'We're going to miss him so much': Children of Rick Bastien remember dad killed in Eastway Tank blast
To his family, Rick Bastien was everything.
"Our dad was amazing, he was the rock of our family, he was so caring and kind," said daughter Tracy Pritchard.
"He would always at the drop of a hat be there for his kids and for his family," said son Josh Bastien, who for a time, worked with his dad at Eastway Tank on Merivale Road.
"I seemed to always kind of gravitate closer to where dad was working so I could learn as much as I could."
Rick Bastien was one of six people killed in an explosion at Eastway Tank on Jan. 13. The cause is under investigation.
"We want closure, we want answers, this shouldn't have happened and we're just devastated," said Pritchard.
"Now there's a catastrophe," said Bastien. "Everyone that died I worked with at that place so it's really hitting me hard."
Josh Bastien, himself a former Eastway Tank employee is among those alleging numerous safety issues at the site including previous fires, improper chemical storage and dumping material by the train tracks.
In a statement, Eastway Tank said the allegations are unfounded.
"We are all mourning the loss of our friends and family, and I share the immense pain, sadness and anger being felt," said Neil Greene, president and owner. "With respect, these allegations are unfounded. Eastway Tank has always worked to maintain the highest safety standards. We are working closely with investigators and are cooperating fully to get to the bottom of what happened."
In a statement, the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development says it has completed five field visits to Eastway Tank and issued four orders on June 13, 2017, that included the company repairing the exhaust pipe ventilation system, preparing a written safe working procedure for welding and taking steps to protect workers from exposure to hazardous chemicals. All orders have been complied with, the ministry said.
A number of parallel investigations are ongoing. Ottawa Police said Wednesday remains have been recovered and the process of identifying them, which will take days if not weeks, is underway.
"I have two kids, Liam and Wyatt who he absolutely adored," said Pritchard of her dad.
"He had pictures of them in his toolbox at work and that's literally what got him through his day sometimes," added Josh Bastien.
"He would always have logical advice for me and that got me through and I just can't imagine what it's going to be like now to not have that connection," said Bastien. "I'm lucky I have other family members that are going to be there and step up but nothing is ever going to replace my father."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.