Memories of Pamela Townsend

I remember Pam’s strength and decency during the years of misery with her former spouse, it is a difficult memory that doesn’t have to cast it’s ugly shadow over otherwise beautiful thoughts and wishes. The contribution of the offending image is undignified and unpleasant, and sadly comes as no surprise. In dismay, Robert

I remember Pam’s strength and decency during the years of misery with her former spouse, it is a difficult memory that doesn’t have to cast it’s ugly shadow over otherwise beautiful thoughts and wishes. The contribution of the offending image is undignified and unpleasant, and sadly comes as no surprise. In dismay, Robert

In 1987-88 I was a mother of 3 very young children when Pam and I met at the Uranium Capital Nursery School in Elliot Lake ON. Pam and I had introduced ourselves and after a while she asked if I would mind if my youngest and David could have a play date. I agreed and she and David came to my home. We had got to talking and she mentioned to me that she had started an Engineering Consulting firm. While talking about her work she and I also spoke about what kind of work I had done before having children. I had mentioned that I was a secretary, and in my last job before we had moved to Elliot Lake, I had worked at Geco Mines in Manitouwadge as the Engineering Dept. secretary. She asked me if I had taken Word Perfect and I had told her I had taken the course recently in town at the Soo College campus. She asked me if I was interested in any part-time work and just like that she had hired her very first employee of PM Townsend and Associates.

While working for Pam in her home she introduced me to the best coffee I had ever tasted. She got the coffee beans from somewhere other than in town (I don't remember if she ever told me), would freshly grind them and make this wonderful brew in a small glass cylinder with a plunger on the top. I had never even seen a French Press before. She explained how to make it so that I could enjoy it when she was not around. What a wonderful, simple gadget!!!

After her business took off and expanded from mostly working for the school board, Pam ventured into many varied projects. One of the largest, and most interesting, was a study on Cottage Lot Development in the Elliot Lake area. Pam would venture out on her own and travel to a vast many of lakes located in the municipality and observe the topography of shorelines, and the depth and clarity of the lakes. She would note the types of fish species and would bring back water samples for testing. She hand wrote up reports which I would then type using, you guessed it, Word Perfect (so much better than on a typewriter). You have to imagine what a task it was for her to go out in all types of weather braving mosquitos, black flies and varied animals (including bears, moose, wolves and who knows what). The area where we lived had more than 1000 lakes just within the municipal boundaries alone! Some lakes were immediately struck off due to various reasons and some reports were prepared for some of the most promising candidates. We coloured maps of the lakes and shoreline (yes by hand) and public presentations were made to the government and the public which large display boards. Reports done in the late 1980s to the early 1990s it took 15-17 years but the City finally began acting on those reports with the first home being build around 2005-07 on Quirke Lake. Out of the candidate lake possibilities 10 were chosen and 3 have been developed adhering to strict Ontario government rules. To this day this has been one of the most successful economic projects undertaken by the City of Elliot Lake with almost 300 cottage lots sold and developed. Many of them were built as year round substantial homes of 2,000 to 3,000 square feet, not 700 square foot cottages. Generating a more substantial tax base in the Community, than small homes built by contractors for the mines.

While working for Pam I hurt my back moving some brand new office machines into the office atop of the Algo Centre roof. One of which was the large format colour printer and I had to take time off. I was waiting for physio to try and help alleviate the pain but it was taking a long time to get an appointment at the hospital. Pam simply told me to leave it to her as she would make a call. A few days later I had my first appointment! Unfortunately even with treatment I could not come back to work (even though I tried) and had to leave due to health reasons. I worked for Pam for over 3 years and her business had blossomed from just her and I to a staff of 3 plus Pam. Pam was a boss who was generous but did demand the best out of her staff, but why not? After all it was her name on the business and you and I would have done the same..

Thank you for the memories Pam!

Ashley and David it was a lovely service and I am sure that it would have been exactly how Pam would have wanted it.

Brenda Lackie

What can I say to sum up all that cousin Pam has meant to me and my family over many years?
She has been a faithful and generous friend to me, opening her home in Harrogate and Bristol to my husband and me.
Also we have had two great holidays together; Marbella, and Mallorca.
Goodbye Pam, I will miss you, but I give thanks to God for your life and all those great memories.

Pam was a larger than life character who touched so many lives. At the house party we both attended in Arosa she was a great encourager in tackling the slopes. Her joyful nature always made it a privilege to share time with her.

Pam, Pete, Ashley and David in years gone by.

We feel blessed to have many happy memories of Pam (Helen’s cousin once removed) to treasure … She was a regular member of our annual winter house parties in Switzerland where we enjoyed cross country skiing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, classical music concerts and excellent food and wine. We also shared some great times in this country including visiting art exhibitions, attending Henley Regatta and meeting at members clubs in London. We have appreciated and valued Pam’s friendship down the years and we will miss her more than words can say.