Funeral route planned for Captain Craig Bowman; King Street to be temporarily closed

Captain Craig Bowman's final alarm funeral route is mapped and scheduled for Tuesday, May 30, beginning at Welland Fire Headquarters at 400 East Main Street and concluding at the Welland Main Arena at 501 King Street.

The route will travel down East Main Street to north on Prince Charles Drive before heading down First Avenue and Fitch Street and looping back south on Prince Charles Drive to Ontario Street and north on King Street to the Arena.

Police cruisers will lead the motorcade, and Captain Bowman will receive a formal solute from all firefighters in the city at each station. At the King Street firehall, an honour guard, pallbearers, pipe and drum, and a few selected uniformed members will slow march and pipe Captain Bowman's pumper and the family's limo to the Arena. King Street will be lined with uniformed personnel, and there will be a large Canadian flag hanging across King Street, between Welland's two aerial trucks, and the pumper will pass under it as formal recognition of Captain Bowman’s service to his community and country.

Police cruisers will escort the pumper truck with Captain Bowman's casket for the length of the route. King Street, from Seventh Street to Third Street, will be closed as the procession travels through the route. However, access to the hospital is available, and local businesses know about the procession.

"This Full Honour Funeral is a very public display; it is as much about Captain Bowman as it is about supporting his family and the firefighters through this challenging time," said Fire Chief Adam Eckhart. "From my experiences, togetherness and showing of support helps everyone, and we know our emergency services family and the community will be with us. It is truly an incredible send-off for our friend and colleague."

All Welland Fire on-duty staff will attend the funeral, and the Cities of St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne, and Thorold are sending a truck and staff to fill Welland's firewalls and answer any calls during the service.

The funeral service at the Arena commences at 1 p.m. It includes formal ceremonial features such as piping and a bugle, a family flag presentation, the last alarm bell, and the last alarm radio call to Captain Bowman. Over 1,000 attendees are expected, including firefighters from Buffalo, Toronto, the GTA, and Niagara.

-30-