It took a wrecking ball to pry Louise Parton from the business shes been part of since 1959.
But we havent heard the last of the unofficial mayor of the 700 block of Yates Street.
Parton went to work for a hearing specialist 51 years ago and never left. She went on to buy the company in 1981 and then helped to shape the hearing-aid industry by spearheading a provincial licensing body and a college to set standards.
Her last day at the helm of Greater Victoria Hearing Consultants was Nov. 30.
Work ethic and drive are her hallmarks and the reasons I have a great respect for Parton and other energetic entrepreneurs who not only put many hours into their businesses, but into the community at large.
Shes a chronic volunteer for causes ranging from the Cridge Centre and Healthy Saanich to the Business Improvement Association and Crime Alert not to mention all of the work she put in to make the 700 block of Yates a great place for business for decades.
A list of her volunteer activities runs five full pages, and there are a lot of firsts including the Cordova Bay 55-Plus, the first seniors group to be based in an elementary school in B.C., who meet for walks and other activities.
We cant clone Parsons, but we can all take a few lessons that giving your time and energy outside of regular duties not matter how small can make a difference in our city.
Read the original article published on Oct. 1, 2011
Hearing specialist leaving the building; Louise Parton spent 51 years at the same location
Louise Parton is retiring.
But it took a wrecking ball to pry her from the business she's been part of since 1959.
Parton went to work for a hearing specialist that year and never left. She went on to buy the company in 1981 and then helped to shape the hearing aid industry by spearheading a provincial licensing body and a college to set standards.
Friday was her last day at the helm of Greater Victoria Hearing Consultants, a clinic that has survived 54 years in a tired brick building on the north side of the 700-block of Yates Street.
Concert Properties plans to knock most of the building down for a 16-storey, 157-unit condominium tower, keeping the familiar facade for new retail on the ground level.
Her neighbours, a jeweller, travel agent, florist and candy shop have already moved.
"The end of an era is both sad and exciting," says Parton.
She won't reveal her age, but says when she first started in 1959, the hearingaid industry wasn't governed at all. "People were selling them door to door out of suitcases."
Five years ago, Parton led a committee to form a hearing-aid licensing system for B.C. In 2009, she was co-chair of the first College of Speech and Hearing Instrument practitioners - a first for North America, she said.
"I've been really fortunate to be involved in the role of governance in the industry," said Parton.
Involvement is a bit of an understatement. It comes natural for the energetic Parsons.
She's a chronic volunteer with causes from the Cridge Centre and Healthy Saanich to the Business Improvement Association and Crime Alert - not to mention being the unofficial mayor of 700 Block Yates for decades.
What she calls a "Reader's Digest" of her volunteer activities runs five full pages, and there are a lot of "firsts" - including the Cordova Bay 55-Plus, the first seniors group to be based in an elementary school in B.C., who meet for walks and other activities. An offshoot, the Handy Grannies, also read to children.
"It's a privilege being involved in so many things because I could schedule my day with appointments. Flexibility in the business gave me time to be part of the community."
Letters were sent out last week to all Parton's clients.
She is referring them to E. Stacey Frank & Associates, 102-1821 Fort St.
"I am sure you will find the professionalism, service and care provided by Ms.
Frank and her associates exemplary," Parton says in the letter. High praise from the woman who pioneered the modern hearing-aid industry.
Roger Powell, a longtime client and part of Parton's weekly prayer group at a nearby Tim Hortons, said she will be missed in the industry, but she'll still be a vital part of the community.
"Now she's got eight extra hours a day and you know what she's going to do - she's going to do more and more volunteer work.
That's what she does," said Powell.
The business operated as Acousticon of Victoria from 1954 to 1961 under owner Kenneth Mclaren, who sold the clinic to Jim Dunn. Parton bought Greater Victoria Hearing Consultants from Dunn's estate in 1981.
Parton won't completely retire, confessing she will do advisory work. She does promise to do more travelling. She has daughters in England and Calgary and three grandchildren. "I'm going to garden more and maybe even take up a golf club."