PALMERSTON – A celebration of life for former Town of Minto mayor David Burns will be held at the Frank Lambier Legion in Palmerston on June 14.
The celebration will begin at 1pm, with remembrances at 2pm, and will end around 4pm.
Flags at the Town of Minto office were at half-staff following Burns’ death on May 10.
Born in Calgary and raised in Port Credit, Burns completed a bachelor of science degree at the University of Toronto in 1960 before accepting a teaching position at Norwell District Secondary School.
At the Palmerston school he taught math, science and electrical shop for 17 years.
“Way back in the early 70s, he was my Grade 9 mathematics teacher at Norwell,” said current Minto Mayor Dave Turton.
Burns had a strong interest in politics, serving as mayor of Palmerston from 1980 to 1984.
Turton told the Community News that when he first joined town council in 2003, Burns was serving as mayor – this time for the Town of Minto, following amalgamation in 1999.
“Dave was the mayor of Minto in 2003 (until 2006). Again, that was my first term. We spent three years together, and he was a wonderful mentor for me,” said Turton.
“He had lots of experience, he was a politician [and dealt with] political situations in the province and in the world, I mean, he looked at all of that. And noticeably, he was right up to date on all the things that were happening.”
Turton added Burns was “absolutely” involved in the community and had his own business, Burns Woodworking.
Burns’ business, started in 1977 after he retired as a teacher, specialized in custom cabinetry for the next 24 years in southern Ontario.
Burns also had a “love for his garden”, according to Turton, and actively engaged in environmental and climate issues.
In honour of the well-known Palmerston resident, the family is requesting donations be made to the Maitland Conservation Foundation or the Palmerston Hospital MRI Fund.
To learn more about Burns, visit heritagefuneralhomes.ca/2024/05/david-burns.
