Bill Pineo is a retired school bus driver and a Neighbourhood Hero who, among many other accomplishments, brought the BEARS and BEAMS programs to School District #68 (Be Enthusiastic About Reading Success and Be Enthusiastic About Math Success).

Now in his mid 80s, he still volunteers at Seaview Elementary School helping kids who need extra support with math. He also has an extraordinary memory especially when it comes to remembering kindnesses done by his many friends.

I'm sure that most of us truly appreciate the small, and not so small, things friends do for us, but all too often we become overwhelmed with our day-to-day life and forget to send a card or make that "thank you" call.

I suspect that Bill and Pam Pineo don't fall into that category; they are the type of people who always appreciate ... and never forget the little things.

Bill titled his nomination "How Jack Arrol Has Helped The Pineos' over the years". I marvelled at how he could remember so many things, but he assured me that there are many more that could be added. Here is Bill's "partial" list of favors that Jack has done for him and Pam:

• He built a beautiful wet-bar in our home on Wildwood.
• He built a copper lining for our planter.
• He built a copper screen for the fireplace and gave us a brass tool set.
• He built a pipe stand for our house number and name.
• He re-built the back porch stairway.
• Her replaced our kitchen counter top - a big job.
• He rebuilt the back section of our camper, which was full of dry rot.
• He found the leak in our thirty-foot trailer and repaired it.
• He took us fishing many, many, many, times.
• He loaned us his boat when we asked, and never complained when I returned it one time with the water pump over-heating. Luckily Glen fixed it for him, but I still feel guilty for not offering to pay for it - I was broke then.
• He built two Looney banks, one for us, and one for Grace.
• He built us three handsome cedar planters.
• He always gave us salmon when he had some extra luck fishing.
• He installed our waterless taps in the kitchen.
• He gave us his old picnic table, and with a little work, it is still serving us well.
• He also gave me templates and plans for a tête-à-tête and lounges.
• He offered to install a dishwasher if I bought one, plus a dead bolt for the front door.
• He built our birds a fancy feeder.
• He offered me a job at Pacific Metal, but then things picked up at the school district, and I declined.
• He bought a car from me that he didn't like, just so I could make a sale.

"But the greatest gift that jack and Hilda ever gave to us over the years was the continuation of their friendship. When Pam and I returned from Hawaii [after many years absence], it was as though we had never been away.

"I have to wonder if there would ever be enough time for his kids and others to list all the things he has unselfishly done for them over the years, and still does to this day.

"The old saying that, 'What goes around comes around,' will surely apply to Jack, and he will be much richer for it one day."

Do you have a Neighbourhood Hero like Jack Arrol in your life? If you do, I'd like to hear from you.