Toronto Firefighters Heat Things Up

Indigo books was on fire yesterday as Toronto’s Firefighters descended upon the busy bookstore in the heart of downtown Toronto.

Ah, yes, it is my favorite time of year.  The annual Toronto Firefighter’s calendar has descended upon us and I had a chance to catch up with a few of Toronto’s finest.

From left: Firefighters Phil Meredith and Kalman Fekete

In support of the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation which specializes in cancer research, the Toronto Firefighters calendar has raised an astonishing $676,000 since June 2006 and shows no signs of slowing down.

Firefighters Frank Gagliardi (Mr. February), Kalman Fekete (Mr. May) and Phil Meredith (Mr. March) were eager to talk about why the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation is so important to them, the thrill of being a firefighter and the ups and downs of being local sex symbols.

The Princess Margaret Hospital is one of the world’s leading cancer research hospitals with many successful fund raising campaigns, such as the The Princess Margaret Lottery, and although these firefighting boys feel that the calender is merely a drop in the bucket in comparison to some of PMH’s other campaigns, they are still excited and honored to be part of such an important cause.

“It’s all for a good cause,” shares Mr. May and 2009 Cover boy, Kalman Fekete.  “Sure, there’s a lot of teasing from the guys that comes along with it,” he says with a chuckle, “but it’s all worth it in the end.”

For some of the firefighters, the cause is very close to the heart.

“My father was suffering from colon cancer a couple of years ago,” Frank Gagliardi, thoughtfully shares, “and my father was cared for by the staff at Princess Margaret.  They are amazing, really, and so patient.  I admire them and the work that they do.”

From left: Author Sabrina Baldini, Firefighters Phil Meredith, Frank Gagliardi and Kalman Fekete

So, does being a calendar boy have its benefits?

While they all agree that having throngs of women ogle them at signings and at the June competition where they are selected is lots of fun, they insist they are no sex symbols.

“Sure, at the competition all the women are screaming” Phil Meredith laughs, “but as soon as the competition was over and the uniform came off, I walked right on out of there and none of the women noticed!”

Well, everyone knows women are suckers for a man in a uniform.  But jokes aside, the work that these men put into the fight against cancer is admirable.

Putting out fires, rescuing people from burning buildings, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for cancer research, saving lives everyday, in more ways than one…  All in a day’s work for Toronto’s finest.

To purchase the 2010 Toronto Fire Fighter Calender, click here.

For more information on the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation or to donate, click here.