06/01/2026
Station 3 was named in the honour of firefighter Captain Craig C. Bowman “Opie,” who died three years ago from work-related cancer.
May 31, 2026
Source: Excerpts from Dave Johnson/Welland Tribune
In his final days with esophageal cancer, Capt. Craig Bowman spent hours on the phone with politicians and government officials sharing his family’s story with anyone who would listen.
“Most people in that situation would have every reason to focus on themselves and their family,” said his wife, Alisen. “But that was not Craig. Even while suffering the darkest days of his life, he was thinking about his brothers and sisters in the fire service and the families who would come after us”
Known as “Opie” by his colleagues, Bowman died in May 2023 from a disease he developed in the line of duty, diagnosed the year before his death at 47.
On Saturday, with his wife, children Lexi and Colin, and other family members in attendance among about a hundred people, Bowman’s legacy was honoured as the new Station 3 on Prince Charles Drive North was named in his memory.
As a Welland Fire and Emergency Services firefighter and advocate, he and his family fought to change legislation to include more presumptive cancer coverage and protections for firefighters.
“What happened next became so much more than our own personal story,” Alisen said, while fighting back tears. “Bigger than anyone could have possibly imagined. The (provincial) government made a promise that they would not just reopen Craig’s file, but they would review all firefighter cancer files and look at all cancers in the fire service. And they did. They listened.”
Lexi carried on the work that meant so much to her dad. With the support and guidance of Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association (OPFFA), she continued advocating for changes, with countless trips to Queen’s Park, meeting with Premier Doug Ford and Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Minister David Piccini. She travelled across Ontario speaking at conferences, events and lectures, sharing her father’s story and helping to educate firefighters and their families about the dangers they face.
Alisen said her daughter also recently played a role in further changes that protect children whose parent had a line-of-duty death in Ontario. Lexi is working with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) as a medical assistance program analyst and researcher, working to improve firefighter health and prevent occupational cancer.
As a result of their work, the province in 2024 changed legislation to recognize esophageal cancer 15 years into service, instead of 25, and added presumptive cancer coverage and protection in areas including the thyroid, pancreas, skin, kidney and colon. (British Columbia also followed suit.)
The change reversed the effect of bad news the year before as the family was planning Bowman’s funeral and line-of-duty ceremony. Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) had denied an appeal that his cancer be covered because it fell short of the 25-year requirement. Bowman was a firefighter for 22 1/2 years — 20 with Welland and nearly three years as a volunteer in Thorold.
“I want people to know the hall was named for him, not because of how he passed away, but what happened afterward and the legacy he leaves behind protecting others. The fire hall was his second home,” said Alisen.
She thanked members of Welland Professional Fire Firefighters Association Local 481 and OPFFA disease committee chair Gavin Jacklyn, who supported her family as it fought for change.
“(Jacklyn) helped us navigate a process we knew nothing about. He advocated tirelessly, and he supported a very emotional me who was trying to find her footing in a world that had completely changed. Our family will always be grateful for everything he did for us.”
Alisen said every firefighter who walks through the doors of Station 3 will see her husband’s name, and she hopes each remembers what it stands for: courage, compassion, sacrifice, family and taking care of each other.
@ Firefighters L481
