onika Paterson
A procession of numerous fire trucks, emergency and first response vehicles and ambulances from around the Cariboo were seen making their way from downtown Lac la Hache to the Greeny Lake Volunteer Fire Hall in honour of its founding fire chief Ken Gisby who passed away July 24.
There were representatives from the fire departments from around the South Cariboo, as well as 150 Mile House, McLeese Lake and Wildwood attending the service. A member of the West Vancouver Fire Department also attended.
People lined portions of Timothy Lake Road to show their respect as the procession drove by led by Greg Miles driving his 1975 Dodge featuring the Greeny Lake Volunteer Fire Department logo on the door and a vintage cherry light on top.
Pipeline employees working along Timothy Lake Road halted their work and stood at the roadside in respect as the procession drove by.
Ken was born and raised in West Vancouver and spent his life helping and caring for others.
Ken’s dad was the first fire chief of the West Vancouver Fire Department. Ken was a fire hall brat. He had to go with his dad in the middle of the night when the calls came in.
Ken’s sons were the same on Bowen Island.
He was a volunteer with the Bowen Island Volunteer Fire Department, later joining the West Vancouver Fire Department. During his 23 years of service there, he rose through the ranks and retired as a Lieutenant.
Ken Jr. also belonged to the Bowen Island Fire Department and Dave belonged to the Forest Grove Volunteer Fire Department and now serves at Greeny Lake.
Ken’s grandsons, Ryan, Tyler and Grayson, also love the fire service.
Ken married his loving wife, Laurie, in 1963 and then they moved from West Vancouver to North Vancouver.
Growing up he was in the Air Cadets and loved working on cars. Ken drove truck when we were first married, Laurie explained at the service,
He worked as head mechanic with BA Blacktop, and then was hired by the West Vancouver Fire Rescue and worked on “oil burners” on his four days off, she recalled.
"Ken retired from West Vancouver Fire Rescue in 1997 and we moved to Greeny Lake. When learned there was no fire protection in their area, he knew what he had to do right away."
Ken, who spent 41 years as a firefighter in communities cross British Columbia, saw the need in Greeny Lake Volunteer Fire Department. He called in personal favours and used his past working relationships to help outfit and supply the new firefighting service.
This independent volunteer fire department has become certified by the Fire Underwriters, built a new fire hall, and has well-trained firefighters and first responders.
It has been able to accomplish these feats while remaining debt free.
In November 2013, fire chief Gisby was recognized for 40 years of fire service in the province. Greeny Lake Volunteer Fire Department has benefited from those years of knowledge, his contacts and Ken’s own brand of determination.
Ken has dedicated much of his life to community service and firefighting. For these reasons, he was nominated as the Home Town Hero.
What they said
Ken was a tall package of genuine kindness, caring, warmth, honesty, and hard work, with a tad of mischief and stubbornness thrown in for good measure, said Rowena Bastien, Cariboo Regional District (CRD) protective services manager and family friend.
“When Ken got sick he fought longer and harder than I have ever seen anyone do before. I thought he had it licked at one point; unfortunately, that was not the case.
“While he was fighting, he continued his passion – his habit. Ken loved this fire department and he wanted to make sure it was safe and sound.”
When Ken became too ill to attend at the hall himself, Dave stepped up to help him, Rowena explained. Ken never did step down or retire as Chief of Greeny Lake, she says, adding Dave went to the practices each week and carried out the work and lessons and practices the chief said had to happen.
Dave recorded the weekly practices or goings-on at the hall and brought them home at night to review them with the chief, Rowena added.
“Ken’s favourite sayings were ‘Keep me in the loop’ and ‘I want to know’. Dave did this for Ken and Ken did know he was in the loop.”
From his chair at home, his office, Ken’s last project for the hall was the purchase and installation of buried water tanks that will provide the fire hall and community of Greeny Lake with two year-round sources of water to be used by the fire department in protecting the people and properties, Rowena notes.
“Ken was a firefighter, a fire chief. It was his destiny, and to honour him, every member of this community has to make it their destiny.
“In supporting the fire department, in making its future your destiny, in taking whatever actions you are able to take to support your fire department into the future, you honour Ken. You honour every firefighter and department member and your honour his family, you sow a habit and create a destiny.”
McLeese resident Ian Hicks noted McLeese Lake was starting to build its volunteer fire department society (also a private fire department), and Ken Gisby helped to make it possible for them to get their first fire truck in addition to a lot of great advice and support.
Greeny Lake VFD captain Bob Fox commented on the large number of people who attended the service from all around. “It’s an amazing show of support.”
Ken stayed in touch with Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett and CRD chair Al Richmond, and they let him know when there were available resources and grants available for non-CRD halls.
Barnett said Ken was a great man and a great community leader.
Richmond added Ken was second to none and he misses his chats.
Jeff Bush from West Vancouver Fire and Rescue, who was mentored by Ken, said he highly respected him for all that he taught him. "He left a lasting impression with me and made a big difference in my career."
Rodger Hollander 100 Mile Fire Rescue chief and formerly a member of the Lac la Hache VFD said Ken was a true gentleman and would do anything for anyone that he could.
Greeny Lake VFD society chair Rudy Ernst briefly spoke about how quickly the firehall went up once funding came in.
In 2006, the Greeny Lake Fire Department Society was incorporated with 50 people attending. At the September 2007 AGM, there were 104 people.
With $70,000 in donated materials and equipment from Ken’s calls to his connections the fire hall was underway..
In 2008, the department received its fire hall rating as members were trained and they had firefighting equipment. Ken spearheaded weekly practices and many hours were put into getting everyone trained. The building of the hall began in September of 2008 and was at lockup by October and in November the trucks were inside with the building being completed in 2009.
In 2012, Ken’s illness slowed him down but he never stopped staying up to date with the happenings at the hall, said Ernst.
Last call
Doug Witty came over the station PA three times, for the Last Call for Ken Gisby to attend the hall, with no reply.
At this point, Chief Gisby’s helmet was presented to his wife Laurie. Then the flag-carrying honour guard left the hall.
It was a moving service for a great man who dedicated so much time to make sure his community was safe.