It’s hard for softball volunteer Pam Schon to know a world where the game exists without her partner Wes Jantzen.
Jantzen, who passed away from cancer in December 2023, had been volunteering with Schon in his Saanich community for more than two decades.
To show gratitude for the couple’s volunteerism, Strawberry Vale Fastball pitched to council renaming a softball diamond after them. Saanich council voted on Jan. 22 to change No. 2 field at Rosedale Park to the Wes Jantzen and Pam Schon Field.
“I was quite shocked yesterday when I found out that this had happened,” said Schon, who had no clue her name was mentioned at the council meeting.
Since the couple’s 31-year-old daughter was five, they’ve been involved with the local softball community. At first, they started lending a hand when necessary, but as volunteers dwindled they became more involved.
“They were having trouble with volunteers and needed help,” said Schon. “So we stepped in and started helping out, and as the volunteers’ kids aged out of the park, there were less and less volunteers coming forward. We just ended up with it on our plate just because it was hard to get volunteers.”
The couple ran the concession during games, maintained the park facilities and their daughter helped co-coach one of the team. At one point, Jantzen and his now 28-year-old son took up umpire courses because the community didn’t have enough.
“We did what we could to put as much back into the park and keep it going and keep the kids involved in sports,” shared Schon.
Schon never expected her and Jantzen to take on so much responsibility.
“We meant to do our share of volunteering because when you have teams, the parents have to volunteer in the concession and help out as part of their registration. But as times went on, we struggled to be able to get that help from the parents.”
The softball volunteer thought it was wonderful to have been honoured by the community for the number of hours she and her husband had put in. However, the recognition felt bittersweet for Schon.
“I think it’s wonderful. I just wish my husband were here to see it. He put so much time into the park as well.”
Jantzen made it through two chemo treatments before passing away in December. His cancer was unnamed because doctors were uncertain of where it started.
The community recognition has helped Schon while mourning her loss.
“It just really warms your heart that you’ve been recognized for the many years that you put in there and the hard work that’s gone into it,” she said reflecting on her and her husband’s time at the park.
“It wasn’t easy. It was a lot of work, but it was also very rewarding to see all the kids grow and watch them develop.”
READ MORE: Grant to help Saanich’s Swan Lake sanctuary restore salmon habitats
