POWASSAN, Ont. — Several members of the Powassan Fire Department have received federal and provincial service medals recognizing their longevity with the department.
In total, the volunteer department is made up of 34 men and women, which includes the firefighters in Trout Creek.
Fire Chief Bill Cox, who has been with the service for 48 years, handed out the awards during a ceremony.
Among the recipients was Ron Reynolds, who was awarded a ribbon and a 30-year medal for his service (now 33 years) with the department.
The event also saw dispatcher Joanne Harwood receive the Trillium Partner Award.
Harwood is Reynolds' partner and Cox says her award recognizes how partners and spouses support their respective firefighters. Cox notes Harwood is there when fire calls come in during the wee hours of the night and she's without Reynolds every Monday night when the firefighters conduct training and drill sessions.
Mike Wagner hit the 30-year milestone this year and was also acknowledged with a ribbon and a 30-year medal.
Derrick Bennison hits the three-decade mark next year. But in the meantime, he's now the owner of a 20-year exemplary service medal which is distributed by the federal government.
Joining Bennison with the same award and for the same length of service was Francis Aultman.
In the last four years, 10 firefighters have retired from the department with a combined service time of 194 years. The veteran among this group of retirees is Dennis Booth who notched 40 years of service from February 1979 when he first signed up to protect local residents until June 2019.
Rocco Frangione is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the North Bay Nugget. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.