Top 5 Good News stories from Oshawa, Whitby, Pickering, Ajax and Clarington in 2021
Published December 25, 2021 at 11:18 am
With COVID dominating the headlines all year and crime and corruption stories filling in most of the remaining news spaces, it’s nice to know there are good news stories too; tales of sacrifices made and hopes and dreams realized.
Today is Christmas and there is no disputing that we could all use a few more stories like these.
Here are the top 5 Good News stories of 2021 in Durham Region:
When an inflatable unicorn with two children aboard got swept away from Lakeview Beach in Oshawa because of strong winds, it could have gone very bad, very fast.
But thanks to the efforts of paramedics, police officers and lifeguards – as well as paddleboarders and kayakers who also sprang into action to get to the scene a mile out to sea – two young children were returned to their families safe – a little shook up – and sound.
Videos
Opal safe at home in Port Perry
When a nine month-old Australian Shepherd was stolen (along with the truck he was in) it sparked a frantic search by police and the community.
Thanks to a tip from the public Opal was found and reunited with his family.
Firefighter donates 70 per cent of her liver to near-stranger
When a colleague at the Ajax Fire Department mentioned that his 19 year-old son had contracted a rare liver cancer and needed a transplant Nadine Young stepped up and offered her own.
After discovering she was a match, the transplant was performed May 2020, not six months after the young man’s diagnosis. The operation was a success and Young was honoured with a tree dedication ceremony earlier this month.
Klutch the K9 catches copper crook
While K9 stories are almost always good new stories the honest answer is this particular story made the list because of its awesome headline.
I mean, seriously. That’s a great headline.
Honourable K9 mention: Riot collars armed criminal on last shift. Sort of like scoring the overtime winner in the last game of your NHL career.
Man rescued after being stuck in quicksand for seven hours
Proof that this doesn’t just happen in the movies, a man walking through a cement yard in Sunderland got stuck in quicksand.
The man was stuck for seven hours before Oshawa Fire Services Technical Rescue Team, Brock Township’s Fire Department, Durham Region Paramedics and Durham Police were eventually able to extricate him.
Good news at the end, at least.
Ajax soccer star Nichelle Prince
Honourable Olympic Games Mentions:
Oshawa love pours in for Matt Hughes after the middle-distance runner finished sixth – the top non-African result – in the gruelling 3,000-metre event; and Ajax soccer star Prince still smiling three weeks after Canada’s gold medal win. “I haven’t taken it off in three weeks,” she (hopefully) joked about her medal.
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