2007 News and Information
Water Bomber Visionary Honoured in Richmond
20 August 2007Richmond, BC –Local artist Karen Lorena Parker has donated her painting, Dan McIvor’s Martin Mars, to Richmond Fire-Rescue’s Sea Island fire hall in honour of the late Burkeville volunteer fire fighter and father of the water bomber concept, Dan McIvor.
This stunning 3’ x 6’ acrylic on canvas painting is a tribute to Dan McIvor’s vision which, in the 1950s, led to the conversion of Martin Mars World War II Navy planes to water bomber planes. The painting dramatically illustrates the 2003 Kelowna forest fires while featuring a Martin Mars water bomber at work in the sky above.
“Displaying Dan McIvor’s Martin Mars is a perfect way to memorialize Dan McIvor, volunteer Burkeville fire fighter, and his family who still live in Richmond,” said Fire Chief, Jim Hancock. “Not only does it celebrate a noble life and an important invention, the painting depicts a significant aspect of fire fighting in Canada. We are delighted that Karen Lorena Parker has donated it to Richmond Fire-Rescue.”
On August 20, 2007, Councillor Cynthia Chen and Richmond Fire Chief Jim Hancock accepted the painting at an unveiling, on behalf of Richmond Fire-Rescue, the City of Richmond and to commemorate Burkeville volunteer fire fighter, Dan McIvor.
