produce more toxic chemicals as there aren’t a lot of natural materials in homes and buildings any more. The severity of fires is more than even 10 years ago. And they spread fast.
Trying to beat the odds:
Everyone at Langford Fire Rescue and the City of Langford was hoping for Caven to beat the odds, and so the news of his death did hit hard, Chief Aubrey told Island Social Trends. “The last month has been rough,” said Aubrey, as the Langford Fire Department was advised that Lance’s cancer had spread. “He definitely gave it all he had.”
Lance Caven was only 50 years old. He leaves behind a wife and 10-year-old daughter and extended family.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that the cancer he got was related to his 30 years in the fire service,” said Chief Aubrey. Firefighters are exposed through either fire suppression or fire investigations and Lance did both, Aubrey explained.
“He was a personable guy and always good for a laugh,” said Chief Aubrey. “His enthusiasm and his personality really had an impact on a lot of people.”
But he wanted to fight his illness privately, and didn’t want any fundraising done or have any special attention drawn to it, said Chief Aubrey.
Memorial:
Flags will be lowered to half-mast throughout the City and the Region in his honor.
The family and the Langford Fire Department ask for privacy and space to grieve, and treasure AC Caven’s memory during this difficult time.
Chief Aubrey says Caven’s family is still deciding what they want to do in the way of a public service if at all.
Langford Council March 20:
At the City of Langford March 20 council meeting, Mayor Scott Goodmanson spoke eloquently about Lance Caven — who he knew prior to becoming Langford’s mayor — and how he will be missed. Goodmanson called it a sad start to the meeting.
There was a minute of silence for everyone in the room and was likely also observed remotely.
Others who spoke at tonight’s council meeting as members of the public included Mike Wignall, Nirmal Johal and Wendy Hobbs who gave their condolences to Lance Caven’s family and the ‘city staff family’.
