York Region Police Const. Travis Gillespie Remembered At Funeral

A funeral was held for Const.  Travis Gillespie in Markham on Thursday, a day after the funeral of a Toronto police officer killed in a shooting across the GTA.
The memorial service for Gillespie was held behind closed doors to friends, colleagues and family only, but a stream of the proceedings was provided by the funeral home and audio was broadcast to a media viewing area.
Those who spoke at the nearly two-hour service shared stories and thoughts about the beloved partner, son, grandson, brother, uncle, loyal friend and dedicated police officer Gillespie.
Gillespie joined YPR in December 2019. Prior to that, he was a Metrolinx/GO Transit Sergeant for 11 years.  The Northumberland County native also volunteered at Community Living and Primal Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Leslieville.
His best friend and longtime colleague Taylor Gibb, a York Regional Police constable who also worked with the fallen officer at Metrolinx, said it was impossible “to bring Travis’ worth to light in our hearts.”
“None of our lives will be the same with this void in us after the loss of Travis, but I hope your family takes deep pride in knowing that he was unconditionally loyal as a friend, never wavered in the challenge of being a police officer and he was the best man anyone would ever meet,” she said.
Gibb said Gillespie was a passionate person who had a “heart of gold” and would wake up every day and run to help those in need.
Squadron colleagues described Gillespie as an “infinitely unique” person who was “toxicly positive and addictive,” he shared.
“Travis was fiercely humble.  Travis was an inspiration.  I looked up to Travis every day we were together,” Gibb said, calling Gillespie someone who taught him “real leadership by leading from the front and always showing strength for the team.”
He also said Gillespie taught him to be lighter and live more in the moment.
“I promise to embody your spirit and never let people forget how great you were.  We lost a hero last week and I will carry the weight of your legacy forever,” he said.
Colleague and close friend Mike Walton, a Metrolinx special constable, said Gillespie was “truly larger than life … the ultimate teammate, partner and leader.”
He said Gillespie was the glue that held the team together and left behind a “cavernous hole” when he went to YRP shortly before the pandemic began.
As a friend, he said Gillespie was there for him through every important moment of his life, including the bad times, and celebrated all his achievements as if they were his own.
York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween visited the Gillespie family at their home last week and said he saw “firsthand how Travis inspired such love and how devastating his loss is to every member of his family.”
“When I talked to his mom and dad and his brother Dan, and other family members that were there, it was clear to me that this is a loving family, a caring family and a supportive family.  With the sincerest sympathy, we are all with you all,” he said.  “Travis was clearly a special person.  Others today have and will speak of his love of life, his love of his family and of course his professional family at YRP, his determination and his positive attitude and outlook on life.”
MacSween went on to say that Gillespie was a “hardworking, dedicated, capable and compassionate” member of the team, who would “light up a room” with his smile and the way he cared about his colleagues, his community and those he cared about.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also attended the service and said Gillespie was someone “admired by his colleagues” who “demonstrated a lifelong commitment to serving his community, as every police officer, paramedic and firefighter does when he enlists ».
Ford said his spirit of service and love for his community extended beyond his role as an officer, calling him a “wonderful, fun-loving, loving person” who was happy to help his neighbors and serve the people in his community always with a smile on his face and a positive attitude.
“We are all so blessed to have people like Travis looking out for us.  He will be deeply missed by those you know, and we will be forever grateful for Travis, his service to his community and the mark he left on all of us,” Ford said.
Gillespie was on his way to work around 6am on September 14 when the fatal collision occurred along Major Mackenzie Drive East.
Haoju Zhou, 23, of Markham, who was allegedly driving the vehicle that collided with Gillespie’s car, was charged with impaired operation causing death and dangerous operation causing death.
Books of condolence, which will be sent to his family, have also been set up in the lobby area at each YRP location (#1 at 429 Harry Walker Parkway S. in Newmarket, #2 at 171 Major Mackenzie Dr. W. in Richmond Hill, #3 at 3527 Baseline Rd. in Sutton, #4 at 2700 Rutherford Rd. in Vaughan and #5 at 8700 McCowan Rd. in Markham) as well as York Police Headquarters located at 47 Don Hollock Dr.  Aurora, for audience members to sign.
To honor Gillespie, his family has established the Travis Robert Gillespie Martial Arts Scholarship Fund.  Each year, one child will be awarded a scholarship in his memory. Const.  Gillespie is the second GTA police officer killed in the line of duty in the last week.