It goes without saying that there is a code of honour and feeling of family amongst those that serve as fire fighters that goes above and beyond just being co-workers. The members of the Chestermere Fire Service are no exception to that. When you see them with each other, whether it be on duty or in the community, that tight bond they share is obvious. However, that connection goes way beyond the town boundaries of which they serve….way beyond.
On October 20th, on the other side of country, one of their own, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent was run down and killed in Longueuil, Quebec by a troubled young man who had embraced radical Islam. This sense act of violence devastated all those that new Warrant Officer Vincent, even those that serve our community here in Chestermere.
Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent served for 28 years in the military most of it spent as a firefighter on bases and ships. Vincent was described by his family as being humble, a caring man who valued family, friends and his happiness.
The community of Canadian firefighters is small, but the number of them enlisted to be military firefighters is even smaller, with national numbers of about 470. Vincent joined in May 1986 as a combat engineer. He later opted to become a fireman, a profession that took him to postings at military bases in Valcartier, Que., Comox and Esquimalt in British Columbia, Edmonton, Trenton, North Bay and Halifax in Nova Scotia. It was during his time in Edmonton that he met and served alongside Chestermere Fire Service, Captain Craig Passmore, for three years.
Upon hearing of Warrant Officer Vincents tragic passing, Captain Passmore wanted to do something that would show respect for the fallen hero. “Over a recent conversation with my brother back in Sherbrooke PQ. – my home town – where he is a full time Firefighter with Sherbrooke Fire Dept, we were discussing how we can give back and recognize the contributions that WO Pat Vincent did, not only for the Fire Service but for Canada. We came up with an idea to do something subtle but also shows our support for a fallen brother of the Fire Service. Our two Fire Services have teamed up and have had stickers made to put on our helmets to show our support. The priority for us was not making a large sum of money, it was about showing our support for him and his family. Even though we are on the other side of the country, we stand behind our brothers and sisters of the Fire Service. Each member of Chestermere Fire Services has a sticker placed on the rear lid of the helmet as does each member at Sherbrooke Fire Dept. All money raised will go to The Fallen firefighter’s”, explained Captain Passmore.
We in Chestermere should be proud of the men and women that serve our community to keep us safe and put themselves in situations that most would run from. Their selfless actions and unified spirit to serve, truly give us the peace and freedom that we are privileged to live in.
