Pickering Fire Department has a small group of people that are dedicated to the preservation of tradition in the Fire Service. The Pickering Professional Firefighters Honour Guard was officially organized on October 2^nd 1991. The idea of the group was to keep up with the para-military formalities that early fire departments once represented at formal functions.

 A large part of our responsibilities is to assist with the formalities involved with Fire Service funerals. The Honour Guard supports our members and their family in the event of deceased co-workers or relatives. We work side by side with our Padre, Pastor Rob Owens to help each other in times of need. The other mandate of our unit is to positively promote the Pickering Fire Service in the eyes of our peers and the general public.

 Our first function as an Honour Guard took place back in May of 1984 and was the managing of the retirement for Fire Chief Don Lynde. Gerry Pedwell, myself, and a Scottish Piper, were the escort for Don and Marie Lynde. This early Guard Unit was also involved with the F.F.A.O. (Firefighters Association of Ontario) and represented our department at Parades, Annual Firefighter Games and in 1985, the funeral of Capt. Harry Gordon, our Training Officer.

In the summer of 1991, Mike Gamba, and myself sat down to formally set up what is now the present day Honour Guard. Funding to start was a large hurdle that we required to overcome. Our biggest supporter at the time was Bay Ridges Branch 606 - Royal Canadian Legion. It was this group who funded the initial seed money from their Nevada Fund for which Mike and I could then formulate a budget and set up the Core Unit. The Core group consisted of five members. We also received help from several firefighters on an “as needed” basis.

The City of Pickering was the next group that donated money to our Unit. Fire Chief Stewart, who was also ex-Canadian Armed Forces, saw the importance of such a unit and assisted as liaison with the Fire Chiefs Association of Ontario and the Ontario Fire College. Once these two groups came on line with money and advice, we were able to then approach our Association for their backing. Our hope was to represent a cross-section of both Full-time and Part-time staff. Our Association agreed with our proposal and we were then allowed to manage ourselves. To date, we look after our own expenses, the manpower that covers the events, and any fund raising. The uniform replacement will be the largest expense that our group will encounter and due to the support and commitment of both the City of Pickering and our Association, we believe we can bring that goal to a reality. At this point in time we have a new Formal Dress uniform that is based on the uniform of the City of Calgary Fire Department Honour Guard.

 Several milestones occurred in our Guard history and brought some credibility to our Unit. Our prime expense at that early time was the creation of an Association flag, referred to as "The Colours". This flag represents the Past, Present and Future of our Association. It represents the Honour and Sacrifices that our Association and its members have endured in order to get where we are today. It also honours our fallen brothers, Union and Non-Union, Fire Chief Rick Pearsall, Capt. Harry Gordon, Capt. George Wilson, Terry Colgan, Harry Schenk, and George Barber. The Trooping of the Colours by the Honour Guard is of something to be proud. The second event that brought credibility to the Unit was unfortunately an unhappy one. The deaths of fellow firefighter and guard member, Brother Bill Jerdan, as well as the death of Brother firefighter Ray Zents, and Fire Chief Pearsall were difficult tasks to render, however the Guard was able to proudly carry on.

 We wish to thank our Association for their continued support. The Guard has graced events in both the U.S. and Canada, in the way of Fire Department Retirement Dinners, Fire Station openings, Fire Department anniversaries, Funerals (both Police and Fire Service), Santa Claus Parades, Royal Canadian Legion functions, and yes, even Weddings.

Gord Ferguson,

Chairman, Funeral and Honour Guard,

Pickering Professional Firefighters Association