Oshawa Fire Services’ newest batch of recruits are getting ready for graduation, however, physical distancing rules amid the coronavirus pandemic forced significant changes to the training they received.
Recruit Rylee McKinnon says he has wanted to be a firefighter since he started playing team sports. That dream came true in March, only days before the pandemic was declared. “Getting that call from Chief Clark, I was really stumbling for words,” said McKinnon.
The 24-year-old says he’s glad to be finishing training, even if the program had to be modified because of COVID-19. “Our tables are all separated, we have to take four different trucks everywhere and you can’t have that tight bond, but it’s just the way it goes,” said McKinnon.