An extraordinary supporter of health care in the community has stepped down from her role as head of the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation.
Laura Butler, who has been with the foundation for the past two decades, took on the role of executive director in July, 2017.
"I think in the last couple of years there have been some realizations in my life – that life is short and tomorrow is a gift, and they are not guaranteed," she said. "I want to retire while I am young enough ,and fit enough, and able to do some of the things that I might like to do."
Although Butler will be officially retiring on March 31, 2025, she is going to miss her work as the executive director of the foundation terribly.
"I'll miss the people I have the privilege of working with each and every day, whether that's the foundation team or the board of directors, or volunteers, especially our donors," said Butler.
Butler has not only been a champion for health care in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, but she has also taken on other leadership and volunteer roles in the community.
Most recently, she was the president of the 2024 BC Summer Games in Maple Ridge. The Games were held from July 18 to 21 and brought more than 3,000 athletes, coaches and officials to the city.
Butler also spent seven years on the arts council, including two years as president, and helped that organization get through the COVID-19 pandemic. She still volunteers at The ACT Arts Centre as an usher.
She was recognized as a finalist in the 2021 Business Leader of the Year awards presented by the Chamber of Commerce Serving Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
And she has volunteered for many charitable causes including at the drive-thru window for McHappy Days, Citizens on Patrol with the Ridge Meadows RCMP, as a picture framer for Help Portrait, with Operation Red Nose, with the city's Social Policy Advisory Committee, and as bell-ringer for the Salvation Army Christmas kettle campaign.
Butler believes her biggest achievement as executive director of the hospital foundation is helping donors understand that not all health care needs require big-ticket pieces of equipment. The foundation donated a large amount to support Foundry Ridge Meadows and mental health care for youth, and the foundation has also supported seniors' care and public health in general.
Over her time at the hospital foundation the need has remained the same, only the solutions have changed – whether that be new and updated equipment, better technology, more efficiencies in the way things are done, or healthy initiatives in the community.
And the reasons why people give have remained the same as well, she said, whether that be because someone has received care at the hospital themselves, or someone who is preparing for the future and wants to make the hospital stays in the community, or it's part of their spiritual giving.
"There's all kinds of reasons why [people give]," said Butler.
Over the next five months Butler said she will be focused on the foundation and the transition over to a new executive director. She has been hearing from people they will have big shoes to fill.
Butler is confident whomever takes her place will wear their own shoes.
"Change is always good and I think a new fresh perspective and creative ways of doing things and inspiring our donors is always good," she said.
She is also looking forward to finding out what retirement means for her. Butler is planning to travel and take the time to be with her father and family.
But, she said, the community will always be a priority for her, as well as the foundation.
She will continue to be involved in volunteer roles in the community, and she will continue to be a donor to the hospital foundation.
"I'm not going anywhere," said Butler. "I'm just not going to be in this office."