It would have been his last appearance as a Langley school trustee, but Steve Burton decided to take the evening off.
His fellow trustees had planned a farewell for the about-to-retire Burton at the final Langley Board of Education meeting before the election on Nov. 8.
It was listed on the meeting agenda as “presentation to retiring trustee Steve Burton.”
He would have received a parting gift of a small old-fashioned school bell, the kind that comes with a handle, with his name and years of service engraved on it.
It’s the same gift all departing trustees get.
But Burton didn’t show up to collect it.
Determined to give Burton his due, trustee Alison McVeigh read out her tribute, referring to Burton’s “strong and steady leadership” and his habit of asking “difficult questions.”
“You’ve done an excellent job, Steve,” McVeigh said.
“You will be missed at the board table and we wish you well in all your future endeavours.”
Trustee Rod Ross said the no-show was in character for Burton, someone he said has no need for the spotlight.
Ross described Burton as a “challenging person … [a] warrior and leader … never afraid to go into battle.”
Afterwards, Ross said Burton had given no warning that he wouldn’t attend.
Burton did not respond to a Times request for comment.
