Life after La Salle College — William Lai

After completing F7, I attended the University of Hong Kong, majoring in philosophy and psychology.  I also met my future wife, Vivien, at HKU.  She majored in sociology and history.  We both graduated in 1966.

We then worked in Hong Kong for a couple of years.  My last job was with the then Hong Kong Government’s Department of Commerce and Industry.  Vivien served as an Administrative Officer in the Colonial Secretariat, and then as the Assistant Executive Director of the Hong Kong Red Cross.

Vivien and I were married in August 1968, at St Teresa’s Church, and then moved to Canada for our graduate studies immediately afterwards.  My studies took me to several universities in Canada, including those of Ottawa, New Brunswick, and Alberta.  I ended up with a doctorate in psychology from the University of Alberta.  Vivien received her Master’s in sociology from York University of Toronto.

Professionally, I have worked in the mental health field as both clinician and administrator in various settings and with two provincial governments and the federal government.  I have recently retired from public service into part-time private practice.

Vivien became an expert health planner, first with the New Brunswick, then the Alberta, Governments.  She now specializes in the planning of health services for the elderly.  At this writing, she is still working, but is pondering retirement.

Some time into my professional career in Canada, an opportunity arose for me to join the Canadian Forces.  I was commissioned as an Officer in the Canadian army reserves in the area of Personnel Selection, and then became the head of that department in the army’s western region.   In this capacity, I was thrice deployed to the war-torn Balkans with the Canadian UN Peacekeeping Force as the leader of psychological debriefing teams.  After serving for about ten years, I retired from the Canadian Forces in the rank of Major.

Vivien and I have two married sons, one living in Calgary and one in New York City.  Our eldest, Stephen, is a professional engineer currently completing a Ph. D. after working for many years in the technology world.  Our second son, Jonathan, is an Assistant Professor at the Albert Einstein Medical College of Medicine.  We have no grandchildren at this moment, but we have heard that one is on the way.  We are excitedly looking forward to the arrival of our first grandchild.

Meanwhile, there is a very vibrant La Salle Old Boys community here in Edmonton.  Vivien and I participate in many of the functions held by the Edmonton Chapter, and I have contributed to the LSCOB North American Newsletter from time to time on various topics.

I have reminisced about my LSC days and have written about my military experiences in the Newsletter.  Those interested will find my articles in the following links:

http://www.lscobaedm.org/newsletter/Newsletter2008-03.pdf (pages 6-10)
http://www.lscobaedm.org/newsletter/Newsletter2009-10.pdf (pages 13-17)
http://www.lscobaedm.org/newsletter/Newsletter2009-11.pdf (pages 5-9)
http://www.lscobaedm.org/newsletter/Newsletter2009-12.pdf (pages 3-6)

In the last few years, I have attended LSCOB reunions in Hong Kong, New York and San Francisco, and have also met up with a few fellow 61ers, shown in the following clips:

http://www.lscobaedm.org/newsletter/Newsletter2008-12.pdf
(Ronnie Poon in Edmonton – page 3)
http://www.lscobaedm.org/newsletter/Newsletter2010-02.pdf
(A whole bunch in Hong Kong – page 6)
http://www.lscobaedm.org/newsletter/Newsletter2010-11.pdf
(Arthur Remedios in Wyckoff, NJ – page 4)

There are other pieces written by or about me in the following issues: Sept 2007; Feb 2008; Sept 2008; Jan 2009; Sept 2009; Oct 2010;

Many of the Edmonton Chapter’s events are shown in pictures in the Newsletter’s gallery: http://www.lscobaedm.org/gallery/main.php.  Browse through the gallery and you’ll see me and other OBs whom you might know.

In 2008, Vivien and I celebrated our 40^th wedding anniversary, with the help of our local La Salle Old Boys and families (see Newsletter Sept 2008).  I made the following video for the occasion, which essentially summarises my post-LSC life with family:
http://www.lscobaedm.org/40_years_together.html

I invite fellow 61ers to contact me if your travels bring you to anywhere near this part of the world.  I’ll show you around.  Also meet our local hospitable OBs.  My e-mail: wilhem@shaw.ca.

William Lai
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada