Longtime firefighter battles terminal cancer after retiring
A drive-by parade was held in Barrie on Monday afternoon, honoring a local firefighter who is battling terminal cancer.
For just over 44 years Grant McCulloch dedicated his life to public service while working as a firefighter at Base Borden until his retirement in late 2020.
McCulloch was only a few months into his retirement when he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer which doctors say is progressive and his time is short.
As a sign of support for McCulloch, on Monday those who stood by his side on the job found a way to connect with him from a distance, as dozens of fire trucks and vehicles lined the road outside his hospital room at RVH, where he watched from his window.
"It is exciting and great to see their support," said McCulloch who talked to CTV News from his hospital room.
A ladder was lifted up to the window where McCulloch was watching above, as two of his former colleagues presented him with a plaque honouring his years of service.
"Grant was looking forward to his retirement party but because of COVID-19 we couldn't have a send-off for him, so we came with this idea to do a drive-by and it just ballooned and we wanted to show our respect for him," said Jim Brown, Deputy Fire Chief, Base Borden.
McCulloch is expected to remain in the hospital while receiving support from his medical team. He will also spend time with his wife, two children, and 7 grandchildren.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Toxic forever chemicals in drinking water: Is Canada doing enough?
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Some customers steaming after McDonald's ends free hot drink sticker program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Biden scores endorsements from Kennedy family, looking to shore up support against Trump and RFK Jr.
U.S. President Joe Biden will accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop in Philadelphia on Thursday as he aims to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
When new leaders took over in ancient Maya, they didn't just bury the former royals. They burned their bodies in public
New archeological investigations in Guatemala reveal that the ancient Maya people had a ritual of burning royal human remains as a public display of political regime change.
Prince William returns to public duties after wife Kate's cancer revelation
Prince William will return to public duties on Thursday for the first time since his wife Kate revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer.