retirement

At the end of February, my dad retired after 36 years with the Royal Bank of Canada.

About seventy of his colleagues, clients and family came together in Grimsby to celebrate. It was truly a great evening.

I think what I loved most about the evening was the opportunity to hear from so many of Dad's colleagues and small-business customers why they loved working with him and why he will be missed. As kids, we always knew he was well-loved. We were tipped off by the various gifts he would bring home over the years, including countless bottles of wine and even turkeys, especially at Christmas. But it's different being able to put faces to names and hearing the words of respect and appreciation for Dad first-hand. I felt that in just a few hours, we had learned a great deal more than we already knew about our Dad's work life and his reputation among colleagues and clients.

What emerged the clearest was the high value he put on the relationships he had formed through working with the bank, especially with his customers. His parting advice to Todd, who he has been training for his position: "The bank will take care of itself if you take care of your customers." I asked him if he could start his career over again, what he would have started doing sooner. He replied, "Just really enjoying my clients, building friendships and relationships."

They say you don't retire from something as much as you retire to something. Being that Dad is such a people-person, I look forward to seeing what he will end up doing after a southern holiday this spring, and a summer full of sailing, family time and some fix-it jobs. I predict he'll be back working part-time with the bank within six months!


The kids and grandkids, minus Christine, who was very much missed.


Dad receiving a GPS navigator as a gift from his boss.


Ma and Pa, donning the orchids the bank gave them. (Not your most stunning photo, dad, but I didn't have another one of you and mom!)



Princess grand-daughters who twirled in their lovely dresses throughout the open spaces of the ballroom every chance they got.


Sean and Gideon. Can you make out the mohawk on this little man?


I think Auntie Yolanda may have been more entertaining at the dinner table than all the grandkids combined.


Reesey deciding whether it's still fitting to eat with your fingers at these classy events.


Eliana peering over the table from her highchair. Finger snacks do just the trick when it's way past bedtime.


We surprised my Dad with a reworking of "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean". The kids sang with gusto, just as we'd hoped.

The chorus (Bring back, bring back....) was:
Opa, Opa
Opa is leaving the bank, the bank
Opa, Opa
Opa is leaving the bank!




Congratulations, Dad. Enjoy the next season of your life!