Valerie Althea Lee Soon

February 23, 1956 to January 20, 2021

Valerie Soon died January 20, 2021 from complications of ovarian cancer. Through the ups and down of surgery and then chemotherapy, she maintained an upbeat attitude and continued to cook and make preserves even when she had no interest in eating them. She took singing lessons and sang in a choir. She volunteered with the Burnaby GoGos (helping grandmothers in Africa, Steven Lewis Foundation) until she was too weak to do so. She was diagnosed in 2017.

Val was born February 23, 1956, daughter of Tom and Betty Soon. She grew up in Kitsilano with her brothers Howard and Terry. After graduating from Kitsilano Secondary School she attended Langara College to study Marketing and to eventually earn a diploma in Nutrition Management.

Val’s life was feeding people. She was both a Renaissance woman and a genuine foodie: always fascinated with the technique, development and cultural place of cuisine and its place in hospitality. A conservative estimate has her preparing meals for between 800,000 and two million guests over her forty-year career. She studied cooking technique, management, hospitality, sports nutrition, and tracked new food trends.

She worked at several Vancouver restaurants before moving to Quebec’s Magdalen Islands and then to Montreal in pursuit of the classic French culinary tradition. Valerie loved the arts and enjoyed working at the Centaur Theatre where she could enjoy live theatre, music, and dance. It was in Montreal that she met her husband and life partner Brian Ross. She returned to Vancouver in 1986 and worked at Bridges Restaurant on Granville Island.

Upon returning to Montreal, she and Brian reconnected. Valerie and Brian were married with family and friends in attendance at the Unitarian church in Vancouver in 1989.

In Montreal, Valerie worked for the Hotel Bonaventure and then joined the opening brigade staff of the newly finished Delta Montreal. She returned to Delta Hotels at the River Inn (Richmond) when she and Brian moved back to Vancouver in 1992. True to her ingrained sense of hospitality, her proudest moment there was not the numerous sell-out daily specials; but rather helping to welcome a thousand stranded airline passengers when the events of 9 /11 closed Vancouver Airport.

Valerie worked for the Vancouver Trade and Convention Center for ten years as chef de Partie. The Convention Center was voted best in the world during her tenure. Val worked at little bistros, giant conventions, catering, and special events. Connections there allowed her to arrange a most memorable and wonderful wedding ceremony for her brother Terry and his wife for which they are both eternally grateful.

She worked at Stong’s commissary, The Lazy Gourmet, and Aphrodite’s Organic Café in Kitsilano. Through it all she always put the guest first: the folks who enjoyed her food. While living at Byrne Creek Housing Co-op she took time to deliver muffins, cinnamon buns and soup to friends and neighbours. She gave, and she helped. While doing everything else, she cooked at least one meal a week for her Dad at his house on West 5th Ave.

Valerie changed her focus in 2008, working for The Cedars as Dining Services Manager. There she won company wide awards for her recipes, including a BC Assisted Living Seal of Approval and an outstanding customer satisfaction rating. Her secret? Cook fresh seasonal vegetables and make ethnic food for ethnic customers which, unsurprisingly, was welcomed by everyone!

Valerie decided that nutrition management was the logical extension of her love of food and hospitality. She entered the Nutrition and Food Services Management program at Langara College, completing it in 2016. She volunteered for the BC Seniors Advocate Office for a year after graduating, interviewing hundreds of residents.

At Valerie’s suggestion, Brian and Valerie started training at Fortius Sport and Health in 2014. Our aim was to become more fit, to enjoy our retirement. The trainers, and sports medicine people there were fantastic. We became fitter, healthier, and more confident. We credit them with giving Valerie the extra strength to fight cancer as long as she did. They were our friends. Fortius closed December 31 2020.

In 2017 everything changed. After leaving mid-way through a White Caps soccer match, we diverted from home to hospital. The cancer ‘journey’ had started.

I’d like to give a shout out to the incredible staff at 2D, the Burnaby General Hospital palliative care ward. We saw you several times, and we lived there through December 2020. You are family.

On January 4 Valerie moved into the care of St. Michael’s Hospice in Burnaby. She had a ground floor room which allowed her to see the bird feeders, which Brian stocked. A humming bird feeder brought from home attracted some local interest, so we had magical visitors. The more relaxed visiting rules meant that some of her friends could visit as well. Through all this we received tremendous support from the staff at St. Michael’s.

Cancer robbed the world of her passion and rare abilities far too early. It took away my wife, partner and best friend. Val adored the humming birds. When you see one, think of her.

Valerie wanted to support young women who share her passion for food. A memorial scholarship has been created at http://www.bchospitalityfoundation.com/

We also encourage you to Gift in memory to support Ovarian Cancer Research and Care in BC.

https://vghfoundation.ca/ways-to-give/ and direct your donation to OVCARE ,

or https://secure2.convio.net/bccf/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20047a?6449.donation=form1&df_id=6449&_ga=2.142844789.1343585806.1614218647-53729334.1614218647&NONCE_TOKEN=E5E6EB0DE9F111ED0504CC9BCDDDA065

When social distancing permits, we will be celebrating her life with hospitality.