Thursday June 24, 2021 | COLWOOD, BC
by Mary P Brooke, Editor | Island Social Trends
We are presenting the news release as issued by the City of Colwood:
On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, the City of Colwood lost a highly respected leader, colleague, husband, father, and friend.
Colwood Fire Chief John Cassidy passed away suddenly after members of the Colwood Fire Department along with BC Ambulance Services responded to a medical emergency call and provided care for the Chief who later died in hospital.
“This is a tremendous loss for our community. We are so deeply saddened by John’s passing,” said Colwood Mayor Rob Martin. “We hold John’s family in our thoughts as we come together as a community to support the close-knit team of staff and volunteer firefighters he led and the many, many people who will feel this loss deeply.”
Chief Cassidy’s contributions to the health, safety and quality of life of the people of Colwood during his 22 years of dedicated service are countless. He will be remembered as a respected leader, a trusted colleague that could always be counted on, a man of great integrity, and a dear friend to so many. His commitment to serving his community has left an indelible mark on Colwood and he will not be forgotten.
The Colwood Fire Department, while mourning this loss, continues to serve the community under the leadership of Acting Chief Greg Chow with the unwavering support of the View Royal and Langford Fire Departments. The departments banded together on Wednesday as Colwood firefighters supported each other during the shock and grief of Chief Cassidy’s passing. Fire rescue services to the community were uninterrupted thanks to the well-established inter-departmental mutual aid agreements that Chief Cassidy had a strong hand in reinforcing.
“Chief Cassidy was held in the highest regard by the staff and volunteers of the Colwood Fire Department, the firefighting community throughout the province and all who had the honour of knowing him,” said Acting Fire Chief Greg Chow. “As we grieve together and support each other through this loss, we know that Chief Cassidy would want us to focus on continuing to provide exceptional fire rescue services to the community he was dedicated to serving. That is how we can best honour his memory at this difficult time.”
Flags are at half mast at the Colwood Fire Hall, Colwood City Hall, West Shore RCMP and Fire Departments around the region in Chief Cassidy’s honour. Plans for memorial services will be shared as information becomes available.
Family, friends and colleagues ask for privacy over the coming days to provide the time and space to grieve, process this loss, and remember Chief Cassidy.
