A community says goodbye to North Dundas Fire Service Captain Richard Young during a Celebration of Life Ceremony. Pictured above is the urn containing Captain Young’s ashes that was carried into the Mountain Township Agricultural Hall on Thurs., July 17. Tinkess Photo

SOUTH MOUNTAIN – A community shed a tear and showed it’s appreciation for the contribution made by North Dundas Fire Service Captain Richard Young during a Celebration of Life Ceremony held at the Mountain Township Agricultural Hall on Thurs., July 17.

Young, 51, passed away on Sat, July 5, 2025, while enroute to teach at the Leeds and Thousand Islands Emergency Services Training Centre in Gananoque.

Young served as a Fire Captain with the Winchester Volunteer Fire Department and as an Emergency Response Specialist with the Office of the Fire Marshal of Ontario. He served as a Special Constable for 20 years, beginning at Carleton University and later with OC Transpo holding the roles of Staff Sergeant at Carleton University and Transit Superintendent with the City of Ottawa.

The respect he garnered was evident by the number and variety of uniformed members who attended in his honour. Some formed an honour guard in front of the entrance to the hall, while others marched in a procession which was led by an office of the Fire Marshall vehicle, followed by a North Dundas fire truck pumper three carrying the urn containing Young’s ashes. This was followed by a lone piper, a colour party and more than 100 colleagues in uniform of the numerous agencies they represented.

A funeral for a first responder typically puts on display the sense of belonging and camaraderie shared by those who, by their actions, protect or rescue others, often at great risk to themselves.  The almost total silence that exists, broken only by the sound of so many boots marching in lockstep, is an experience not soon to be forgotten by anyone who experiences it.

Inside the hall, there weren’t many empty seats, and arrangements had been made for the Celebration of Life to be live streamed for the benefit of those who could not attend. (https://youtu.be/vUHm5MGDFnQ)

North Dundas Mayor Tony Fraser was the first to speak to the gathering. “We’re gathered here today with heavy hearts to pay tribute to one of our own, a proud

and dedicated member of the North Dundas Fire Department and the Emergency Response unit of the Office of the Fire Marshal,” said Mayor Fraser. “Rick served with honour, courage, and unwavering commitment. To his family, we offer our deepest condolences. No words can truly ease the pain of your loss. We stand with you shoulder-to-shoulder in sorrow, but also in solemn pride. We are not here only to mourn, but to remember, also to honour a life shaped by service, to reflect on a legacy, a legacy etched in deeds, devotion, and in the hearts of all who knew him.

“May the ceremony with its time-honoured traditions reflect the respect, gratitude, and reverence that many communities held for Rick. His watch has ended, his duty fulfilled, and now he is at rest.”

The opening passage, Psalm 23, (“The Lord is my shepherd…) was read by Pastor Ed Charlton, himself a North Dundas Firefighter. This was the first, and only religious aspect of the ceremony. After Young’s wife Laurie, his son RJ, and his daughter Izzie placed floral tributes next to his urn, it became a sharing of memories, anecdotes, and more than a bit of gentle laughter, as people from different stages of Rick Young’s life spoke of him and shared the effect he had on them.

Ontario Fire Marshall Jon Pegg spoke of Young’s expertise, enthusiasm, and passion for education. Emergency Response Unit (ERU) member Dale Moore spoke of Young’s loyalty, friendship, and caring for others. North Dundas Fire Chief Craig Raisrick spoke of his dedication to his community, his willingness to share his knowledge and do so in a way that made you want to listen, regardless of the subject.

Baseball was an important part of Young’s life and Andre Robineau, his friend and former teammate with the Carleton Ravens University Baseball club spoke of the time and effort his friend put into convincing the University hierarchy to support, in at least a small way a baseball club at a time when Carleton had little or no interest in athletics. He spoke of how Young instilled a sense of pride in the Ravens’ players.

“He turned a simple exhibition idea into a family, and his spirit will always guide every grad who steps onto the field,” said Robineau. “If there ever was a Canadian university baseball hall of fame, I truly believe he should be the first to be named to it.”

The final speaker was Mike McKenna, who with Scott Briggs, grew up with Young in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia. McKenna spoke at length of what it was like growing up with a “get it done” friend like Rick Young. Many of his tales brought laughter, but his closing comments brought more than a few tears.

“He made the community safer. He made it better. He made our world a better place because we knew the world is now and will continue to be a little bit better for having had him among us,” said McKenna. “We all offer him a huge thank you.

“Of course, the lives he touched most were his family’s. Laurie, R.J., Isabelle. So, one more thanks. No, no question. His attention and dedication was to his family, to you.

“Anyone who knew him, knew his love for you. We all owe you three. We owe you three a thanks. Thank you for lending us, Rick, from time to time. It allowed the rest of us to experience all that you knew so well. By lending him into us, we were all able to benefit from the goodness that was Rick Young.”

As the ceremony approached its completion, the ringing of the bell, a tradition of more than 200 years in firefighting was explained.

In the past, as firefighters began their tour of duty, it was a bell that signalled the beginning of that day shift. Throughout the day and night, each alarm was sounded by a bell, which summoned firefighters to fight fires and place their lives in jeopardy for the good of their fellow citizens. When the fire was out and the alarm had come to an end, it was a bell that signalled to all the completion of that call and that the firefighters had returned to quarters.

When a firefighter lost their life in the line of duty, it was a toll of the bell that announced a comrade’s passing. These traditions serve as symbols of honour and respect to those who have given so much, who have served so well, to symbolize their devotion. For these was received a special signal of three rings,  three times each of the bell to represents the end of the firefighter’s duties and that they will be returning to quarters.

The bell was then rung three times a series of three times, signifying that Rick Young’s  tasks are completed, his duties done and that he was going home.

The final act was to present Laurie, his wife, with a flag, as a symbol of the community’s appreciation, and his son and daughter with his helmets.

The uniform personnel were then asked to gather outside and await the honour guard escorting the urn to North Dundas pump three for Rick Young’s last ride out and a final salute.

Young leaves behind his wife, Laurie Shea, his son RJ (Richard Joseph) and daughter Isabelle. He is survived by his siblings Amanda Young (Mike Wentworth) and Bill Young (Richelle). He is Son-in-law to Shaun and Bev Shea and brother-in-law of Cheryl Grant (Andrew), Kelly Beaton (Alan), and Daniel Shea.