Burnaby's council meeting had a sad note Monday night, when Mayor Derek Corrigan gave tribute to his late friend, Doug Sigurdson, who died that morning.
Sigurdson passed away in Abbotsford after a battle with cancer on Monday morning. He was the former president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and played a major role in the union movement. He was also the city's parks commissioner for six years.
"Doug loved the game of golf and was an expert club maker, an avid player and an encouraging teacher," Corrigan stated on Facebook. "He also made great wine and inimitable smoked salmon."
Corrigan called Sigurdson his mentor and close friend.
"He taught me a lot about trade union history, life on the waterfront and the values that are needed for good leadership," he stated. "He also tried to teach me about golf, proving he was not perfect at everything he did. I look forward to the celebration of his life."
Corrigan also gave condolences to Sigurdson's widow, Diane, his daughter Jody, and his extended family and friends.
