The Halton Hills Fire Department has a new mascot, handcrafted by a local senior.
Bennett Centre resident William Lachuta Jr. - who creates cardboard sculptures - recently made the local firefighters a dalmatian, which is now proudly on display at the Maple Avenue fire station.
He pulled an all-nighter to finish the piece and delivered it in person this week.
“It’s incredible that somebody would take the time and effort to make something like this so quickly,” said Halton Hills Fire Captain Todd McClements.
Lachuta started crafting with cardboard in 2021 while he was hospitalized with COVID-19 for over six months.
Since then, he has taken on many projects, including a large Godzilla sculpture that now resides at the Brampton Library, a variety of Toy Story characters and a bulldog for Georgetown District High School.
The local man said he wanted to recognize the firefighters, and also create something that children who stop by the firehall can enjoy as well.
Since delivering the dalmatian, Lachuta has been hard at work again crafting the most appropriate piece to accompany it - a bright red fire hydrant.
