Newmarket and Aurora's fire chief, Ian Laing, dies peacefully in his sleep

Flags flying at half-mast at all Newmarket and Aurora fire halls and municipal buildings

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 1, 2023
Lisa Queen

Central York Fire Services Chief Ian Laing died peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 29.

Flags are now flying at half-mast at all Newmarket and Aurora fire halls and municipal buildings, following the shocking news of his death.

Ever the calm professional well known for his deep commitment to fire safety, Laing began his firefighting career in Mississauga, where he served from 1975 to 2009, where he rose through the ranks to assistant deputy chief.

He joined Central York Fire in 2010 and served as Newmarket and Aurora’s community emergency management co-ordinator from 2010 to 2016.

Laing was then appointed York Region fire co-ordinator in 2016.

His peers will remember him for his love of running rescues, being on the auto extrication team and participating in competitions, a joint statement from the towns of Newmarket and Aurora said.

On his personal time, Laing enjoyed riding his Harley motorcycle and going on road trips with his wife. He truly loved the fire service, it said.

Newmarket Mayor John Taylor and Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas said Laing will be deeply missed.

“It is a sad day for Central York Fire Services, the firefighting community and the towns of Newmarket and Aurora,” Taylor said.

“The fire chief dedicated 48 years of his career to fire services and 15 years as the fire chief for CYFS. Beyond CYFS, (the) chief was a leader is his field, providing mentorship, guidance, strength and support to many across fire services as regional fire co-ordinator for York Region. Most importantly, he was a dear colleague and friend who will be greatly missed. Chief Laing was and will always be an integral part of Central York Fire Services.”

Mrakas is also upset by Laing’s death.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of fire Chief Iain Laing's passing. Chief Laing served our community with dedication and courage, leaving an indelible mark on our Town. We are forever grateful for his leadership and commitment to public safety and keeping our community safe,” he said.

“Our thoughts are with Chief Laing’s family during this difficult time.”

Among Laing’s accomplishments, his greatest source of pride was the construction and opening of Central York’s first joint fire station on Earl Stewart Drive in northern Aurora.

The state-of-the-art facility, which opened last year, helped CYFS respond to emergencies faster and provided enhanced training and opportunities for staff to strengthen their physical and mental health.