Hailing from humble beginnings in Langham, Saskatchewan, Barry Humphreys embodies the definition of hard work and confidence. He rose from a junior accounts receivable clerk to Chief Financial Officer of PotashCorp, one of Canada’s largest mining corporations. A devoted husband to his wife, Anne, for 57 years and a loving father of two, he was deeply committed to providing for his family. His daughter, Kim Humphreys, describes him as someone driven by a strong desire to create a better life for his loved ones, always striving to achieve more and ensure their well-being.
Barry instilled his strong work ethic into his children, inspiring them to achieve their own success: with a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology and a career spanning over 20 years in Human Resources, Kim has transitioned from acute care and pediatrics to global consulting, advising executives and boards in the mining industry, while his son, Dr. Doug Humphreys, practices plastic surgery.
It was on a family cruise to Europe in 2019 that Kim and Doug noticed unusual behaviour from Barry. He seemed more confused and prone to misplacing important items, such as passports. When he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) a year later, it was a relief for his family to finally have answers and a treatment plan.
Kim describes witnessing her father’s day-to-day experience with PD as an emulsion of emotions: sadness at seeing the person she once knew as a strong force struggle with something as simple as buttoning a shirt, fear of not knowing what is next, and exhaustion from trying to help her parents navigate the system and proactively do things to make life easier. However, amidst the challenges, happiness shines through when the simple things (such as getting a care aide in to support Barry twice per week) bring him so much joy.
The Humphreys family was looking for a way to help Barry provide a legacy gift that could help other individuals and their loved ones touched by Parkinson’s. Through their family foundation, which has been in existence since 2010, they decided to make a $1 million gift to Kelowna General Hospital’s (KGH) Movement Disorder Clinic in January 2024. “As a family, we have been donors of KGH Foundation for many years and we are familiar with the great work done at the hospital,” says Kim.
Despite Barry and his wife being Alberta residents who have only spent summers in Kelowna for the past 20 years – and, as a result, not receiving any care from KGH – they were inspired by movement disorder specialist, Dr. Daryl Wile, and his vision for care in the Okanagan, as well as the fact that the region has one of the highest incident rates of PD per population in Canada.
Their donation aimed to raise awareness, support access to essential care for those navigating the uncertainties of Parkinson’s disease and create momentum for change in the healthcare system. “Our vision has always been about wanting people to have the foundation to reach their full potential,” Kim says.
One year after their gift, three successful fundraisers raised over $200,000 in 2024 alone, with significant donations coming from across the Okanagan, building momentum for Parkinson’s awareness in the region. “To me, that is the true story here,” reflects Kim.
What Kim wishes more people knew about Parkinson’s is that early diagnosis is important for managing the disease and improving quality of life. “My dad struggled for years with various issues, and no one connected the dots,” she says. Kim also emphasizes that it is not just about movement – non-motor symptoms, including depression, anxiety, memory issues, fatigue, and changes in speech can be just as debilitating as the motor ones. However, she says a Parkinson’s diagnosis brings knowledge, options, and understanding, and it’s up to each person to engage and make the most of it.