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Brampton firefighter succumbs to work-related illness

“Shane was a vibrant and valued member of the Brampton Fire and Emergency Services team,” MacDonald said in a release Friday afternoon.

“His positive outlook, contagious smile and never-ending can-do attitude made him a welcomed addition to his crew, most recently as a member of the Squad 203 crew on C shift. 

“Off-shift, Shane was a highly decorated curler, having represented Brampton Fire and Emergency Services at a number of provincial and national curling competitions.

Born in St. Catharines, Ont., McCready grew up in Niagara Falls. He served as a firefighter for more than 16 of his 37 years. McCready began his firefighting career as a volunteer firefighter in the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. He joined Brampton Fire and Emergency Services on April 14, 2003, and was promoted to first-class firefighter on April 14, 2006.

“In 2012, despite being very ill, McCready successfully completed his qualification as an acting captain,” MacDonald said.

According to Brampton Fire and Emergency Services, in December 2011, just weeks after McCready became engaged to his fiancée, Kelly, and bought a house in the country, he was diagnosed with adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts (a type of white blood cell), red blood cells, or platelets. It is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults.

Chief MacDonald said McCready’s acute myeloid leukemia has been determined to be a line-of-duty illness by the Workerplace Safety and Insurance Board, resulting from his years of service as a firefighter.

“Today, the Brampton Fire and Emergency Services family lost one of our own and Shane will be sadly missed,” MacDonald said. “We will both honour and celebrate Shane’s life with a full fire service line-of-duty death funeral.

Visitation is today from 2-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. at the Pleasantview Funeral Centre, 2260 Highway #20, Fonthill, Ont. The funeral is Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 1 p.m., at the Bramalea Baptist Church, 9050 Dixie Road in Brampton. Firefighters will stage at 10:30 a.m. at the Brampton Soccer Centre at 1495 Sandalwood Parkway East in Brampton. Brampton Transit will provide busing between the staging area and the church. Fire-service personnel are asked to park and assemble at the staging area to ensure that adequate parking at the church is maintained forMcCready’s  family and friends. Full dress uniforms are requested for the funeral. A reception at the Brampton Soccer Centre will follow the service. Busing will be provided back to the Soccer Centre following the funeral.