Town of Meaford remembers 9/11 victims with unique monument
While far away from the epicentre of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the community of Meaford has unique ways to remember the victims.
The town is one of just six across Canada to have received a piece of the fallen twin towers. That piece is now part of a monument that is in the town's fire department.
"It's a big statement for how important our firefighters are to our communities and how much they are willing to give up," says Fire Chief Courtney Allen, who now leads the town's fire department.
Allen says that tragic day is one that spurred his desire to become a firefighter himself.
"Seeing the men and women of the New York fire department running towards the emergency when everyone was running away made me want to do that as a career," the chief tells CTV News. "It amazes me the work and the pressure that would have taken there."
The fire department requested the 20-foot beam, but it didn't arrive until 2011. While significant, it is not the only monument in the town that commemorates that terrible time.
In nearby Joe Park, another monument stands tall in honour of the search and rescue dogs that went to Ground Zero.
"We needed to do something to recognize all those dogs that had gone down searching for life searching for bodies so there would be closure," says Sharon Mansion of the Beautiful Joe Heritage Society. "People are absolutely in awe, and someone just recently just said it gives me goosebumps to think you've done something like this in this lovely park."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.