When a Floradale man died last month, the community came together in support of his family and friends.
Father, husband and longtime firefighter Paul Bowman, 45, succumbed to cancer after a sudden diagnosis just days before his death. Now Bowman’s colleagues hope to give his wife and children a measure of comfort by fundraising and gathering locals for a breakfast at the Floradale Mennonite Church on Nov. 10.
Organizers hope to present Marylin Bowman with the proceeds they raise in her husband’s name and create a time to collectively remember a man heavily involved with his community.
“Paul was always very involved in things at the fire hall: open houses, public education and stuff. He was involved with our smoke alarm program. He was always there and he was never shy to get involved and share his opinions,” said James Martin, deputy district fire chief of the Floradale station.
He remembers Bowman – whose father and two uncles were also long serving firefighters with Floradale – walking into the station for the first time, just a day after his 18th birthday.
As an Old Order Mennonite in his younger days, Bowman and his father would travel to the fire station on their bicycles. Later in life Bowman bought a car and was able to operate the trucks at the station as well, Martin recalled.
“I knew Paul very well. I also lived fairly close to the fire hall, we were both here through the day. In our younger years Paul and I would be first in on a hose line at the scene of a fire,” he said of the man who got involved wherever he could.
In September Martin’s co-workers found out Bowman was taken to the hospital for tests. By the time he was diagnosed with cancer, doctors told his family treatment was not an option.
“On Tuesday morning we were told if you want to see Paul you better go now … everything happened very quickly,” Martin said. Bowman died that same evening.
Now the close-knit group of firefighters hopes to support the people Bowman had to leave behind; they’ve been fundraising steadily, with great results.
“We’ve been asking for corporate businesses to help sponsor the breakfast. We’ve had corporate donations and private donations of money and food, offers of equipment and help from various businesses and organizations. The response from the community has been overwhelming,” Martin said.
The all-you-can-eat breakfast hosted by Floradale firefighters will be held at 22 Florapine Rd. from 7-11 a.m. Admission for adult is $10, children 2-8 $5, children under two enter for free. All proceeds will be going to Paul Bowman’s family.
