Laycock, Larry Earl

Originally from Scarborough, Ontario, Larry is survived by his sister Faye Virginia Miles and her husband Robert, his brother Eric Paul Laycock and his wife Brigitte; and his children, as the beloved father of his eldest daughter Lynette Lewis (pre-deceased 2023), his son Larson Earl Werner Laycock, his youngest daughter Larissa Belinda Laycock, and their mother, Ilona Bianka Laycock to whom Larry was previously married. Larry adored his grandchildren Maxwell, Nikki, Julian, Theodore and Gabriel.

Larry will be remembered for his leadership and passion for all things golf and hockey. He demonstrated early skill and dedication as a hockey player and enjoyed playing the sport into mid-life. Golf was his greatest escape and a chance for him to blend his enthusiasm for sports with his passion for people and friendship. He loved to socialize and naturally networked to connect people to each other and opportunities. Larry possessed a love of reading. Those who have ever received a holiday card from him know that he also loved to write to express his thoughts.

His self-expression extended into a natural gift he harbored for public speaking and motivating others. He was fondly known by many colleagues, relatives and friends as a leader and coach in the highest levels of corporate Canada. Larry worked his way up the corporate ladder the old-fashioned way with exceptional networking, charisma, hard work and a positive outlook that charmed all those who had the benefit to know him. Starting his career in 1959 with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Larry quickly became a star in the world of banking, and finance, moving to a position with Union Finance Corporation in 1964, and progressing to the Bank of Nova Scotia in 1968 tackling a variety of positions in Scotiabank’s branch network while impressing his colleagues and working to become a District Manager in the Toronto Central Region, an Assistant General Manager and Director, Commercial Credit, then General Manager, Canadian Commercial Banking Centres before being promoted to the esteemed position of Senior Vice President, Canadian Commercial Banking for his excellent leadership and the development of the very first commercial banking center for the Bank in Etobicoke. Larry was Senior Vice-President with Scotiabank from 1986 through 1990 when he left the bank to take on the challenge of running the business end of the revered law firm Fasken Campbell Godfrey as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer from 1990 to 1992. Larry subsequently dove back into banking becoming Senior Vice-President, Banking Operations and Retail Brokerage with the National Trust Company from 1992 to 1996. In his critical role at National Trust Larry reported directly to CEO Rowland Fleming, as head of banking group business lines both retail and commercial with senior line responsibility for all P&L from operations of retail branches, business banking, retail brokerage, personal and professional banking through 180 retail branches and 15 business centres. From April 1996 until the year 1999 Larry applied his vast experience as in independent financial services consultant with ongoing clients including Ernst & Yonge, ABN Amro Bank of Canada Ltd., Alberta Treasury Branches Ltd., Caldwell Partners, Several Canadian Deposit Brokers and Planners, Credit Union Central of Canada, Reuters Information Services (Canada) Inc. and Two major Schedule ‘A’ banks. His last official role was as the Chief Executive Officer for Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa from 1999 to 2000 where he oversaw the conversion of the raceway to a combination racing – slots facility. During all of his professional life but especially in the years just prior to retirement, Larry was a sought-after executive coach – people loved learning from his wisdom and benefited equally from his warmth and good humour.

Funeral Service will be held at the Ferguson Funeral Home located at 48 Boucher Street, East, Meaford ON, N4L 1B9 at 1:00 p.m. on Friday March 7.

Interment will take place on Monday March 10 at Resthaven Memorial Gardens located at 2700 Kingston Road Scarborough, Ontario at 1 p.m.

As your expression of sympathy, donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or Hockey Canada Foundation would be appreciated and may be made through the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON   N4L 1B9 to whom arrangements have been entrusted.   www.fergusonfuneralhomes.ca