Year in review: Darren’s most memorable stories of 2019

As the year winds down, we asked all of our staff to think back on their most memorable assignments of 2019.

Here are Darren Taylor’s picks:

When I discovered Sault Area Hospital (SAH) emergency physician Dr. Paul Wild flies his floatplane to work during the summer months, he not only granted me the opportunity to speak to him about his passion for flight and details of his interesting life experiences but also treated me to an unexpected flight aboard his floatplane above the St. Marys River. A great conversation, a great experience.

Local doc soars into the 'wild' blue yonder (8 photos)

Still, on the theme of aviation, I met Second World War RCAF/RAF veteran Richard (Dick) Brown many years ago when he volunteered with the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library. Last summer, I discovered he intended on visiting Europe for perhaps the final time, 75 years after the June 6, 1944, D-Day landings, with his son. I was able to contact him just days before he left for his trip. Brown and his bomber crew spent the war parachuting equipment to the European resistance movements on night missions.

‘It’s important for me to go over there one last time,’ says Sault veteran of 75th anniversary of D-Day landings

All firefighters do a heroic job, but in a conversation with Sault Fire Services Chief Peter Johnson, I was moved when I discovered what circumstances led the chief to become a firefighter, and I remain grateful to him for sharing his story with me.  

Fire Chief tells moving story of what led him to be a firefighter

It takes a big heart and a lot of courage for a man to cut his trademark long hair after 37 years, but that's exactly what Sault musician Michael Davies did for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in a fundraiser held in February.

Local musician Davies shaves hair to support cold caps cancer fundraiser (12 photos)

This was a heartwarming story about Ann Roger, a woman who planned on visiting the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre for the first time ever with her retired bushplane pilot husband Bruce. Sadly, he passed away and she experienced her own serious health problems. Now on the mend, Ann was able to visit the Bushplane Museum in early December, and given an outstanding welcome.

Bushplane museum delightful, says pilot's widow (7 photos)