LYALL, Leslie “Les” Keith, MBA, KGSJ

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Passed away on 03 September 2012 after a long and courageous battle with neuroendocrine cancer.  Les was born on 14 April 1952 in Kaslo, British Columbia.

Schooled in British Columbia, Les received a Diploma in Urban Land Economics (UBC, 1979).  He began his professional career in the banking industry with The Federal Business Development Bank, where he provided marketing and performing strategic planning consulting services to clients throughout BC and the Yukon.  In 1987 he received his executive MBA from Simon Fraser University and for the next twenty-two years he was President & Founder, Pacific Strategies Group Inc., a six-person consulting practice specializing in strategic planning, marketing strategies, and organizational and manufacturing effectiveness for client situations that ranged from high growth management to re-positioning and re-structuring and whose revenues ranged from $1 million to $100 million; President & CEO, BCS Technology Inc., a computer telephony integration company operating a debit card platform for voice and data applications.; Vice-President, Overseas Globaltel Corp.; President & CEO, Canair Hovercraft; and COO, GrowthWorks Capital Ltd.  Les’s last endeavour began in 2009 when he became the Managing Partner of Kirchner Investment Management Corp, and together with his friend and business partner, Bud Kirchner, was responsible for the management of several billion dollars worth of venture capital funds and portfolios in Canada, the United States and England.

He was very involved within his professional community.  He was President, Retail Venture Capital Association for five years; Business Advisory Board Member, BC Advanced Systems Institute; Past President, Planning Forum (Vancouver Chapter); and Past Director, Professional Marketing Research Society (PMRS, Vancouver Chapter). Frequently a guest speaker and lecturer on Venture Capital, Strategic Planning and Corporate Organizational Effectiveness, Les was Advisor to the BCIT Venture Project, Advisor to TIEM Canada and also participated on an economic advisory committee for Canada’s Federal Minister of Finance.

Believing that a balanced life is realized by committing to the well-being of ones community, Les served The Neurological Centre (Children’s Centre for Ability) as President for eight years, as Director, BC Neurological Foundation for seven years and Member of the Agriculture & Food Committee for the Science Council of BC.  In 2009 Les was inducted into the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaler and was promoted to Knight of Grace earlier this year.  Les dedicated volunteer hours and financial resources to support the mission of the Order and its capital construction of the St. John Hospice in Vancouver, BC.  Chevalier Lyall was a Director of the St. John Palliative Care Foundation and at the time of his passing was working to establish a Commandery in the Okanagan.  He was a member of Trinity Baptist Church.

A resident of Vernon, Cranbrook, Toronto, Vancouver and most recently Kelowna, Les spent his most pleasurable hours in his beautiful ‘house on the hill’ in Kelowna with his best friend, soul-mate, and adoring wife, Brenda and their 2 shelties D’Artagnan and Tina.  From their panoramic view deck, Les could envision the dinosaurs that roamed the hills thousands of years ago. He enjoyed the outdoors and open spaces, whether it was fly fishing or cycling, soccer or football, Scouting or running; but in particular, he was a lover of great food and elegant wine. Les, a Chevalier of the La Confrierie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, travelled through out Europe with Brenda at his side in search of the finest Bordeaux or Burgundy.  Frequently good friends would join them and Les, with his wonderful sense of humour, endless curiosity, deep intellect and genuine sensitivity would entertain and be entertained for hours on end…particularly if there was a good political debate to be had or a heated assessment of the state of the economy or the stock market.

Les is survived by his wife, Brenda, his sons Matthew (Meaghan) and Jason (Grace), his step-daughter Tamara, his step-son Chad, his grandchildren Presley, Grayson and Avery, and so many very dear friends.  He gave each of us his Gift of Love. He was too young. He will be missed forever.

The family wish to express their appreciation to Dr. Mike Koss and the staff at Central Okanagan Hospice House, especially Rachael and Mila, for their compassion and assistance.

A Celebration of Life service will be held for Les at 1:00 pm, Saturday, 15 September 2012 at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 5V8.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Carcinoid Neuroendocrine Tumour Society (CNETScanada.org) in support of research.

Service Details

The service for LYALL, Leslie “Les” Keith, MBA, KGSJ is scheduled for 1:00 pm, Saturday, 15 September 2012 . Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.

Address & Contact for Service Location:

Springfield Funeral Home

2020 Springfield Road Kelowna, BC

Phone:

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Special Requests:

None.

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