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Mississauga Fire Chief Garry Morden died yesterday after a long battle with cancer.
"I wish it wasn't true. I can't believe it's true," said fire captain Roger Clement yesterday. "This was a brave, compassionate man ... a true leader."
Morden, who was 56 and married with children, began his firefighting career in 1977, spearheading many initiatives along the way.
When a new fire and emergency training centre was dedicated and named after him last month, Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion told Morden, "With you as a leader – a calm and confident one – there's no question you can handle anything, no matter what comes your way."
At his last public appearance on Sept. 24, Morden unveiled the plaque for the state-of-the-art Garry W. Morden Centre, slated to open next year.
"For the last 31 years, I never felt I was going to work because you've the opportunity to make a positive difference in someone's life," he said. "That's the remarkable thing about working in the fire service."
- Torstar News Services
