Only the beginning

Vern Powers has been doing what he loves for 50 years
Reflection and photo: Corey Engelsdorfer

I pulled into the Lake Street garage parking lot in the spring of 2006, a 19-year-old nervous (and over-confident) kid starting his first week as a summer student on the roads department with the County. Enter Vern Powers. A small, but kind man, wearing a ball cap high on his head, covering a glowing smile. He made me feel at home and treated me just as he does everyone else— with care and respect. His work ethic and positive attitude were infectious—inspiring to this young man and others around him.

County Roads Department employee Vern Powers stands beside his truck, number 6915. The 69 signifies the year Vern started working for North Marysburgh Township. The 15 is the year the new truck was purchased by the County (2015).

It all started as it does for most young boys, with a big shiny toy that provides an everlasting memory. “I was riding in the road grader with Dad since the time I was able to walk,” says County roads employee Vern Powers. Vern’s dad, Reg Powers, was the superintendent of North Marysburgh Township at that time. “Dad started in 1941 with the township, and officially retired in 1998 when they amalgamated, so he spent 57 years of his life doing this.” The saying ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’ has never been more relevant.

Vern recalls many great memories with his dad. Mostly about how times were very different then, than they are now. “The first time I went with him, Dad asked if I wanted to drive the grader. So I sat behind the wheel, I started steering, but it had mechanical steering, so if it hit a pothole, the thing would jerk right out of my hands, it was just so heavy,” said Vern. “Now these new trucks have everything in them.”

Another night, Vern was with his dad during a harsh North Marysburgh snow storm. “I was 10 years old when I’d go with Dad in the old Adams grader. The snow would be above the cab and blowing right in on the floor through the doors. Our feet would be freezing. I’d be scraping the ice off the inside of the window so Dad could see where he was going,” says Vern.

Born in Cressy, he officially started working with what was at that time North Marysburgh Township on June 20, 1969, as a 20-year-old fresh out of high school. He then spent a short stint at Hallowell garage in 1998 after amalgamation. He eventually landed at the Lake Street garage in Picton.

But it was well before that time that Vern acquired the itch to be behind the wheel. He recalls a very late night/early morning, as a 14-year-old boy. Vern was sitting copilot with his dad in the grader. “Dad was driving, and I would sit there and watch how he’d shift the gears. I looked up and he was starting to fall asleep. He stopped and said ‘Here, you can drive this thing, I’m tired.’ So I climbed behind the wheel, and just started plowing snow.” Vern chose his career that night, and has been doing it ever since.

Reg passed away in 2010. Vern smiles when he remembers a certain life lesson his dad taught him near the end of high school. Vern was contemplating an opportunity to work at Deloro-Stelite, but felt he would be better suited working with the township. Reg chimed in. “I’m going to tell you.” According to Vern’s account of his dad’s advice. “If you’re going to do it, dedicate yourself to it. It’s hard. It’s not with a lot of pay. It’s not an 8-4 job, and whatever work needs to be done, you’ve got to do it. If you are going to complain about it, then you might just as well forget about it.”

Vern laughs when he thinks about it “So, I’ve never complained. I might sputter a little bit because I’m getting tired, but that’s about it,” says Vern.

Thinking back, Vern lists off names of people who have had an influence on his life. “Everyone has been so great to me, but I remember people like Ben Bigby, who was my first boss. Leon Quaiff, Ross Benway, Roger McCaw, Walter Insley, Roger McKinley, Rex Rolston. You knew everyone back then. We had a lot of fun,” says Vern.

Vern doesn’t go for the limelight. That is why last Thursday his co-workers surprised him on the day of his 50th work anniversary with cake and treats at the Lake Street garage. “I kind of knew something was up,” said Vern. “They kept radioing me asking where I was. Then they told me they wanted my truck pulled into the garage because Steve Hineman wanted to look at it. The doors opened and everyone was standing there clapping.” Mayor Steve Ferguson was quick to point to Vern’s dedication. “The municipality deeply appreciates the loyalty and attention to detail that Vern has demonstrated during his 50-year career,” said Ferguson. “In this day and age, it’s rare to see such dedication to an employer. Vern is someone who gets along with all of his colleagues and is always willing to mentor new staff and summer students. Fifty years is an amazing accomplishment, and we are fortunate to have someone of Vern’s quality and integrity working for Prince Edward County.”

Now 70, retirement does cross Vern’s mind. “They ask me a lot about when I might retire, and I say ‘well, I was thinking about it this year’, but I still enjoy it. It’s not about the money for me.” When the time does come for retirement, Vern already has a plan for his spare time. “I could tell you stories for a week. Comical stuff that you wouldn’t believe. But I think I’ll save those. Maybe I’ll write a book.”

I shared a lot of laughs with Vern that summer. But most of all, Vern was a mentor. He taught me that work can be hard. but it can me a lot of fun, too. Life lessons I hope to pass on over the next 50 years.