In Memoriam
District Chief
Ben Audet
Who died on October 13, 2020
North Vancouver, BC
Badge # 27
Age 74
District Chief Ben Audet was born on April 4, 1946 in Causapscal, Quebec. He joined the West Vancouver Fire Department as a volunteer in January 1969 and accepted as a professional firefighter on May 19, 1969. Ben was promoted to Captain on May13, 1978. He was further promoted to District Chief on January 25, 1993. Chief Audet retired on February 28, 2000. He died of brain cancer. He leaves behind to mourn his passing his wife Pat, daughter Barbara and son Charles.
Captain
Eric Butler
Who died on January 8, 2019
Salmon Arm, BC
Badge # 29
Age 75
Captain Eric Butler was born on November 28, 1943 in Vancouver, B.C. Eric graduated from West Van High in West Vancouver. He joined the West Vancouver Fire Department on April 1, 1970. He was promoted to Lieutenant on September 15, 1981 and Captain on January 1, 1982. He retired on September 26, 1997. He died on January 8, 2019 of Pulmonary Fibrosis. He leaves behind is wife Jenni and sons Steven, Christopher, Brent and Colin.
Fire Fighter
Doug Johnson
Who died on June 7, 2014
North Vancouver, BC
Badge # 31
Age 65
Firefighter Doug Johnson was born on June 8, 1949 in Vancouver, B.C. He had his elementary education at Hollyburn School and went to West Van High. He joined the West Vancouver Fire Department on May 1, 1970 and resigned in 1975.
He died on June 7, 2014 of a seizure.
Captain
Barry Campbell
Who died on October 12, 2018
Nanaimo, BC
Badge # 33
Age 71
Captain Barry Campbell was born September 4, 1947 in Vancouver B.C. He went to school at David Thompson High in Vancouver. Barry began his career in the fire service with the Kitimat Fire Department in 1969. He then joined the West Vancouver Fire Department on May 19, 1970. He was promoted to Lieutenant on September 15, 1981 and to Captain on October 24, 1983. He was President of (IAFF) local 1525 for 27 years. He retired on December 18, 1998. He died of cancer. He leaves behind his wife Pam and his children Britney, Brandon, Glen, and Sarah.
Captain
Jim Barabash
Who died on April 15, 1995
North Vancouver, BC
Badge # 35
Age 48
Captain Jim Barabash was born on June 3, 1946 in Melville, Sask. Jim graduated from Gladstone High in Vancouver. In 1967 he joined the Vancouver Police Dept. In 1968, he left the police dept and moved to Kitimat where he began his career in the fire service with the Kitimat Fire Dept. In 1969 he returned to the lower mainland and joined the West Vancouver Fire Dept on July 16, 1970. Jim was promoted to Lieutenant on Sept 15, 1981 and appointed to Captain on Aug 1, 1987. Jim was still an active member when he died of cancer. Jim and his wife Diane have two children, Ashley and Brock.
Captain
Gordon Brown
Who died on May 30, 2018
Chilliwack, BC
Badge # 36
Age 71
Captain Gordon “Gordie” Brown was born on June 7, 1946 in North Vancouver, B.C. Gordon went to school at Hollyburn Elementary in West Vancouver, Holliston Elementary in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Dollarton Elementary in North Vancouver. At the age of 16 he joined the Royal Canadian Navy for 3 years and then moved to Penticton where he joined the Penticton Volunteer Fire Department. He joined the West Vancouver Fire Department on July 16, 1970. He was promoted to Lieutenant on September 15, 1981 and to Captain on August 1, 1988. He retired on September 26, 1997. He died of heart failure. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife Grace and daughter Katherine.