The Maple Ridge Fire Department honoured a long-serving volunteer firefighter at a memorial service Sunday.
Jim Sigurdson signed up as a volunteer in 1983 and served until 2003.
He passed away May 5 at the age of 54 after a two-year battle with cancer.
Sigurdson was well known in the insurance industry and began his career working for his family business, Sigurdson Boyce Insurance. He went on to head the Credit Union Insurance Services Association as its president.
His ability to leave work to attend day-time emergencies served the department well and resulted in him often being one of its top responders to calls, said fire chief Dane Spence.
“Jim was extremely active in our community and will be remembered for his dedication, professionalism and his gentle disposition.”
Sigurdson joined the fire department as a volunteer after a fire at his insurance office in downtown Maple Ridge.
He kept a melted warped telephone salvaged from that fire on the reception desk at his office as a reminder that fires can strike at anytime and affect anyone.
“When you live and work in the community like Jim did, he would go to every major emergency. He was on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week when he was in town,” said Spence.
Flags at all three fire halls in Maple Ridge were at half-mast for the past week to honour Sigurdson.
He died from a esophageal cancer, an illness that is recognized as a “presumptive” occupational disease related to firefighting.
He is survived by his wife Linda, children Michelle, Georgina and Frank, his son-in-law Davyd, brother Wil and his sister-in-law Marilyn.
A celebration of his life was held at the Garden Hill Funeral Chapel on Sunday.
Sigurdson’s wife Linda said her husband was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years because he believed in doing good for others and wanted to give back to the community.
He only stopped volunteering because he left Maple Ridge to work elsewhere. The family has lived in Courtney on Vancouver Island for the past four years.
“I was honoured and warmed by the service,” said Linda.
“I can’t express my gratitude to the fire department for creating such wonderful memory for my kids to know that their dad was a hero and that Jim meant something in so many people’s lives.”
