A Celebration of Life will be held this weekend for retired Courtenay Fire Chief Lawrence Burns. Family, friends, and colleagues will gather to celebrate Burns’ life and legacy.

A dedicated public servant, leader, and mentor whose commitment to the fire service and community left a lasting impact, Burns passed away in November.

Burns began his service with the Courtenay Fire Department in the early 1950s as a volunteer firefighter, later becoming the Department’s first full-time Fire Chief in 1969, a role he held until his retirement in 1995.

Following his retirement, Chief Burns continued to serve the fire service community. He served as the Fire Department Chaplain for the Comox Valley Fire Chiefs Association until 2024, offering support, guidance, and compassion to firefighters and their families across the region.

He also served as Chair of the City’s Heritage Advisory Commission and was recognized by Heritage BC for Distinguished Service, acknowledging his extensive volunteer work and lifelong commitment to local heritage conservation.

In 2022, the City honoured his legacy by naming a park in East Courtenay after him.

The Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday at Northgate Foursquare Church. The celebration will begin at 2:30 p.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m.

The City of Courtenay says the gathering will provide an opportunity to reflect on Chief Burns’ years of service, share memories, and honour a life defined by leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication to others.