The History of Burn Fund Bursaries
Oswald Howell Memorial Bursary ($1,000)
Captain M. Oswald “Ozzie” Howell was stationed at No. 3 Fire Hall. He joined Vancouver Fire Department Local 18 in 1927, and died at the age of 46 on June 14, 1952 from burn injuries suffered in a collision with his R & S squad wagon and a car while enroute to a rescue call. New #13 Fire Hall was dedicated in Memory of “Oz” on April 5, 2003.
In 2002, the Howell family donated $25,000 to the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund to assist young burn survivors residing in British Columbia who wish to further their post-secondary education.
Captain Alex Blake Bursary ($500) & Dr. Charles Snelling Bursary ($500)
Captain Blake and Dr. Snelling essentially founded the Burn Fund. In December 1977, Captain Alex Blake from the District of Coquitlam Fire Department met with Dr. Charles Snelling, Director of the Burn Unit at Vancouver General Hospital. Captain Blake’s experience as a fire fighter made him want to do more for burn survivors — to help assist in their long and painful recovery. Dr. Snelling knew the Burn Unit needed approximately $40,000 worth of equipment. Captain Blake approached the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association to develop a province-wide fundraising effort for the Burn Unit to provide support to the very people they rescued from fires.
The Owen Cantlie Bursary ($500)
In honour of a young burn survivor who generously wanted to gift a lasting legacy for Burn and Trauma survivors of B.C.
Kris Biggs Memorial & Leadership Bursaries ($750 and $1000)
In memory of Kris Biggs, a dedicated Burn Camp Counselor and member of the Adult Burn Community, family and friends knew how much the Burn Fund meant to Kris and took it upon themselves to establish a bursary fund. The two bursaries will be awarded to individuals with a goal to empower dedicated counselors from Burn Camp to further their leadership skills and provide educational opportunities to the many children who attend Burn Camp every year. Kris’s family and friends would like Kris’s passion for life and making a difference to carry on through these bursaries.