Lisa Raitt shares the pain behind her husband's devastating diagnosis
Lisa Raitt was a fixture on Canada's political stage for decades, holding several senior portfolios during the Stephen Harper years, and later deputy opposition leader under Andrew Scheer; the first woman in the Conservative party’s history.
To do the job, she had to be tough and smart.
It’s why talking to her at her cozy family home near Milton, Ont. about a very personal and difficult journey was a revelation. She was candid. She cried. And showed us a side the public has rarely seen.
Lisa has faced challenges in her life. In her early teens, she learned that the parents she loved while growing up in Sydney, N.S., as the youngest of seven children, were really her grandparents. Her eldest sister was her birth mom who almost gave her up for adoption. The two remained close until she passed away a few months ago.
In 2009, after a failed marriage that produced two sons, Lisa fell madly in love with Bruce Wood, a “gentle giant” at 6 foot 2 inches and 240 pounds who, at the time, was the CEO of the Hamilton Port Authority, when she had the equivalent job in Toronto.
He doggedly pursued her, determined to win her over. She was charmed. But soon, there were signs something was wrong. She figured it was her.
Lisa Raitt speaks with W5.“I thought we were heading towards breaking up and I thought, oh my gosh, great, another relationship that I haven't been able to succeed in," Lisa recalled in her interview with CTV's W5.
But it wasn’t her. It was Bruce.
In 2016, at age 56, he was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease, among the five per cent of Canadians who develop symptoms under age 65.
“He kept asking to get married, because he needed security ... because he was scared,” Lisa said.
Several months later, the couple exchanged vows at her aunt’s home in Cape Breton, and for a while life was fine. And then it wasn’t.
Small things started to become big things. Lisa began recording her husband’s dark descent into the fog of Alzheimer’s: the hallucinations, the lashing out, the threats to kill her. She wanted doctors to see what was happening to him.
Her sons had to step in when Bruce got physical. Seventeen-year-old Billy Raitt told us, “We weren't just going to stand by and watch."
Several times, Lisa came close to calling 9-1-1, but it wasn’t until her “gentle giant” turned into a “menacing monster” that police came, handcuffed Bruce and took him away.
It was a devastating time for everyone, until a solution and a safe haven opened up for the couple.
Watch 'Enduring Love' in our video player above, or on our YouTube channel
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Some structural damage' from wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., mayor confirms
More than one home has been damaged or lost due to a massive wildfire outside of the B.C. community of Fort Nelson, the mayor confirmed Wednesday.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver says he got a cellphone ticket for using his points app in the drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
B.C. YouTuber ordered to pay $350K for 'relentless' online defamation campaign
An 'unrepentant' YouTuber has been ordered to pay $350,000 in damages as compensation for a 'relentless' campaign of defamation waged online against a business owner and his company, the B.C. Supreme Court has ruled.
Chief says grave search at B.C. residential school brings things 'full circle'
Chief Robert Michell says relief isn't the right word to describe his reaction as the search begins for unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school he attended in northern British Columbia.
'Endless Shrimp' just one misstep for Red Lobster as it eyes bankruptcy protection
While it's unclear what these closures might mean for the 27 restaurants in Canada, Red Lobster is expected to file for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. this month.
B.C. man shot sex worker in the back during drug-fuelled birthday, court hears
A man from B.C.'s Lower Mainland has been sentenced to four years behind bars after shooting a sex worker in the back during a drug-fuelled 43rd birthday.
'Inhumane conditions': 68 dogs pulled from Winnipeg home
Nearly six dozen dogs were seized from a home Wednesday morning by the Winnipeg Humane Society. It is the largest known seizure of animals in the city’s history.
Ontario's 'Crypto King' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Of the $40-million Aiden Pleterski was handed over two years, documents show he invested just over one per cent and instead spent $15.9 million on "his personal lifestyle." The 25-year-old Oshawa, Ont. man was arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering on Tuesday.
Driver said he smoked pot oil, took medication before Florida crash that killed 8 Mexican workers
A man with a long record of dangerous driving told investigators he smoked marijuana oil and took prescription drugs hours before he sideswiped a bus, killing eight Mexican farmworkers and injuring dozens more, according to an arrest report unsealed Wednesday.
Local Spotlight
B.C. musician's song catches attention of Canucks
When Adam Kirschner wrote 'Slap Shot,' he never imagined the song would be embraced by his favourite team.
'We're on standby': Team ready to help entangled right whale in Gulf of St. Lawrence
A team is ready to help an entangled North Atlantic right whale in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Thieves caught on camera stealing pet chicken from North Vancouver backyard
A $200 reward is being offered by a North Vancouver family for the safe return of their beloved chicken, Snowflake.
Adopted daughter in the Netherlands reunited with sister in Montreal and mother in Colombia, 40 years later
Two daughters and a mother were reunited online 40 years later thanks to a DNA kit and a Zoom connection despite living on three separate continents and speaking different languages.
'Reimagining Mother's Day': Toronto woman creates Motherless Day event after losing mom
Mother's Day can be a difficult occasion for those who have lost or are estranged from their mom.
Chris Hadfield inspires youth musical in Sudbury
YES Theatre Young Company opened its acclaimed kids’ show, One Small Step, at Sudbury Theatre Centre on Saturday.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.