An old firetruck has found a new home at Mission Hills Golf Course in Cranbrook, as a bright warm welcome sign for visitors.
The golf course officially unveiled the truck to the public on Aug. 22, after buying the vehicle from Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services.
The truck has a big yellow sign hanging from the ladder and a golf cart fastened to the top, to catch the attention of motorists passing by on Highway 95A. The side of the truck has Mission Hills Golf emblazoned in big gold letters.
"It's very unique. We're young at heart. Have lots of enthusiasm and pride in the property. This helps show we're a fun place to come," said owner Chris Carrier.
Carrier said they plan to use the truck at local events like parades and take it out for community fundraisers. He already has a few fun ideas, including hosting a "climb to the top of the ladder," event or a "jump off into a lake" event for charity.
They'll also use it to prune trees at the course that are too difficult to reach.
The truck was used by Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services for 24 years, until it was decommissioned in 2022. Deputy director Dan Mackinnon said they had been attempting to sell it for years both through government auction and private sale, but had not had any takers. It was simply too difficult to find parts to repair it ever since the manufacturer shut down.
"It was harder and harder to have repairs done on it. It wasn't as reliable as it should be," he said.
It was initially listed online for $10,000, but was lowered to $6,000 when there weren't any initial takers.
Prior to taking on the golf course, Carrier ran his own window and residential exterior cleaning company Men In Kilts, which he sold in 2021. The company was North-America-wide and it had a few different fire trucks that it used to promote its services.
When a member of the fire crew came to play golf at the course one day and mentioned there was an old truck for sale that they couldn't sell, Carrier jumped at the opportunity to buy it.
