“Central York Fire Services Ian Laing Headquarters” the letters now spell out on Station 4-5.
Dozens gathered on the morning of Sept. 21 for a renaming ceremony to dedicate the fire services’ headquarters and training centre in Laing’s memory.
He suddenly died peacefully in his sleep last Nov. 29.
Located at 300 Earl Stewart Dr. in Aurora’s north end just a stone’s throw from Newmarket, the building is the first jointly built by both towns.
Laing considered the facility one of the top highlights of his career.
His wife, Deborah, told yorkregion.com after the service that she was moved by the ceremony and the renaming of the station in her husband’s honour.
“This was so special. The only thing that would make it better was if Ian was here to enjoy it. He would have been very proud,” she said.
“We were a team. I’m missing half my team.”
CYFS’s newly appointed leader, Chief Rocco Volpe, was also moved.
“I miss him. He’s the one that hired me. I spent 10 lovely years with him, having tea, events, we attended galas, we drove together to meetings,” he told yorkregion.com.
“We spent 14-, 15-hour days together. (He was) a second dad, a friend. My dad passed away two years ago but he was like a dad to me at work.”
Speaker after speaker — including Volpe, CYFS’s first chief John Molyneaux, Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas, Newmarket Mayor John Taylor, Aurora Coun. Rachel Gilliland, who chairs the fire department’s joint council committee, York Region chair Wayne Emmerson, Newmarket-Aurora MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy, Newmarket-Aurora MP Tony Van Bynen, Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill MPP Michael Parsa and Central York Professional Firefighters Association president Jason Beauving — talked about Laing’s dedication, commitment and sense of humour throughout his 48-year career.
“Under his leadership, CYFS reached new heights in public safety and emergency preparedness, Molyneaux said
“His career is a testament to his unwavering dedication, leadership and a deep community spirit.”
Mrakas spoke out directly to Deborah.
“Deborah, I want to thank you once again for lending our communities Ian for so many years. Chief Laing dedicated his career to public service and safety and taught us all how to lead with compassion,” he said.
“From his humour to his empathy to his fierce protection of his staff, he was the type of leader you were simply lucky to have.”
Laing had an “incredible” career dedicated to community safety, although many residents will remain unaware of his achievements because many were invisible to the public eye, Taylor said.
“Ian was taken from us so suddenly and so tragically, we didn’t have a chance for his retirement,” he said.
“And I really want to say to Ian today that we thank you. What you did in building a team and keeping Central York Fire Services strong, in understanding the passion, compassion, leadership, loyalty, positivity (needed to) make a fire service be able to do its job so well.”
Laing would have been very proud to know the headquarters was named in his honour and that just days before the ceremony, Newmarket and Aurora named Volpe as the new chief, Taylor said.
“Chief Laing was a person who was values-based and a person of character … He brought positivity and humour,” he added.
“When I come (to the Ian Laing headquarters) each time and see (his name on the station), I’m going to picture his face with a giant smile because, frankly, I think almost every time I saw him, he had a giant smile. It was so refreshing. He walked into a room and you felt that positivity, the energy and the smile.”