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RVH champion recognized for advancing care and inspiring a community to give back |
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For more than 15 years, Paul Larche has rallied communities around a simple belief: better care belongs closer to home. For Larche, that belief began long before his involvement with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH). Growing up in Timmins, Larche lost his mother, Violet, to cancer when she was in her early 40s. In the wake of that loss, his father, John, made a pledge to help bring diagnostic imaging to their local hospital, an early example of how giving back could change the care available to an entire community. Larche carried that lesson with him, vowing to make sure people have access to the care they need, when they need it. It’s a lesson he has put into action. At RVH Foundation’s donor appreciation event, Wildly Grateful, Larche received the 2026 David Blenkarn Spirit Award, honouring his leadership and generosity. “Paul has always acted on a belief that institutions matter,” said Pamela Ross, CEO, RVH Foundation. “They matter because they outlive us and carry our values forward.” As past Chair of the RVH Foundation Board of Directors and through Larche Communications, he turned to the power of radio to share patient stories and mobilize listeners and local businesses. The radio initiatives, Radio for Radiology, Radio for Radiation and Radio for Cardiology, raised more than $2 million, rallying a community behind the belief that this region deserves advanced care close to home. “Giving back is part of what success means. You get much more than you give, bringing care closer to home for the people we love,” said Larche. Paul’s belief was shared by guests at Wildly Grateful who saw how their own investment is shaping the future of care at RVH. Guests toured spaces and programs, including RVH’s Centre for Integrated Learning, surgical robotics and hands-on medical education. The experiences offered a closer look at how donor support gives care teams the tools, technology, and opportunities to do more for their patients. The impact of donor investment has made it possible for RVH to become the first community-based site in the University of Toronto’s enhanced emergency medicine training program. It’s the kind of progress Larche has spent a lifetime helping make possible by giving back and inspiring others to do the same. Paul’s leadership is seen throughout RVH and the community. It’s also reflected in the Larche family’s generosity, including the support of his wife, Lawrene, who now sits on RVH Foundation’s Board of Directors. The David Blenkarn Spirit Award celebrates Paul’s commitment to advanced care and the community helping build it. |
