A Chance Encounter, A New Member, A New Club

Submitted by Ron Lloyd
CPC Greater Vancouver
   

Thoughts from Greater Vancouver's Anniversary Function -- January 21, 2006, celebrating 27 years in Progress.

In January, 1962, while attending a Canadian Construction Association Convention in Montreal, Hank Strubin literally bumped into Roland Cyr of Montreal. Roland asked Hank “Monsieur from Vancouver, are you interested in children?” Hank’s response was, “Yes”. Roland explained that he was a member of the expansion committee of the Canadian Progress Club and was interested in chartering a new club in Vancouver. Hank gave him his name and phone number and returned to his busy work in Vancouver.

Hank was contacted in March of 1962 by a Progressian from Toronto named Ron McDonald who had just been transferred by his company from Toronto to Vancouver. Ron asked Hank if he would be interested in helping start up a new club in Vancouver. The Canadian Progress Club - Vancouver was chartered by the Toronto Downtown Club at a ceremony at the Georgia Hotel on May 27th, 1962. Ron McDonald was the charter President. National President, Gordon Carton, presided over the installation of officers.

Hank was present in Calgary in 1963 when the Vancouver Club chartered the Calgary Downtown Club and was in Edmonton in 1964 when the Calgary Downtown Club chartered the Edmonton Downtown Club. Hank served as Western Governor (Western VP today) 1964-1966.

Hank attended his first National Convention in Sherbrooke in 1963 and represented Vancouver at the National Convention in Quebec City in 1965 (the year of Halifax’s charter). At the 1965 Convention, Hank sat at one end of the head table and Bill Kitchen, Charter President of the Halifax Club at the other end of the table. The lights dimmed and Hank and Bill met in the centre before the National President, Rawlie Warren and exchanged salutations and bottles of sea water from each respective coast. The Canadian Progress Club was truly a national coast to coast organization.

With membership waning, charter members Hank Strubin and Bill Durrant, along with Gordon Kern(1966), Len King, Ed Gibbons and Dick Tingley(1973), amongst the remaining, there was a proposal that the offer of a charter membership was the best way to rebuild the club. Wally Duncombe who had just moved out from Calgary spear headed the renewal. Hank was again a charter member of the Canadian Progress Club-Greater Vancouver which was chartered on January 20, 1979.

In 1981, a young Dave and Dianne Munday moved to Vancouver from Toronto to start new careers. While Dave was attending a Confectionaire’s convention at the Bayshore Hotel, he met Ken McBrine, who at that time was President of Greater Vancouver. Ken casually asked Dave if he would be interested in community service and joining the Canadian Progress Club. Dave joined the Canadian Progress Club - Greater Vancouver shortly after and was installed as president in 1984 by Wally Duncombe, and served through 1986. Dave also served a term as Pacific Zone Deputy Governor in 1986/87 and Governor in 1987/88. After a sabbatical in Indonesia, Dave returned to Vancouver and the Club and again served as Zone Governor in 2000. Dave is currently serving as Club President for 2004- 2006.

Both Hank and Dave recounted about their chance encounters that resulted in a long and rewarding relationship with the Canadian Progress Club - Greater Vancouver. Food for thought as Greater Vancouver prepares for their membership function on February 22nd.

(Shown top right: Gordon Kern (1967) and Hank Strubin (1962); middle right: Dave Munday; bottom right: Dave Munday with Hank Strubin; bottom left: Hank Strubin and family.)