Two Westlock County firefighters have been awarded with federal Fire Services Exemplary Service Medals for 20 years of continuous service.
Late Pickardville chief Colin Calkins and Clyde firefighter Glenn Ward were each presented with the medal on June 13 in Edmonton, which recognizes those firefighters who have at least 20 years of service under their belts and who have set an example that others have followed. This year 127 northern Alberta firefighters received medals.
County fire chief John Biro said to have two members of his crew recognized speaks to the quality of the department.
“It just shows the dedication of some of our residents out there to commit 20 years of continuous service in this line of work helping people,” he said. “It’s great for the county just to know we’ve got some great people out there who enjoy what they do and enjoy working with the county as well.”
Biro said a superior had to nominate Calkins and Ward for the award in order to be recognized. Biro nominated Calkins, while Clyde fire chief Dale Ford nominated Ward.
In both cases, the nominators submitted a letter outlining why their nominees were deserving.
The letter nominating Calkins was written in February 2013, four months after he died while on vacation in September 2012. In it, Biro said Calkins was someone who never quit trying to improve his community.
“Colin’s work ethic and ability to get things done was greatly appreciated and never went unnoticed,” Biro wrote. “Colin was a go-getter role model and if you needed something done or had a goal, he continued and pushed for it until he succeeded.”
Calkins’ widow Corinne, along with his daughters Jordan and Samantha, was on hand in Edmonton on June 13 to accept the medal on his behalf..
Corinne said she was happy for her husband to be recognized.
“He definitely deserved it,” she said. “He was very dedicated to what he did. He did put in 20 years. He was always there and ready to help out.”
Corinne added her daughters told her they were honoured to be able to accept the medal on their father’s behalf, and felt like celebrities as they were shuffled around to be included in many different photographs.
In Ward’s nomination letter, Ford spoke about how Ward had served on both the Clyde and Town of Westlock fire departments during his career, and was more than just a firefighter.
“Glenn is also a strong community member in Clyde as well as in Westlock where he served his community in many other ways as the need arose,” Ford said. “Such things as helping to build new playgrounds to helping at community group fund raising events to providing his services for maintenance and upgrades to community facilities.”
On the whole, Biro said he can’t thank the county’s firefighters enough for the time they put into the service. “There are a lot of hours of family time lost,” he said. “If we didn’t have these people who were interested in this, what would we do without them?”
