THE brass over at the District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services don't normally condone their firefighters missing work to take on other jobs.
"It's frowned upon," Fire Chief Victor Penman told the North Shore News.
In the case of Neil McKinlay, however, they were willing to make an exception for a firefighter who needed to swap a few shifts so that he could moonlight for a few weeks on another project: winning a Grey Cup.
A former Winnipeg Blue Bomber who retired from the game in 2009 to take a job fighting fires in North Vancouver, McKinlay got the itch to play again this summer. Through his old agent he put out some feelers and in mid-October the B.C. Lions bit, signing the SFU grad to play special teams after injuries depleted their stock of non-import players. The Langley native suited up for the team's final three regular season games and then again as the Lions topped Edmonton in the Western Conference final to book their ticket to the championship game.
On Sunday, McKinlay fulfilled a lifelong dream as he and the Lions battled to a Grey Cup win in front of hometown fans at BC Place.
"It hasn't been a bad six weeks, that's for sure," said McKinlay with a laugh after the News caught up with him following the game.
McKinlay's father was a fire fighter for the City of North Vancouver and when McKinlay left the Blue Bombers he followed in those footsteps. But after a year and a half fighting fires he felt that something was missing.
"The only thing I didn't have was a Grey Cup ring," he said. "I played in a Grey Cup with Winnipeg in 2007, I've kind of accomplished everything I've wanted to along they way. . . . I was just looking for that final puzzle piece and it just kind of happened. It was great that I could do it at home in front of a bunch of people playing for the B.C. Lions."
The one sore point for McKinlay was that he had to face his old team in the final, helping the Lions snatch the Cup away from some old friends. "It was a good feeling to win and it kind of solidified my football career, but at the same point you've got buddies on the other end and they came up a little short," he said. "Obviously you feel a little bad for them too."
Chief Penman said he was happy to help McKinlay realize his dream. "He's a great guy, really hard worker and very humble," he said. "We were really proud of him."
During his six-week stint with the Lions, McKinlay continued to work as a firefighter, switching the odd shift to accommodate games and practices but for the most part fulfilling all of his duties with the department. He worked night shifts on both the Wednesday and Thursday before Grey Cup Sunday and is scheduled to be back at work today.
McKinlay said that he expects some congratulations when he returns to the fire hall but beyond that he fully expects to go back to the floor-mopping, dish-washing and toilet-cleaning duties that go along with being one of the least experienced members of the department. Penman confirmed that a Grey Cup ring does not get you a free pass.
"The guys really enjoyed (watching McKinlay win) but it definitely doesn't grant him any sort of special status," he said with a laugh. "I would say that he probably wants to keep his ring in a nice, safe place so he doesn't accidentally flush it down the toilet or down the sink or something like that because while he might get a few moments of accolades, basically once the shifts start again he'll be right back in there rolling up his sleeves and working hard as a junior member."
