Thousands expected to gather in Truro for funeral of Skyler Blackie
Posted Mar 29, 2019 07:06:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It's thought up to 5,000 first responders from across North America could be heading to Truro Saturday for the funeral of Skyler Blackie.
The firefighter was critically injured during a training exercise at the Nova Scotia Firefighters School in Waverly on March 9. He died in hospital 11 days later.
Blackie's regimental funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 30, at Truro's Colchester Legion Stadium.
A procession will proceed the service starting at 10 a.m. at Victoria Square, heading down Prince to Lorne, then to the stadium.
Blois Currie, chief of the Truro Fire Service, said everyone in the small town has pulled together to plan the funeral at a very difficult time.
“As anyone can understand at times like this, I wouldn't say anyone is doing good,” he told NEWS 95.7's The Sheldon MacLeod Show. “The family is getting by … there's no words to explain what a family would go through losing a son and a husband.”
“Our focus is making sure we get Skyler sent off in the right way and they've been very supportive of that.”
Currie said Blackie's jacket and number will remain hanging on the wall at the fire station.
“The day that the tragic accident happened he was on duty. We'll never remove his name off of the duty roster. It will stay on the wall forever.”
Those wishing to attend the funeral can find more details online.
The service will also be live streamed through the town of Truro's website and Facebook.
