The Westlock-area fire service has suffered a big loss with the sudden death of one of the department chiefs.
Colin Calkins, 45, had been with the Pickardville Fire Department for 20 years before he died suddenly Sept. 27 while on vacation.
“He was in the process of getting his Fire Service Exemplary Service Medal,” said regional fire chief John Biro, adding it would have been presented to Calkins at the county’s annual firefighter appreciation night this year.
Biro said one of the things he remembers most about Calkins is his work ethic and ability to get things done.
“Colin was a go-getter,” he said. “If you needed something done, he was the person to get it done. When he had a goal, he continued with his goal and pushed for it.”
Biro added he was always pleased with the work Calkins did and the attitude he brought to the table.
“He made things very easy; he was a great person to work with,” he said. “He’ll be sadly missed, for sure.”
Wayne Cannard, the Pickardville department’s deputy chief, echoed that sentiment, saying in the 20 years he worked with Calkins on the department he was impressed with the chief’s ability to get things done.
“Being thorough was his thing,” Cannard said. “He wanted to make sure everything was done right.”
Cannard has now stepped into some fairly big shoes to take on the role of acting chief, and said while it will be difficult for a while to move forward, the department’s members all understand the importance of the job they do — and have a good foundation of how to do it after Calkins’ years of laying the groundwork.
“We have to carry on, so everything keeps going, but there’s definitely a big hole in our department right now,” he said.
Biro said that the loss will be felt not just in Pickardville, but in all the county departments as most are close-knit groups who always stand up and help each other through tough times.
“We don’t leave any person standing alone,” he said. “We’ll definitely grieve for a while, but we’ll definitely bounce back and we’ll be ready.”
On a personal level, Cannard said he will always remember Calkins as a man who wasn’t afraid to say what he meant and stand behind it.
“He was sometimes impulsive, but also very straightforward,” he said. “We was very honest about what he felt should be happening.”
A memorial service has been scheduled for 1 p.m. this Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Westlock & District Community Hall. His family has asked that memorial donations be given to the Pickardville Fire Association or the Klondike Trail Search & Rescue Association.
