To the military firefighters who worked with him on the Island, he was known as Pat, a good-humoured, dedicated serviceman with a unique francophone accent.
Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, 53, died after being hit by a car driven by a suspected terrorist in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., Monday morning. Another officer was also struck and hurt.
Vincent worked as a firefighter throughout Canada during 28 years in the Canadian Forces, including stints in Comox and Esquimalt.
“It hit close to home when I realized the person who died was someone I worked with over 20 years,” said Ernest Payne, a retired warrant officer and firefighter in Comox.
Word among those who worked with Vincent quickly spread among the tight-knit group, said Payne, who met Vincent at CFB Comox about 20 years ago.
“I think it was his first post outside of Quebec. He came with two words of English: hello and goodbye,” said Payne, adding Vincent’s Acadian accent made it hard for English- and other French-speakers to understand him at first. “He quickly overcame those barriers. He just had a great sense of humour.”
Payne said Vincent was eager to learn more about firefighting. They worked together in Comox for about four years. About 2006, they were colleagues again for a brief stint at CFB Esqui-malt, where Vincent worked on HMCS Ottawa.
Payne said it’s too early to know how Island bases will mark the death of their former colleague, but that ceremonies will likely take place in Vincent’s hometown and his last workplace.
