B.C. lacrosse legend and longtime firefighter Sohen Gill from Burnaby dies at age 78

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      Local sports and firefighting communities are in mourning after the loss of a legendary B.C. lacrosse player and former firefighter.

      Sohen Gill, who worked as a Vancouver firefighter for over 30 years, had been inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2005 and the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

      According to the B.C. Hall of Fame, who call him the “hardest-working man in B.C. lacrosse”, was the son of immigrants from India and grew up in North Burnaby.

      The B.C. Hall of Fame says that he is “generally regarded as the first Indo-Canadian lacrosse player in western Canada and most likely the first in the entire country”.

      CTV News Vancouver reported in 2012 that he had to undergo a kidney transplant.

      His son Chris, who was a kidney match for Sohen, is now the head coach of the Vancouver Warriors.

      The Vancouver Warriors issued a statement on November 8 that they were deeply saddened to learn that the loss of Sohen Gill, who was 78 years old, earlier in the week. He had been surrounded by family and friends.

      Canucks Sports and Entertainment expressed condolences to the Gill family and to thank Sohen for his contributions to lacrosse.

      According to the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame, a celebration of life will be held for Sohen Gill at the Firefighters Banquet Hall in Burnaby at 1 p.m. on December 18.

      Sohen Gill
      Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame
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