Manitoba man pays tribute to his father who passed away from COVID-19
A Manitoba man found a unique way to pay tribute to his dad who passed away due to COVID-19.
Larry Baillie, who lost his dad to COVID-19 back in November 2020, decided to shave off his beard for the first time since restrictions were put in place and then set off on a half-marathon passing places that meant something to his father.
Baillie said he originally planned to do this six weeks ago when he was going to run in the police half-marathon, as his dad was a police officer in Toronto, but the event was postponed due to health restrictions.
Larry Baillie running part of his half-marathon Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (Source: Scott Andersson/CTV News)
Larry Baillie running part of his half-marathon Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (Source: Scott Andersson/CTV News)
"I will be running from the Bombers' stadium, to my dad's nursing home, via the Legislature," said Baillie.
He said all these locations were important to his dad as he was an avid football fan, died from COVID-19 at the Maple's care home after he battled skin cancer and he was a voice for seniors during the pandemic.
"My dad was the ultimate cheerleader. My dad had a smile that would light up a room and a laughter that you could hear for miles."
Baillie said he is doing this as one final trip, as he would go to football games at IG Field with his dad and then they would head home.
"So I am taking one final trip, I took a trip on the 11th when he passed away, November 11. December 24 I picked up his belongings, today will be the third and final time I will ever be near the Maples."
Larry Baillie getting his beard shaved before running his half-marathon on June 22, 2021. (Source: Scott Andersson/CTV News)
Larry Baillie getting his beard shaved before running his half-marathon on June 22, 2021. (Source: Scott Andersson/CTV News)
Baillie wants to remind people that all of those people who have died from COVID-19 at the Maples, including his dad, are not just numbers or statistics, they were friends and family and loved ones of others in the province.
Baillie said he is also raising money and so far has gathered over $2,000 and his goal is over $9,000 and if he hits his mark, he said he would shave his head.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
BREAKING Federal employees will be required to spend 3 days a week in the office
Starting in September, public servants in the core public administration will be required to work in the office a minimum of three days a week. The Treasury Board Secretariat says executives will need to be in the office four days per week.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
OPP officer said 'someone's going to get hurt' before wrong-way Hwy. 401 crash
As multiple Durham police cruisers were chasing a robbery suspect on the wrong side of Highway 401 Monday night, an Ontario Provincial Police officer shared his concerns, telling a dispatcher, "Someone's going to get hurt."
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
An unrepentant Pierre Poilievre returned to the House of Commons on Wednesday to pepper the prime minister about his drug decriminalization policies after being booted the day prior for refusing to take back calling Justin Trudeau 'wacko' over his approach to the issue.
Five human skeletons, missing hands and feet, found outside house of Nazi leader Hermann Göring
Archeologists have unearthed the skeletons of five people, missing their hands and feet, at a former Nazi military base in Poland.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
Plane overshoots runway at airport in St. John's, N.L., no injuries reported
Investigators from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada are headed to St. John's, N.L., after a plane overshot a runway at the city's airport this afternoon.
A teen was found buried in a basement in New York. An engraved ring helped police learn her identity two decades later
For more than two decades, the unknown victim was nicknamed "Midtown Jane Doe" because she was found in the Hell's Kitchen neighbourhood of New York City. But this week, investigators finally revealed her identity.