Close to 1,500 people, including more than 400 firefighters from around the province and from Alberta and Manitoba, gathered at the Cache Creek Park on Saturday, June 3 to honour Cache Creek fire chief Clayton Cassidy.
The celebration of Cassidy’s life began with a procession of family members and firefighters from the Cache Creek fire hall to the park. In addition to the firefighters — including several dozen from Kamloops Fire Rescue, who provided the honour guard — there were firefighting vehicles representing two dozen fire departments around the province, including Boston Bar/North Bend, Lytton, Spences Bridge, Ashcroft, Cache Creek, New Afton, Clinton, Lone Butte/North Green Lake, Lillooet, and 100 Mile House.
Cassidy, aged 59, who had served for more than 30 years on the Cache Creek Fire Department and spent more than a decade as chief, was reported missing on the morning of May 5 after apparently being swept away by floodwater as he was checking rising water levels in washed out areas of the community. His body was found on May 27, and recovered on May 28.
Retired chaplain Ray Parker of Kamloops Fire Rescue conducted the service. He opened by saying that “We are here to celebrate a life well-lived.” He quoted from John 15:13 — “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Parker said that “Clayton Cassidy was that sort of man. As a firefighter he would run into those places we would run away from.
“His love of the fire service was second only to his love of his family and of the Village of Cache Creek.”
Chief Ryan Day of the Bonaparte Indian Band said that Cassidy was much honoured by the Bonaparte community.
“A well-loved, well-liked, cherished soul was taken into the water. These lands and these waters took him home to the spirit world to be with his ancestors. He watched over many of us in human form, in one place at one time. In spirit form he will be in all places at all times, and I know he is watching over us.”
Cache Creek fire chief Tom Moe read the Firefighters Prayer, which begins “When I am called to duty, God / Wherever flames may rage / Give me strength to save a life / Whatever be its age” and ends “And if according to Your will / I must answer death’s call / Bless with your protecting hand / My family one and all.”
Parker then read, at the request of the Cassidy family, Psalm 121, the final verse of which reads “The Lord will keep you from all harm; He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.”
Cassidy’s brother Patrick, a year younger, told stories about how he and Clayton had a special bond growing up, being the two middle children in the family: “Clayton used to say to me ‘I’m stuck in the middle with you.’ Clayton took on the role of looking after others, and he carried that compassion all his life.
“He was a man of integrity and honesty; hard-working. He loved his wife, his family, and his community, and he left us too soon.” Patrick ended his address by asking the attendees to show their appreciation for Clayton Cassidy with “three cheers”, and the assembled crowd responded heartily.
Three cheers for Chief Cassidy @BlackPressMedia @CTVVancouver pic.twitter.com/IDHEtZEXmJ
— Kevin Macdonald (@kevinamacdonald) June 3, 2017
B.C. fire commissioner Gordon Anderson was there on behalf of the province to recognize and honour Cassidy. “He made the ultimate sacrifice. He was there to protect his community, and the turnout today shows that Chief Cassidy was appreciated.”
Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart said how important Cassidy was to everyone in Cache Creek, citing his receipt of the provincial Medal of Good Citizenship in June 2016. “He exemplified public service and what it meant to serve others,” she told the crowd. “When Clayton received his Medal of Good Citizenship, Premier Christy Clark said, ‘In an emergency, some people rise to the occasion, others go above and beyond. He made a difference when it was needed most.’”
Tegart said that she was honoured to present his family with the B.C. flag. “Clayton was a true hero who was loved by many.”
"Dad would be humbled and speechless to see how many people are here to honour him," said middle son, Kevin, who is a Kamloops firefighter.
— AshcroftJournalNews (@AshcroftNews) June 3, 2017
Longtime friend and Cache Creek councillor Wyatt McMurray, who spent many hours searching by helicopter for the missing fire chief, called Cassidy his best friend.
“On the morning of May 5 I got the call that I will never forget. The words ‘Clayton is missing’ are words I’ll never forget. Suddenly nothing seemed important except finding Clayton.
“The reaction of all the volunteers exemplifies small towns. People in Cache Creek and Ashcroft were trying to find one of our heroes, and never giving up.
“Clayton was one of those quiet heroes. He worked hard, looked after his family, tried to do the right thing. There are many quiet heroes in our communities, but Clayton took it to the highest level. He was a guy you could always count on. Clayton was always there.
“He was always game for everything that was up. We all send you our love. We’ve lost a champion, an unsung hero, and a friend.”
Bill Elliott, a Cache Creek firefighter and another longtime friend, said Cassidy was one of a kind.
“When it came time to lend a hand he would help everyone and anyone,” he said. “He went above and beyond. I’m very proud to call Clayton Cassidy my friend.”
Packed house for Chief Cassidy's funeral @BlackPressMedia @CTVVancouver pic.twitter.com/9jeAlpeTDo
— Kevin Macdonald (@kevinamacdonald) June 3, 2017
Cassidy’s three sons all spoke movingly about their father. Middle son Kevin, a member of Kamloops Fire Rescue, said that his father would be “humbled and speechless to see how many people are here to honour him.
“I wish I could find bigger words than ‘thank you’ to express my and my family’s thanks for all those who spent thousands of hours looking for my dad.” He singled out the fire departments of Cache Creek, Ashcroft, and Kamloops, as well as the search and rescue teams, emergency responders, and police who assisted with the search, with special thanks to Ashcroft fire chief Josh White and Ashcroft fire captain Jonah Anstett, who found his father on May 27.
“First responders keep helping people, and finding people, as best we can.”
Parker concluded the service by saying of Cassidy that “We will remember him fondly, and with great respect. We are grateful and thankful for a life well-lived.”
Parker then explained that bells played a large part in the life of firefighters, signalling the call to duty and the end of an alarm. When a firefighter dies in the line of duty, a bell is rung three times, three times each, to show that the firefighter has returned to quarters. The bell was rung, and under the bright sunshine of a June day Cache Creek fire chief Clayton Cassidy — a man of honour, integrity, compassion, and great love — was brought home and laid to rest.