On August 15, which was 25 years to the day that Duck Mountain Ambulance Care began serving the community, a reception was held in Kamsack to mark the anniversary.
Held in the Ukrainian Catholic Hall, the reception included a dinner prepared by the Ukrainian Catholic committee, the drawing of tickets for several door prizes and messages of congratulations on the occasion delivered by Ken Krawetz, Canora- Pelly MLA and representatives of the communities of Kamsack, Norquay and the RM of Cote and by representatives of the Kamsack Fire Department, the Sunrise Health Region and the Saskatchewan Emergency Medical Services Association (SEMSA), among others.
As emcee of the program, Mark Forsythe of Kamsack, a member of the Kamsack Fire Department, was the first of many to offer congratulations to Jim Pollock, the owner of the ambulance company. Saying grace, Rev. Nancy Brunt of Kamsack expressed thanks for the 25 years of ambulance service and for those who have worked for the company.
Thanking Pollock for his years of service to the community, Krawetz commended him for developing the service in the community and in Saskatchewan and thanked everyone “for what we have here.”
Krawetz said that Pollock has been active throughout the province and as the legislative secretary to the premier on the Ukraine file, he said that within a week the news, involving Pollock and Duck Mountain Ambulance will be revealed and would concern Saskatchewan, Canada and Ukraine. He said that Pollock was a strong Canadian citizen and an individual that is concerned in world affairs.
“On behalf of the people of Canora-Pelly, congratulations and we hope that another 25 years is in store.”
On behalf of the people of Kamsack and town council, Mayor Rod Gardner extended congratulations and explained that Pollock wears many hats, including being the Kamsack fi re chief.
Gardner thanked Pollock for his investment in the community and for being a major employer. “We owe you,” Gardner said. “Thank you very much.”
“We wish you the best in years to come,” said Councillor Jim Predinchuk of Norquay, speaking on behalf of Norquay, where Duck Mountain Ambulance has a base.
Larry Zbeetnoff, who has worked on the fi re department with Pollock, said that he has seen the business grow from being a single-unit operation, to now with a large base in Kamsack and another outlet in Norquay.
“We should all be proud of his accomplishments,” he said of Pollock. “He has a big heart in the right place.”
Derrick Keller of the Sunrise Health Region said that he has worked with Pollock for 10 years and it has been “a pleasure.” He commended his work with patients and on behalf of Suann Laurant, the Region’s CEO, he said he hoped their good relationship would continue.
Saying it was difficult to keep his words as a toast rather than a roast, Bob Dyke of Swift Current said that the ambulance business could not have been a success for 25 years without help and he said that both in Kamsack and Swift Current the ambulances have been fortunate to have attracted good and bright staff both in the front offices and those working in the vehicles.
Saluting the teamwork needed to maintain a successful business, Dyke said that Pollock was a “man of passions” with the best motives.
“His hair has been burned off because of the heat from his big heart,” he said of Pollock, who maintains a bald head.
“But he still does not sit still,” he said. “Kamsack is lucky to have a guy too stubborn to quit when times got tough.”
Barry Dutchakof Blaine Lake, who had worked with Pollock in Prince Albert, presented Pollock with two large framed photographs of nature scenes taken near Waskesiu.
Bill Cook, an employee at Duck Mountain Ambulance, also admitted to having had a difficult time to not devolving his words into a roast of Pollock, explained that Pollock had started working in emergency medical services 35 years ago at age 16 and said that he had began the Kamsack business with a two-car service operated out of the garage of his home, and then eventually had expanded to Norquay.
Regardless of the numbers of staff the company has had, Cook said that it all resulted into one crew or one team and commended Pollock on his desire to maintain a professional image assuring that his ambulances would be the cleanest and the crew the best.
Cook talked about the many safety courses that the company has fostered for the community and said that the community is fortunate to have him.
Kyle Sereda, originally of Wroxton and a member of the board of directors of SEMSA, said that 25 years was no small feat.
“I know what you have contributed,” Sereda told Pollock, adding that he has always been there for the association and has been involved in professional development initiatives and has helped with the organization’s conventions. He commended Pollock and his team and thanked them on behalf of the patients they have impacted.
In ownership, one is doing things right, while in leadership one does the right things,” he said.
As is his custom during such affairs, Forsythe read a poem he had written for the occasion regarding a community business done right, and then Pollock took over the microphone expressing his thanks on behalf of himself and his staff.
Pollock reminisced about his fi rst jobs, working with the Dutchaks and said that all those in attendance were “family for me.” He introduced Greg Leis, who was the first EMT working with him in Kamsack and said that overall the past 25 years had been good years. He acknowledged other past staff members and said that so many great things have happened.
Pollock referred to many of his staff members who had moved on to other pursuits and said that he had always been mindful to assure that he and his staff would be ambassadors of their home community when travelling elsewhere.
“We work as a team and we all strive to do the best possible job with what we have,” he said, thanking everyone for attending the anniversary celebration.
