Laurie and Cameron (Cam) Thompson arrived in Kingston in 1980, two University of Calgary graduates who came east for opportunity and stayed for a lifetime. Cam threw himself into a tech startup that "grew and grew and grew," eventually leading companies in database management and GPS microchip technology, while earning his master's degree at Queen's along the way. Laurie taught nursing at Queen's, then worked at Kingston General Hospital before moving into public health, where she stayed until she retired. Together, they built a full life in Kingston, one rooted in work, family, friends, and a deep, shared conviction that good fortune carries an obligation to give back.
They established their donor-advised fund with the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area in 1999, just four years after the Foundation itself was founded. "My husband and I were finally in a financial position where we really wanted to give back to the community," Laurie recalls. "We really liked the in-perpetuity idea, that there would be something every year instead of just giving somebody money and then that's it." Their focus from the beginning was children and youth. Their three kids, then aged 18, 15, and 11, were thriving in rowing, hockey, horseback riding, skiing, and sailing. "We knew that lots of other children could not access these opportunities because of the expense," she says. "That was kind of our first inroad."
From the start, giving was a family affair. Each time grant requests arrived; each family member would rank the proposals. "One daughter said it was always so interesting because we didn't always agree. We all had slightly different ideas, but it made for good conversation." That spirit took root. One daughter has told Laurie the experience "helped shape a part of my character." She described Laurie and Cam as "pioneers" in the community, proud that they were "passionate about giving back" and committed to creating "a spark and passing on a giving nature" to the next generation.
Cam passed away a decade ago from prostate cancer, far too soon.
He was an adventurer, an athlete, a leader, and a self-described "computer geek". After his death, Laurie established the Cameron Thompson Memorial Fund, directing annual support to three organizations he loved: the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area, the Banff Centre, and the Bow Valley WildSmart, reflecting his deep ties to both Kingston and the Bow Valley.
"Even though Cam's not here, it feels like we're carrying something on for him." — Laurie Thompson
A particularly meaningful moment came when Laurie visited the BGC robotics and STEM lab that her fund had helped support. "I just thought, oh, Cam would just love this," she says. "He knew all about this."
Asked what she hopes other donors might take from her story; Laurie is characteristically straightforward. "If it in any way motivates somebody else to donate or set up a fund, I'm happy." The giving continues, growing quietly and in perpetuity, exactly as she and Cam always intended.
A note on the Laurie’s funds:
The Cameron and Laurie Thompson Fund (donor-advised) supports youth-focused programs in recreation, education, literacy, numeracy and health across Kingston.
In 2006, Laurie and Cam established the Cameron and Laurie Thompson Flow-Through Fund, which has supported projects such as the Market Square revitalization, the building of Kingston Regional Sports and Entertainment Centre, the KGH/Hotel Dieu Pediatric Unit, the Peter Hartel Community Fund, The Rowing Leadership Fund, providing Chrome Books for the Kingston Frontenac Public Library, Lunch by George, and Hospice Kingston to name but a few.
The Cameron Thompson Memorial Fund was a permanent endowment providing annual support to the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area, the Banff Centre, and WildSmart. It is now closed.
