The Gord Laurie Foundation
The Gord Laurie Foundation was established in 2012 in order to enhance our community life, build partnerships, and foster growth. Gord was a man who showed a lot of love, compassion, and generosity and he loved to support and enhance the local community. It is with this in mind that the Gord Laurie Foundation was started.
Funds entrusted were used to support educational, recreational, and cultural purposes to assist, encourage, and promote the well-being of our local communities.
The Gord Laurie Foundation has helped our local community by raising $250,000 for local organizations.
About Gord Laurie
Gord was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in 1936 and moved as an infant to British Columbia where he resided until 1947. At 11 years old, he and his family moved to Taber, Alberta. He was a very athletic young man who participated in many sports. Hockey, baseball and golf were his true passions.
In 1958 he married Ruth Konno. They were married for 52 years at the time of his passing. Together they have two children; a son Trent and a daughter Janne. In 1972 they moved to Lethbridge, AB. Gord was very devoted to his family and this only increased when he became a father in law to Brad and a proud “papa” to his two grandchildren Tessa & Terik.
Changing careers in his 50’s was a courageous move to make but he always said it was the best decision he ever made. Through this change, Gord became the founding father of Laurie Kenna and Associates.
When diagnosed with Stage IV Melanoma in October 2010 he was given 5 months to live. Each day he fought to prove that prognosis wrong. Unfortunately he died of the disease at age 74 on March 30, 2011.
Gord lived an incredibly full life. He was a very courageous man who didn’t let moments or opportunities go to waste.
Gord was a hard worker and always made work seem effortless. He continued working beyond retirement age as it was his goal to keep working well into his 80’s, 90’s or beyond. He loved what he did. To him work wasn’t work, it was life. He balanced his life very well and he always had and made time for his family, friends, career and love of golf. He did everything with a spring in his step!
He was always willing to lend a hand; “Every small gesture we take the time to make, can be a big something to someone else.” Throughout his life he volunteered on many boards and just wanted to support his community any way he could. A sense of community was important to him.
He was considered a great friend by those privileged to know him and a mentor to many around him.