There will be a public memorial in Courtenay on Saturday for Stan Hagen, the British Columbia cabinet minster who died Tuesday.

First elected as part of Bill Vander Zalm's Social Credit government in 1986, Hagen served as head of 10 ministries in his career, including Tourism, Sports and the Arts, Children and Family Development and Sustainable Resource Management. When he died he was the Agriculture and Lands minister.

Printed remembrances for Hagen, who is believed to have had a heart attack, have recalled his "small kindnesses", genuine caring and gentlemanly conduct.

The memorial will start at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 24 at Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School at 1551 Lerwick Ave. in Courtenay. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made in Hagen's name to the Comox Valley Community Foundation.