Stanley Park, The Lions Gate Bridge, and a flag at half mast.

 

View from the Noordam as we left Vancouver on Sept 14, 2025

I took a series of photos as we passed under the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver.  This one caught my eye for various reasons.  Composition-wise, it has thirds, lines, and interesting foreground and background aspects to it.  But there is something special going on that I didn't notice until today.  Do you see it?

The flag at Prospect Point - the top of the cliff face in the shot - is at half mast.  I wasn't aware of anyone who had recently passed that would cause flags to fly that way.  What was going on?

National Firefighters Memorial Day is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday in September, which happened to be the day we left on our cruise.  Flags in the city, in fact across the country, are flown at half mast on this day to honour those fallen in the line of duty to protect others.  It was set as a continuing show of respect back in 2017.  I had never heard of it until today; it was my photo that brought it to my attention.

I looked at the government of Canada's website on National Firefighters Memorial Day.  I chose some excerpts from that site and listed them below.  

  • According to the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation, over 1,300 firefighters died in the line of duty since 1848.

  • The Government of Canada is working ... to invest $80 million over five years, starting in 2018-19, and $20 million thereafter, for the establishment of a grant program to support the families of public safety officers who have fallen in the line of duty.

It's interesting how a simple photo can draw your attention to something completely unrelated.  It's good to know something like this exists.  I can't think of a more deserving group.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com

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