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The Citizen, 2012-05-03, Page 28PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2012. Continued from page 1 the fire department, but I disagree with that. “You will continue,” Cathy said to the firefighters. “You will continue to go on not because the chief wants you to but because you want to. He was proud of every one of you.” She said the FDNH firefighters need to not be discouraged but to pick themselves up and continue on regardless of what happens. She concluded by saying that she knew Black was sitting with all the other firefighters that had died before him and they were there sharing stories. She also said that, since he got there, working smoke alarms were being installed and safety documentation was being reviewed, repaired and rewritten. Black’s brother David stepped up to the microphone following Cathy. He shared a note to Black that he delivered during Black’s funeral ceremony in Gravenhurst earlier in the week. He said he had shared great times growing up with Black and he had never stopped learning about courage, humility and honour from him. He also stated Black’s achievements were great during his time. He said that, on behalf of Black’s family, there was a sincere thanks to the fire services in attendance and Black’s friends. “Rest in Peace John, your heart will always be with us,” he said. Clark then took to the stage and shared his memories of the fire chief he had been Chaplain along side next. He said Black had played many roles in the fire department. First and foremost, he was a teacher, but he was also a dreamer. “He saw the potential in an old trailer, a trench and old cars to create the centre as it exists today,” he said. “His vision wasn’t to improve the ESTC but to radically define what it was.” He said Black was a leader with wide shoulders, thick skin and “one deaf ear to ignore the neigh-sayers and the critics.” He also fiercely believed in the FDNH. “We’re stronger as a single department than we were as two departments in friendly competition,” Clark said. “We’re safer.” Black’s experience in working in the three different stations in Gravenhurst led to the experience that was needed to amalgamate the Blyth and Wingham stations, Clark said. He also said Black went above and beyond the call of duty and his interim fill-ins, Acting Chief Keith Hodgkinson and Deputy-Chief and Acting ESTC Principal David Sparling, were beginning to feel the weight of his responsibilities. “John worked 60 to 80 hours a week to get his vision off the ground,” he said, adding he wasn’t just talking about the ESTC. “He didn’t want to see any single institution do better, but for each firefighter to grow and exceed their potential.” Clark told stories of Black’s life and the firefighters reflecting the commitment they had to each other right up until the marching for the memorial service. Despite a lack of training up until the week after Black’s passing, the firefighters of the FDNH found themselves “marching as if their lives depended on it” Clark said because they were marching for Black. Clark also commented on how Black wanted those who followed in his footsteps to be. “John wanted to raise leaders with shoulders as broad and skin as thick as his and with one deaf ear,” he said. Clark said it was hard to believe how involved Black had become in the lives of those in attendance in just three years and said to make no mistake: the FDNH and everyone who knew Black were missing him. “John invested so much of himself in these stations and this community that he will be a part of who we are and who we become,” he said. Acting fire chief Keith Hodgkinson took to the stage as the first to honour Black with a tribute to his memory. “I had the great pleasure of working with John,” he said. “Even three years ago when he started, just having a conversation with him, you would know he was something special.” Hodgkinson said he was a strong leader and gave his best to his family and community. He worked long hours to see his visions come to life. “His biggest pride and joy was the completion of the new ESTC,” he said. “John was always teaching, always guiding.” The safety of each firefighter was Black’s priority according toHodgkinson and he lived andbreathed the fire service. “He was always pinging us on hisBlackBerry at all hours with ideas of how to make things safer,” he said. “We are all better people due to his efforts.” He said Black’s effort and dedication had made the FDNH a place any firefighter would be proud to call home and left the stage after reminding everyone Black’s favourite beverage was a glass of Kilkenny beer, which he encouraged everyone to raise a glass of in his memory. North Huron Reeve Neil Vincent took to the stage and said that, while he normally speaks off the cuff, he was going to stick to his notes to make sure he got through it. He said that, in the last week, he read a book of short stories about the tornado that tore through Goderich just under a year ago and found himself seeing Black’s reflection throughout a story by Goderich firefighter Jeff Wormington. Specifically, Vincent said one passage made him think of Black: “Volunteer firefighters are just regular people. We have spouses, children, jobs and personal lives just like everyone else. But when that pager goes off, it is our job to leave our spouses, children, jobs and personal lives behind, no questions asked.” Vincent said that passage reminded him of three years ago when North Huron Township Council was interviewing for the fire chief of the recently formed FDNH. “We asked John what his job would be,” he said. “He said that his number one job was to have each firefighter to return home after every call.” Vincent said Black was hired soon after. He said Black brought the skills of a trained and experienced firefighterto the job but that, soon after the startof the ESTC upgrading, they saw hisadministration expertise. He saidBlack’s efforts in getting the FDNH running and the ESTC to where it was were not to be forgotten before saying Black would be remembered fondly by many. “The last time I spoke to John he told me that he had three families,” Vincent said, speaking of Black’s believe that firefighters have the family they are born into, the family they are married into and the fire service. “But I think the family that will miss John the most will be the fourth family: all the rest of us who met and had the pleasure of working with him. Vincent then, fighting back tears, bid Black rest in piece. Speakers from the Fire Marshal Office of Ontario, the Firefighters Association of Ontario and the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs then brought their condolences and memories of Black before the Last Post and Reveille were played with a moment of silence between them. Hodgkinson then presented a flag to Black’s wife Cathy, David Sparling presented a pillow and Black’s medals to Cathy and Assistant Deputy Chief Don Egan presented Black’s helmet to her. A bell-ringing ceremony was then held. Firefighter Shawn McCurdy explained the importance of the bell in alarming firefighters of impending work and also in dismissing them home when their duties were done. He explained the bell would then be rung for Black, a signal he had performed his duties admirably and it was now time for him to rest. Firefighter Robb Finch rang the bell as all in attendance stood at attention before Clark read the Firefighter’s Prayer and closed the service. Black’s vision, dedication honoured at service With them in spirit While the late Fire Department of North Huron Fire Chief John Black may no longer physically be here to help guide the firefighters of the Fire Department of North Huron, the men still kept him close by having his gear, shown here, on the back of one of the fire trucks involved in the procession prior to his memorial service at the Emergency Services Training Centre on April 28. Black died due to complications with cancer two weeks ago. (Denny Scott photo) Escorting the Deputy Chief As part of the procession prior to the memorial service for the late Fire Department of North Huron (FDNH) Chief John Black, firefighters were joined by local dignitaries, Black’s family and members of other fire protection services in a procession from the Blyth and District Community Centre, under a massive Canadian flag suspended by two ladder trucks and through to the Emergency Services Training Centre (ESTC) in Blyth where the memorial service was held. Shown are, from left, Capt. Ken DeVries, Capt. Mike McDonald, Capt. Chad Kregar, Capt. Bill Burkholder, Capt. Matt Townsend and, in the fire engine, Deputy-Chief and Acting Principal of the ESTC David Sparling. (Denny Scott photo)