1) Mute your microphone if you aren't already muted. Background noise is distracting.
2) If you are not engaged in the presentation, turn off your camera.
3) Chat function should only be used to address the speaker, not for Club member remarks during the presentation
4) Unmute when harassing the Sergeant at Arms or taking your turn during Sergeant at Arms.
5)Happy belated Mother's day.
Please direct any questions to the President or a board member of yourchoosing and we will discuss any and all questions or concerns during our board meeting. Also please refer anyone who may be interested in attending a meeting or joining the club.
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
From Anne Frank via Debbie M. "No one ever became poor by giving."
VISITORS
The Ghosts of Galas Past, Present and Future; Ebeneezer!
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND
CLUB BUSINESS
No for that moment you have all been waiting for the Gala Financial Summary as presented by our one of a kind treasurer Bobby Ghirra. Take it away Bobby.
INFLOWS:
Ticket Sales $31,400
Table Sponsors 20,000
Cash Donations 7,765
Sponsor Donations 9,799
Dinner Auction 3,000
Live Auction 21,100
Silent Auction 22,044
Heads/Tails 3,170
Balloon Game 3,720
50/50 3,420
Charity 458
Total $125,786
Heartwood 16,635
Gross Impact $142,321
Riverside Hall, $33,932
Riverside 2,284
Photographer 1,286
Printing 493
Givergy 5,600
Fred lee 2,650
Misc 743
Wine and Prosecco 3,024
50/50 Payout 1,710
Total Outflows $51,722
Total Inflow $125,786
Total Outflow $51,722
Rotary Club of Richmond Sunrise $74,064
Ask – Heartwood $16,535
Total Impact $90,599
Speaker
Rotary Classification Talk: Larry Thompson
Today, our own Larry Thompson gave his much-anticipated classification talk—a humorous, moving, and deeply human journey through his life and career. Larry, who is always there for us, began with a laugh: he had gone to Birch Bay to relax and de-stress, only to get a call from Bobby (or Michael!) asking him to give this talk—completely unprepared. True to form, he graciously agreed, noting we could ask him anything. “I’m not offended by anything,” he said.
Early Life and Family
Larry was born in 1951 in Belleville, Ontario—halfway between Toronto and Montreal. It was a place with “no ethnic identity,” though the town was half Catholic, half Protestant. The town had only one Chinese restaurant. Moving to multicultural Vancouver was one of the best things in his life.
He had a close-knit family: his parents, four siblings, and extended relatives. His mother, one of eight children, got married “to get away from her family,” Larry joked. He shared a heartbreaking story about the loss of one of his twin siblings to a penicillin reaction at age four. His mother was strong but devastated, spending two days in her bedroom grieving.
His upbringing was steeped in Pentecostal religion. There was no dancing or bowling—only church events, reading scripture after Sunday school, and attending services five days a week. While Larry no longer identifies as religious, he remains spiritual and values those foundational lessons.
Career Journey
Larry’s father was a fire chief who later moved into the funeral business, eventually owning ten funeral homes. Despite this legacy, Larry first pursued a different path. He trained as a radiology technician at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and worked doing portable X-rays.
He once thought he wanted to be a pastor, but his journey took him in many directions: he attended the London School of Hair, became an instructor, and then earned a degree in mortuary science. Along the way, he also became a licensed, ordained minister and eventually returned to the family trade—funeral service.
Larry describes the funeral profession as a form of caregiving. He believes he was "put on this earth to care for people," and that his counseling training affirmed his natural inclination to support others in their darkest moments. "It’s an honor to be remembered for helping someone during the worst time of their life," he said.
Larry has worked in the Richmond area for 35 years and has been in the funeral industry for over 40. He mentors and teaches through his professional association, delivering science and ethics courses, and used to visit high schools to teach about multicultural traditions around death and mourning. He noted that by 2011, 80% of local services were cremations, though this is not reflective of global practices where ground burial remains more common.
Personal Life and Reflections
Larry married Carol in 1969—a woman he’d known since school. They had one son, Aaron, and now have four grandchildren, who he affectionately described as "the loves of his life" (especially when they want $50 and secretly ask him not to tell their parents).
He moved to Vancouver because his eldest sister was nursing there. A visit turned into a permanent stay. He worked in the OR at VGH and then transitioned back into the funeral business due to family connections.
He shared candidly about his life changes: he and Carol had a good marriage, but he later fell in love with Steve. Coming from a deeply religious background, this was not an easy transition. Larry expressed his gratitude to Rotary, and especially to friends like Bill, who supported him during this time. “I was worried I would lose my friends,” he said, but found instead that “Rotary was there for me.”
Steve, like Larry, came from a religious family. Their wedding was filled mostly with Rotarians, and the love and support they received meant everything. Larry remains on good terms with Carol, highlighting the kindness and mutual respect in their relationship.
Anecdotes and Humor
Larry’s warm sense of humor was woven throughout his talk. As a child, he used to bury his sister’s Barbie dolls in shoeboxes, perform funeral services for them, and then—when he ran out of dolls—dig them up and rebury them. Clearly, the calling came early!
He also revealed that he’s not a sports fan—unlike Steve, who "breathes sports 24/7." Larry prefers to cook and is known to watch four hours of cooking shows in one go.
Accomplishments and Resilience
Larry has endured 18 cancer surgeries and multiple broken bones, but he remains upbeat and resilient. He was recognized ten years in a row as a top funeral director. He continues to teach and mentor in his field—proving that passion and growth have no expiration date.
Closing Thoughts
Larry closed by reflecting on the significance of caregiving, service, and love—core themes that run through his life and career. His story is one of dedication, humility, transformation, and profound empathy. We are grateful for Larry's presence in Rotary and the incredible heart he brings to everything he does.
SERGEANT At Arms Tidbits
Susan attended via zoom, as she needed to sleep in today and will be working at 6 a.m. next week. She enjoyed KidsPlay.
Amanda is currently busy with work and is ready for a nap. Her niece asked to borrow shoes and notified her she’s too old for sneakers—she’s now wearing "old lady" slip-ons. The joke’s on her niece, though, because they’re really comfortable. (ED: for all the men of a similar vintage, this is when we get “dad sneakers”.)
Micheal didn’t have much to report but had a good time at KidsPlay and won the 50/50 draw. Waiting to find out what happened with the funds. (Hard to hear – sounds like it was donated back?)
Kal spent some time with Chewy. (ED: John typed this and I don’t recall the context, but happy to hang out any time, Kal)
Chewy went to see The Thunderbolts—said it was quite good (for a Marvel movie, but also in general). Also shared experiences dealing with depression and loneliness. (ED: To be clear, I didn’t, the movie did.) Won’t be around next week as he’s traveling for work.
Garth There was a duck in the backyard for three days, which has now moved to the front yard and then the crosswalk—may be sick.
Pat attended a luncheon today.
Larry is "having a ball."
John mentioned using nitrogen spray on the left side of his face and expecting to look like Two Face (from Batman) for a few days.
Dalbir has a friend who is a funeral director and joked that cremation may be his "last chance for a smoking hot body." He climbed a bunch of mountains but didn’t save anyone. His grandson is doing well, now reading and writing full sentences after coming to them barely speaking.
Bobby was also at KidsPlay. Thanked Larry for sharing his past. Heading to Toronto and Chicago next week.
Bill said the kids love Shelly because all she wanted for Mother’s Day was a burger. The opposite of same who enjoys elaborate anniversary celebrations (Happy Anniversary Sam & Justin!).
Kal wrote Larry’s speech. Had a great time at KidsPlay, which had 900 guests.
Debbie M. did a lot of paddling and won a silver medal. She had seven races and called the experience a knockout.
Judy watched Debbie race—said it was exhausting. Says she was mistaken for the bride at Larry’s wedding because he made her carry bouquets. Had a great Mother’s Day and celebrated with family. Ready to extend Mother’s Day. Having lunch with friends—unfortunately, one is suffering from dementia.
Chris B. had her son and grandson visit for a swim meet at UBC.
Danny was scheduled to leave for Afghanistan but ended up staying and working until mid-June.
Maryam mentioned her grandmother passed away three years ago and it was nice to have someone step in, acknowledging Larry. Played pickleball for the first time.
Jeanette enjoyed KidsPlay(Happy Nurse’s Day!). Shared an update that Elena is in California and her sister-in-law passed away shortly after she arrived.
Sandra attended a play at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre called Six, about Henry VIII’s six wives.
Brian had his last birthday celebration in the Okanagan.
Gordon couldn’t remember he was president when Larry became a member but recalled the love shown to Steve and Larry at the wedding. He wore his full kilt, which is a rare occurence.
Debbie T. spoke about racing and her love for dragon boating. She had back-to-back races with little time in between. Shared a story about ducks that used to visit their pool—the same couple for years—who would parade their chicks down the street.
Marg attended the Chinatown Foundation dinner with 700 people. Fred Lee helped organize a workout night that raised almost $50,000. She had six university friends visit—one of them had ALS and has now passed. She noted that the Chinese tradition is to set a table for the missing person after a death. She’s off to Victoria for the weekend and going whale watching.
Peter said his grandkids are away camping and fishing.
MEANDERINGS
So guess what - it is National Nursing Week. Time to celebrate and honour our hard working and dedicated nurses (Yes especially you Jeanette!! 🥳) This from Canadian Nurses Association Web Site.
National Nursing Week 2025 celebrates the Power of Nurses to Transform Health
May 12, 2025 (Ottawa, Ontario) — The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) proudly celebrates National Nursing Week, May 12–18, 2025, with the theme The Power of Nurses to Transform Health. This theme honours the expertise, compassion, and impact of the 478,000+ nurses across Canada who are shaping the future of care in every health system and beyond.
The week includes Indigenous Nurses Day and International Nurses Day on May 12 and Student Nurses Day on May 14.
Throughout National Nursing Week, the CNA has organized a series of events:
May 12 - The Role of Nurses in Indigenous Health Care
May 13 - The Power of Nurses to Transform Our Health, Our Future and Our Planet
May 15 - The Power of Nurses to Transform Care with Artificial Intelligence
May 16 - Recognizing Nurses Awarded King Charles III Coronation Medals and Engaging with Howard Catton, International Council of Nurses CEO
Nurses continue to lead health transformation efforts, including care system redesign across the continuum of care and other sectors, and drive bold policy and evidence-informed advocacy. Nurses also hold untapped economic potential. In 2024, wait times cost Canada’s GDP an estimated $5.2 billion according to the Fraser Institute, reflecting only hours lost during the average workweek for those waiting for care. By fully leveraging nurses’ knowledge and skills, such as expanding prescribing authority for registered nurses and scaling up nurse practitioner-led clinics, Canada can not only improve access to care but also mitigate these economic losses and unlock billions in potential savings.
“In every community and every sector, nurses are making measurable impacts on the health of Canadians,” said Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc, CNA president. “This week, we celebrate the impact of nurses across Canada and their collective power to transform health for today and tomorrow.”
CNA urges the federal government to maintain strong engagement with the nursing profession and take concrete steps to implement its platform promises. From pan-Canadian strategies and workforce optimization to mental health supports and workforce retention, nurses bring the evidence, expertise, and proven solutions Canada needs.
“As the largest group of regulated health professionals in Canada, nurses are uniquely positioned to lead system transformation and support governments across the nation to better meet the needs of the people we serve,” said Dr. Valerie Grdisa, CNA CEO. “I encourage all Canadians to join the celebration and to show their appreciation for nurses through social media, community recognition, and by supporting initiatives that strengthen the nursing profession.”
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