After 44 years ‘Pride of Paddockwood’ Elmer Lammedee retires from Lakeland Volunteer Fire Dept.

“Back then they didn’t have radios when they started the fire department in Paddockwood. They had two phones. Ralph Frederick had one, and the bar next to my automative shop had one. So, whenever a fire call come in, they’d run over to me and say, ‘Well, there’s a fire.’ I said, ‘I’m not on the fire department’ and they’d say, ‘Well, take the truck and go anyway.’,” Lammedee laughed.

Lammedee hung up his equipment for the last time earlier this week. His badge #39 was retired in honour of him. (LDFD/Facebook)

When the fire department became more established, he was handed his own radio and told he was a member of the crew.

“So, I didn’t really volunteer. I got voluntold and I’ve been there for more than 40 years.”

Lammedee reminisced about calls he attended over the years. Some memories were tragic, but most were good.

“When there’s a fire, it’s usually nothing that’s good, but we saved a lot of buildings and helped a lot of people who needed help and that’s kind of why I got on the fire department. I thought, well, that’s one way I can help my community.”

Lammedee has lots of good things to say about the crew members he worked alongside during his career. He credits former fire chief Chris McShannock for really building the department.

“We got a whole bunch of new equipment like tanker trucks and we have engines and pumpers and he got water rescue, ice rescue, snowmobile rescue, all that kind of equipment that we have that you need so much up at the lake. And he spearheaded the new hall that we got and that’s just a beautiful fire hall up there.”

Lammedee’s pride is apparent when he talks about the firefighters he’s worked with over the years.

“I’ll miss being with the people, because they’re, like I said, they’re just like family to me.”

He’s excited for the ‘young blood’ that the department has been able to attract in recent years.

“Every time you go on a call you learn something more, right? It’s a real learning experience and as the years go on, you know you get better at it and I congratulate those young guys coming on because that’s what we need.”

While Lammedee is leaving his volunteer position at the Lakeland District Fire Department, he’s also leaving his beloved community of Paddockwood where he’s lived for 50 years. He’s currently in the process of moving to Rosthern.

While life may slow down a bit, he hopes to continue doing some of the things he hasn’t had a chance to do in a while, like entertaining. Lammedee is a well known Stompin’ Tom Connors tribute artist who hasn’t performed much since COVID.

“I guess I’d just like to do some of the things that I’d like to do, instead of what I have to do. You know…I guess that’s what retirement is supposed to be about but I’m not sure. I’m working like a dog yet.”

Lammedee, 81, hopes to start performing his Stompin’ Tom Connors tributes during retirement. (File photo/paNOW)

The Lakeland and District Fire Department celebrated Lammedee with his friends and family during a supper earlier this week. In a post on social media, they said there are no words of thanks that would be enough for his dedication and the sacrifices he made for the department and community.

“His knowledge and experience has been one of the greatest assets for the department, from his calm demeanor while teaching new recruits the ins and outs of the tricky old tankers, to looking after the Paddockwood hall and equipment solo in years of low member numbers in the area. As he moves onto another chapter in life for himself, everything he has done for us as a department, and everything he has done for our members personally, will be missed.

From the entire Lakeland & District Fire Department, #39 …thank you for your service.”

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teena.monteleone@pattisonmedia.com

by Teena Monteleone

After 44 years ‘Pride of Paddockwood’ Elmer Lammedee retires from Lakeland Volunteer Fire Dept.

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