The park surrounding the Pickardville fire hall got two new additions recently in memory of a former member who died of cancer several years ago.
Pickardville volunteer fire department members, family and friends were on hand last Saturday afternoon for the official unveiling of a concrete bench and a tree planted in memory of Jim Pankonin, a long-time firefighter who died of cancer in 2007.
"He was a huge part of the department, so we thought we'd honour him with a bench and a tree,” said Pickardville fire chief Colin Calkins. "Jim loved trees, which is why we planted a tree for him.”
Pankonin joined the department in 2000, and is remembered around the hall — as well as around the community — as the kind of guy who was always ready to help.
"He was always making stuff like hose dummies and gadgets to make our lives easier, radio pockets and all kinds of stuff,” Calkins said.
"He was a firefighter and he was good at what he did.”
Many members of Pankonin's family were in attendance as well, including his brother Paul Pankonin, who himself was the chief of the Pickardville department until he moved to South Dakota several years ago.
"Jim really did enjoy his time with the department,” Paul said, adding at one point, the two of them and their brother Ron were all on the department at the same time.
"As a family, we really felt we were part of the community,” said Paul.
Their father, Ken Pankonin, said he thought the memorial was an appropriate one, as the fire hall itself sits on a quarter of land, the rest of which is owned by the family. In the course of their farm work, then, they can come and visit the park.
Other members of the department agreed the memorial was a good one for Jim, noting the strength of the bonds developed on the department.
Francis Cloutier started on the department in 2000, the same year as Jim, and spoke highly of him and their experience on the department.
"You watch each others' backs and work together as a community,” he said. "It almost grows as a family after a while.”
The tree was transplanted to its prominent place in the park, while the concrete bench was built by Concrete, Inc. and Lafarge.
