Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that today I rise to honour the memory of one of my constituents.
Stephen Rayfield was a firefighter from Castor, Alberta, who tragically lost his life this last week while responding to a call. While many run from danger, firefighters run toward it, and Stephen was a shining example of the selflessness that defines those men and women who serve in our fire departments across Canada, departments both big and small. General Norman Schwarzkopf once described courage as being fearful of something and going ahead to do it anyway. Stephen made the choice to serve, even though the conditions that night were treacherous. He served his community, because his community needed a hero.
Not only did Castor lose a firefighter, a loving wife also lost her husband and his kids lost their dad. We pray God's blessings and peace for his wife Cheryl and his children as they grieve and navigate this difficult time. Heaven may have gained a hero, but Castor lost a piece of its heart and soul.
We will never forget.