Huge attendance at Tim Jones memorial
Posted January 25, 2014 7:46 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Search and rescue teams from across the country and local first responders gathered in North Vancouver today to say goodbye to a leader who had a national profile.
Even ordinary citizens were compelled to pay their respects to the late North Shore Rescue leader, Tim Jones.
It’s estimated that 400 people took part in the procession that took place right before the memorial in North Vancouver. Hundreds filled Centennial Theatre, plus two outdoor viewing areas.
People from Campbell River, Kimberley, Calgary and Ottawa travelled to North Vancouver for the service.
“Tim Jones is search and rescue in Canada. This was a national news story. It was important for us to show our support,” says Simon, a search and rescue unit member from Calgary who drove in with another teammate.
Jones’ son Curtis spoke at his father’s memorial. He too is a member of North Shore Rescue.
He described his dad as a hero, a visionary, a father, a friend, but most of all unique; a man who always left an impression.
“He set his own path and he did what was right without getting bogged down in politics and protocol. For this he made no apologies. This is the kind of guy you’d want looking for you if you ever got lost,” he told the crowd.
He went on to describe how special occasions were often interrupted because of an emergency call the two would get. He relayed how two years ago they’d spent Father’s Day rescuing a badly injured and hypothermic climber.
“While circling in the windy, foggy valley dangling hundreds of feet above the canopy, I patted him on the back and said ‘Happy Father’s Day.’ I’ll never forget the pride I saw in his eyes.”
Ian MacDonald with Coquitlam Search and Rescue isn’t worried the message will fall by the wayside now that Jones is gone.
He says the search and rescue community in BC is banding together to continue his work. “The mantle that Tim has left behind will be picked up by others, both on North Shore Rescue, other rescue teams, and the BC Search and Rescue Association.”
MacDonald feels the biggest void to fill in the coming weeks will be for North Shore Rescue to find someone who can be the dominant force that Jones was.
North Shore Rescue says it will retire Jones’ call sign ‘NS 54.’
Jones passed away after a social event on Mt. Seymour last Sunday.
