‘We want to honour Nick’: St. Thomas firefighter laid rest after fatal motorcycle crash
Family, friends and colleagues laid St. Thomas firefighter Nick Cheeseman to rest Saturday.
An honour guard lined the parking lot as members of the St. Thomas Fire Department (STFD) brought the casket of Nick Cheeseman from his funeral.
“We just want to honour Nick,” says Daryl Smith, president of the St. Thomas Professional Fire Fighters Association.
With the entire STFD consisting of nearly 60 members attending the funeral, a pair of dispatchers from Kitchener Fire filled in, and a London fire crew was covering off a replacement shift.
“We’re all family,” says Jeff Johnston, a London fire chief helping lead the spare team Saturday in St. Thomas.
“It’s a brotherhood and sisterhood and they’d do the same for us. It’s a necessary part of the grieving process for them to be together.”
It is the fourth time in the past 21 years, a London, Ont. team has helped St. Thomas for a firefighter funeral.
The funeral for St. Thomas firefighter Nick Cheeseman was held in St. Thomas, Ont. on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) Cheeseman, 34, was killed when his motorcycle collided with an SUV near the southeast end of St Thomas’ city limits Thursday, July 28.
OPP says no charges have been laid.
Saturday, firefighters from around southern Ontario packed the Masonic Centre south of St. Thomas, Ont. to pay their respects.
“He was so proud to service others, and do the job that many of us do in this room,” says John Reid, Nick’s cousin, and a fellow firefighter
Reid and Cheeseman were avid motorcycle riders, and had plans to take a road trip this weekend.
“We were going to do the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee, and unfortunately I’ll have to do that without him sometime. Hopefully with some of you in this room, that would be great.”
Cheeseman’s brother Ryan called his brother endlessly talented while speaking about his widow Erica and five-month-old son Wyatt.
“We can find solace in the fact that Nick did live his life fully,” says Ryan.
“He created an unbelievable little guy with Erica, and we got his back moving forward, and we know you guys are here to support us. We’ll do our best to fill that gap. I love you so much bro, and give heaven some hell for me ok.”
Smith called it a “difficult day” for the entire department.
“We’re coping the best we can. Sometimes it’s just nice to be at the hall so we can be together. We can reminisce and help each other.”
An online fundraiser has raised over $55,000 in over a week.
Firefighters from across southern Ontario attend the funeral of Nick Cheeseman. The St. Thomas, Ont. firefighter was killed in a motorcycle crash on July 28, 2022. (Source: Brent Lale/CTV News London)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
'Of course, yes': Poland latest European country with interest in Canadian LNG
The President of Poland says his country would 'of course' be interested in purchasing Canadian liquefied natural gas if it were available, while the Canadian federal government has said it is 'not interested' in subsidizing future projects.
Dozens in Italy give a fascist salute on the anniversary of Mussolini's execution
Dozens of people raised their arms in the fascist salute and shouted a fascist chant during ceremonies Sunday to honor Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on the 79th anniversary of his execution.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
Britney Spears settles long-running legal dispute with estranged father, finally bringing ultimate end to conservatorship
Britney Spears has reached a settlement with her estranged father more than two years after the court-ordered termination of a conservatorship that had given him control of her life, their attorneys said.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Health minister 'deeply appreciative' of doctors but capital gains changes here to stay
Health Minister Mark Holland says while he is 'deeply appreciative' of the work doctors in Canada do, the federal government has no plans to scrap the proposed capital gains tax changes outlined in the latest budget, despite opposition from the Canadian Medical Association.
A top Qatari official urges Israel and Hamas to do more to reach a ceasefire deal
A senior Qatari official has urged both Israel and Hamas to show "more commitment and more seriousness" in ceasefire negotiations in interviews with Israeli media, as pressure builds on both sides to move toward a deal that would set Israeli hostages free and bring potential respite in the nearly seven-month-long war in Gaza.