Fallen firefighters remembered at OFC

GRAVENHURST — Dennis Thain thinks the deaths of any firefighter are worth remembering.

In 1988 the Fire Fighters’ Association of Ontario (FFAO) raised money to build a monument in their memory here at the Ontario Fire College (OFC).

With then Ontario lieutenant governor general Lincoln Alexander on hand, 600 firefighters, families and friends from Muskoka and around Ontario gathered to pay their respects.

That was when Gravenhurst was the place to be to remember, says Thain, who used to organize the event until this year.

Firefighters from across the province would come, many who had taken training at the school on the shores of Lake Ontario. Many would bring their families to show them where, even today, most of Ontario’s volunteer firefighters still take courses.

The Red Knights, a group of retired firefighter motorcyclists would unite at the gas bar on Hwy. 11 in King City north of Toronto and motor up. This many drove due to the rain down south.

But over a decade ago more of the participant began remaining down south for a service in Toronto each October on the lawn of the provincial legislature at Queen’s Park.

There, firefighters killed on the job each year are honoured in an elaborate service.

Saturday, 30 years later, Thain and about 80 other firefighters and their families gathered at the OFC to pay their respects in an annual service that continues, albeit more lower key.

Thain, a retired volunteer firefighter from Burlington, says no death should be ignored.

Now, it’s often volunteers — and fulltime firefighters — who have died of cancer that are remembered, not only the rare few killed in the province fighting a fire.

Normally outdoors, the threat of rain moved the service inside the old bay garage that has been turned into a large classroom.

It worked, because it helped that it was air conditioned, a concern other years for those sitting out in the open, often under sunny, blue skie with no shelter from the blistering heat.

(Ironically, one overcome member of the colour guard had to step out of formation due to the heat.)

School principal Guy Degane welcomed those assembled.

(Retired) District Chief John Payne was the MC for the hour-long service.

Ron King, president of the FFAO, and Carl Pearrson, representing the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation made memorial addresses.

Due to the change in government, a provincial representative was not available.

Rev. Dr. Jim Sittler, OFC Chaplain, conducted the worship.

Wreaths were presented on behalf of the province, the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management, the FFAO and Red Knights.

The Ontario Fire College Pipe Band led the firefighters’ parade, and bugler Mark Clairmont played Last Post and Reville.

A reception followed in the student dorm cafeteria following.