Influx of first responders coming to honour officer
As many as a thousand out- of- towners expected for Sunday’s celebration of life
Fraser Valley hotels and firefighters are setting aside beds for first responders travelling from across the country to join Abbotsford police and the community this weekend as they mourn the loss of a beloved officer.
A large turnout is expected Sunday at a celebration of life for Abbotsford Police Department Const. John Davidson, who was killed during a shootout on Nov. 6.
To accommodate the influx of first responders coming to pay their respects, Tourism Abbotsford sent a request to five of its member hotels asking them to consider offering some of their rooms at special rates for first responders.
Meanwhile, Mission firefighters are offering rooms in their homes to other emergency responders travelling from across the country to attend.
The Best Western Plus Regency Inn & Conference Centre’s owners and staff had already planned to help and happily agreed to Tourism Abbotsford’s request by holding and booking dozens of rooms for first responders at a discounted rate, the hotel’s Rebecca Eaton said.
The hotel, which is close to capacity for the weekend, is also offering complimentary rooms to Davidson’s family, Eaton said. She said police from as far as Ontario have made reservations.
Eaton knew Davidson well, after meeting him at Cops For Cancer events at the hotel. She said young hotel staff have fond memories of Davidson from his work as a high school liaison officer.
“He helped a lot of people in a lot of different ways,” she said. “It is really important for us to give back and help in any way that we can.”
Blaine Odenbach, assistant fire chief for the Mission Fire Rescue Service, posted an offer on social media to billet first responders coming into town for the funeral.
“It’s just one of the things we thought we might be able to assist with,” Odenbach said. He said several members offered rooms, and while no one had taken up the offer by Wednesday afternoon, it still stands.
The department is also supporting Abbotsford by sending an engine and crew to cover the city during the service so that more local firefighters can attend.
Craig Nichols, executive director of Tourism Abbotsford, said local hoteliers were quick to respond to his organization’s request.
Nichols said he had heard that a thousand out- of- town first responders and family are expected in Abbotsford this weekend.
“It’s obviously a huge tragedy and it really impacted the community,” he said. “But one of the ( outcomes) is the wonderful support that the community is showing.”
A procession of uniformed law enforcement will meet Sunday at 11: 30 a. m. near McCallum Road and McDougall Avenue, and end their march at the 7,000- seat Abbotsford Centre, where the ceremony is scheduled for 1 p. m.
There will be two overflow seating areas, one at the University of the Fraser Valley’s Envision Athletic Centre, where doors open at 11: 30 a. m., and the other at Central Heights Church, where doors will open at 12: 30 p. m.
The ceremony will also be broadcast live on television and online.