Hot Like Fire, Man

Still missing some gifts on your holiday list? Here's a last-minute suggestion: the 2008 Toronto Fire Fighter Calendar. What better way to suffer a snow storm than with the company of 12 buff do-gooders? In addition, proceeds go to Princess Margaret Hospital to benefit the Fire Fighters' Cancer Research Fund. We caught up with Mr. July himself, Drew Foote, at a autograph signing at the Bay on Yonge Street this afternoon.

Drew is a fire fighter for Station 435, where he works on the rescue truck. His appearance in the calendar marks his fifth year volunteering for the cause. From noon until 2 p.m., Drew cheerfully smiled and signed calendars, asking people how spicy they wanted the inscriptions to be. (Fire fighters have enough double-entendres to drive Carrie Bradshaw crazy. See: "hot," "fire," "heat," and so on.) He mentioned that he got recognized on the street from the calendar, but while we were there, it seemed the shoppers at the Bay were too shy to approach him. Women sheepishly came to his table in the cosmetics department to pick up a calendar before quickly disappearing back into the crowd. One passed by and was sad that she'd already bought one and wished she had had it to get signed. For his part, Drew took it all in stride and was just happy to fund-raise for research on fire-related cancers.

You can help by picking up the calendar at selected Bay, Home Outfitters, and Zellers stores or online. The calendars are $15.99 plus tax. If you're in Mississauga tomorrow, you can say hello and get your calendar signed at the Bay in Square One from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Photo of Foote by Jaime Woo.