TORONTO – On Sunday, October 1, 2023, Ontario’s fallen firefighters were honoured for their bravery, heroism, and sacrifice at a special ceremony held at the Ontario Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial located on the southeast corner of Queens Park.

The ringing of the bell is a tradition which reflects our respect and honour to those who have died in the line of duty, paying the supreme sacrifice for the good of their fellow citizens. When the fire was out and the alarm had come to an end, it was the bell that signaled to all the completion of that call. When a firefighter dies in the line of duty, it is the toll of the bell that solemnly announces a comrade's passing. This year we rang the bell 49 times in honour of the 49 fallen firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities.  Their names have been added to the Memorial Wall.

The Memorial is staged on a red Maltese Cross, which is an international symbol for firefighting.  A bronze sculpture depicts a modern-day firefighter rescuing a child from peril with a towering black granite monolith representing a building behind.  Engraved on the polished granite walls surrounding it, are the name, rank, and date of death of 962 firefighters whose deaths are considered in the line of duty.

The memorial ceremony began at 13:00 hours.