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Al Cleaver remembered as 'always having a smile'

SURREY - A Surrey treasure has died.

Al Cleaver, 88, died Thursday morning at Surrey Memorial Hospital.The former Surrey fire chief received the 2010 Surrey Civic Treasures award for his community work.Over the years, he served on Surrey's Heritage Advisory Committee, Surrey Historical Society, Friends of the Surrey Museum and Archives Society, and the Surrey Professional Firefighters Pioneer Association."It's a shame about the chief," said Surrey fire chief Len Garis. "He was a fixture here, definitely engaged and involved."Cleaver also served as a president and member of the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition Association, and was a recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal. He also worked on the Disability Games in 1998 and BC Festival of the Arts in 2002 A park in North Surrey is named after him."We'll miss him," Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner said. "He was a great guy, always a smile on his face. He was a wonderful man."Cleaver was hired as a Surrey firefighter in 1958 and served as fire chief from 1972 to 1986.Longtime residents might remember his beaver suit - Cleaver the Beaver - which he used for fire safety education events in the 1980s, back when Surrey's mascot was a beaver.A memorial service will be held Monday, Jan. 26 at Valley View Funeral Home (14660 72 Ave., Surrey), from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. tzytaruk@thenownewspaper.com



About the Author: Tom Zytaruk

I write unvarnished opinion columns and unbiased news reports for the Surrey Now-Leader.
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