'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
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.