Vaughn Vantassell Memorial Park

Digby Fire Chief Vaughn Vantassell 2000.
Dedication to our community is why we choose Vaughn to be memorialized at the new community playground/park. He was dedicated to improving our town and helping keep people physically active. The new park will achieve both of these goals and naming it after Vaughn was only natural.

Vaughn and his dog 2004.
Vaughn had a long history with the Fire Department and served with the Digby Fire Dept for 40 years, was Fire Chief for 25 years and also a firefighter with the CFB at Cornwallis Base for 35 years. He was involved in various parts of the community and always had a vision and dream of what Digby could become. “He did it all.” Says his wife, Bonnie Vantassell.

Vaughn, Andrew and Kenny at ATV-RCMP game in Digby.
Vaughn loved being active and was still playing hockey at age 62. His wife said with a smile that he enjoyed all sports and even tried wind surfing in the Annapolis Basin. He was involved in the Recreation Commission for 15 years and helped provide programs like CanSkate for children because he believed that every child should have the chance to learn how to skate.

Vaughn on his scooter, June 2005.
A happy memory many people have of Vaughn was seeing him go through downtown with the big fire truck NO. 7 to water the flowers. Then seeing him zip around town on his little blue scooter, in the last years. Vaughn was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1999 and lost his battle in November 2005. He was 69 when he died but many feel he died too young. The No. 7 truck was designed by Vaughn and he drove it to Digby from Quebec when it was built.

Vaughn watering the flowers downtown with the No 7.
(Photo by Richard Winchester)
Vaughn with the No 7.