Protecting a Community – Glenn Higgins

Glenn Higgins has been working as a member of the Orillia Fire Department for more than 25 years, although firefighting was not originally what he’d set out to do with his career.

The Orillia Fire Brigade poses with two white horse and a fire wagon in front of the Fire Hall on Peter Street North, circa 1900.

Glenn was initially drawn to the Orillia area from Thunder Bay for a mechanical engineering education, and began working at Dorr-Oliver-Long (closed in 1989) before volunteering his time with the Orillia Fire Department.

Glenn Higgins – Emergency Services (captions available in both FR and EN). Enjoy this video with a transcript (En).

Glenn takes pride not only in the work he has done as a first responder in Orillia, but also in studying the rich history of the Orillia Fire Department. An avid historian, Glenn is the vice president of the Orillia Heritage Centre, a volunteer-run organization dedicated to the preservation of Orillia’s industrial history, which was responsible for the restoration of Orillia’s original motorized fire truck.

Glenn Higgins – History Buff (captions available in both FR and EN). Enjoy this video with a transcript (En).

The LaFrance chemical and ladder truck was acquired by the City of Orillia in 1923, and Glenn is an active member of the team that keeps this integral part of Orillia’s history running.

Glenn Higgins – Change in Orillia (captions available in both FR and EN). Enjoy this video with a transcript (En).

Orillia’s got a great small town feel to it.