A procession has been planned for downtown Sudbury on Wednesday to honour the life of city firefighter Mike Frost, who died on May 19 at the age of 40.
“We respect the members of the fire service, and this is one of the ways we show that respect," city CAO Ed Archer told Sudbury.com following Tuesday night's city council meeting.
The Sudbury Professional Fire Fighters Association is the procession's chief organizer, which it is undertaking with support from the city.*
City council members and staff have been invited to participate and will do so as possible, Archer said.
According to his obituary, Frost died unexpectedly at his residence on May 19.
He was born in Sudbury on Feb. 9, 1982, and went on to graduate from Cambrian College’s Pre-Service Firefighter Education and Training program.
“The love for his community was demonstrated when one of his greatest accomplishments was fulfilled by providing emergency services to his community as a firefighter,” according to his obituary. “Mike’s willingness to serve his community was also demonstrated by the various occupations he held throughout his life.”
Flags around Tom Davies Square were seen flying at half-mast today in honour of Frost, prior to which they flew at half-mast following the workplace death of a city employee killed on the job in Levack on May 6.
Wednesday’s funeral procession will affect the following roads, which will see rolling closures take place during the event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a media release issued by the city.
- Larch St east of Paris St
- Paris St between Brady St and Elm St
- Westbound lanes of Elm St
- Elgin St to Ste Anne Rd
- Beech St from Elgin St to Durham St and the intersection of Elm St and Durham Street will be closed until the funeral is over.
As the procession moves, roads behind it will reopen back to normal. GOVA Transit riders can expect delays between 1 and 3 p.m., during which all routes may be impacted.
Frost’s family has asked for donations to be made to Wounded Warriors of Canada in lieu of flowers. According to their website, they are a mental heath service provider mandated with “Creating an environment of compassion, resiliency and hope for Canada’s Veterans, First Responders and their families.”
*Edit: This information was added after the story was initially published, as more information came from the City of Greater Sudbury.
