Wasauksing searches for a new fire chief - Gary Tabobondung officially retired as the
Wasauksing First Nation fire chief last Tuesday, March 31, after more than 30 years of service.
A replacement has yet to be found to fill the vacant fire chief position, leaving the most senior officer within the fire department to step up as acting fire chief in the interim, according to deputy fire chief Eva Munro.
Tabobondung began his career on the reserve issuing fire permits and worked along side Norm Stinson, the fire prevention officer. Tabobondung said that his desire and passion to serve his community, coupled with the need for a more active fire service on Parry Island, led to his career as fire chief.
“The need was there and it was starting to get greater so the chief and council at that time wanted to see something happen in that area because nothing was going on other than the MNR (Ministry of Natural Resources; now Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry) but they wouldn’t come over to any house fires,” said Tabobondung. “We started talking (Norm Stinson and Tabobondung) and tried to get things more organized, trying to get us a fire hall and things like that.”
Tabobondung said that when he first started, there was no fire hall for the First Nation. A fire hall was built along with the community complex approximately 20 years ago.
Tabobondung recalls the purchase of the First Nation’s first fire truck fondly, referring to it as his most fond memory as fire chief.
“We brought our new fire truck home, in the year ’93, I believe. We traveled out to Winnipeg to Fort Garry Industries and picked it up there. Four of us went out,” said Tabobondung. “The highlight was when we came across the swing bridge onto the Island and on the Island side there was a great big sign and the whole community was there to great us with the new fire truck.”
Serving as fire chief, Tabobondung has undoubtedly witnessed his fair share of tragedy, but said that he doesn’t “dwell too much on the bad things.”
“There have been some things that we’ve seen and good things that we’ve seen,” said Tabobondung. “But the good absolutely outweighs the bad.”
Tabobondung said that since he first began working with the fire department over 30 years ago, the department has seen significant growth, from previously not having a fire hall or a fire truck, to now having both, and today is comprised of approximately 15 volunteer fire fighters.
The decision to retire was not one made lightly, but due to the stress of the job, coupled with health reasons, Tabobondung gave his notice close to six months ago. Though he will no longer be serving with the fire department, Tabobondung will still be keeping his regular job at the community complex in the maintenance department.
“Even though it’s only been a week, I miss the camaraderie with the other members of the department – and that will go on for a while,” said Tabobondung. “I have full confidence in the responding volunteers. Some volunteers have come from different departments like Carling and the surrounding area so they bring a lot of knowledge with them.”
Looking forward, Tabobondung hopes that relations between the Wasauksing fire department and the Parry Sound fire department remain intact.
“We depend on Parry Sound for some of our services – we have an agreement with them,” said Tabobondung. “And if for some reason if that agreement has lapsed, I hope that they would still respond and leave the politics for after the emergency has passed. It’s all about safety.”
Tabobondung said that he looks forward to playing a little more golf in his retirement. “
I play at Deer Run, I usually buy a membership there,” said Tabobondung. “It’s quiet there and I just take my time.”
Tabobondung said he wished to thank the community and the chief and council for coming forward in times of emergency, providing their support over the past 30 years.
Link to article: Wasauksing searches for a new fire chief