THURSDAY MARCH 3, 2016
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PASSING THE PARKSVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT TORCH
Emotional chief change
More than 250 people attend the change-of-command ceremony JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
It was an official change-of-command ceremony, complete with fire department dress uniforms, speeches from dignitaries and the proper amount of pomp and circumstance. It seemed like more of a celebration about families. On many levels. Doug Banks performed his last official duty as chief of the Parksville Volunteer Fire Department on Monday night, handing over the reigns to Marc Norris. In the front rows of a crowd that topped 250 were members of both families. On one side was the Banks family, beaming with pride. There was Nanette Banks, Doug’s mother and wife of the late Rod, who like his son served the department for 45 It was dad’s influence that years. There was April Banks, Doug’s got me interested in the fire wife, and their three daughters. On the other side of the aisle was service. I know he’s looking the Norris family, also beaming with down smiling pride, with Marc’s mom Barb and dad DOUG BANKS Paul, who was also Parksville’s fire chief and a member of the department from 1976-97. There was Maelene, Marc’s wife, and their two sons. Maelene goes by Mae. At one of the more poignant and touching parts of the evening, April Banks crossed the aisle, gave Maelene Norris a hug and said “good luck.” Yes, April passed to Mae. Bloodlines were only part of the family theme on Monday night. Chief Banks and Chief Morris spoke about the department as a whole operating like a close-knit, supportive family. They were there, roughly 35 of them, in uniform in the front rows, leading multiple standing ovations for both Banks and Norris. There was talk from master of ceremonies and former mayor Chris Burger, and Chief Banks, about the wider family, the collection of volunteer fire departments in the region, from Nanoose Bay to Dashwood to Deep Bay, and how they all helped each other like, well, a family. Port Alberni Chief Tim Pley took to the podium, offered congratulations to all, and explained how this ceremony was not exactly the norm in B.C., calling Monday night’s event “a rarity.” See PARKSVILLE JUST PURRS ALONG, page A6
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JOHN HARDING PHOTO
Retiring Chief Doug Banks, left, handed over the reigns of the Parksville Volunteer Fire Department to new Chief Marc Norris on Monday night at a change-of-command ceremony. For more photos from the event, visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PQBNews.
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