hdupuis@lethseniors.com

Mike is a relatively young and new member at LSCO. He was born in Calgary in 1982 and resided there until 2008. He did his grades 1-6 within the Calgary public school system, getting bussed to school and having a social life. A teacher suggested that he might prefer a private school where the student-teacher ratio was much better than in the public system after elementary. Mike and his parents decided to take the plunge into the private system. Mike states that he had “quite a bit of freedom” as a child growing up in Calgary; his many years in Calgary have left him with many good memories.
Mike completed his Grades 7-12 at Delta West Academy with his High School diploma. As there was no gym, the students were out in the community trying many sports: e.g fencing, rock-climbing, skating, swimming, basketball, horseback riding, and luge at Canada Olympic Park. Mike’s most favourable high school memories involve trips to California and Greece. In California, he went to e.g. Disneyland, the San Diego Zoo, and the Museum of Tolerance (MOT) in Los Angeles. He liked the MOT the most; it featured various historical events of intolerance, like white supremacy, the holocaust, and genocide. For example, there were two hallways leading to two gas chambers and you took the hallway for “Men” or for “Women & Children”; apparently a rather foreboding darkness. Another was an opportunity to open a door labelled “Not Prejudiced” or one labelled “Prejudiced”; if you tried to open the ‘Not Prejudiced’ door, it remained locked, because, ‘we are all prejudiced about something at sometime in our lives’. Mike felt these were very strong and worthy messages.
Mike’s trip to Greece included 5 other students, two teachers, and a guide. He liked seeing the museums, ruins, and eating moussaka (an eggplant/potato & ground meat dish). Of his two trips, Mike would like to return to Greece someday.
In 2008, Mike’s parents retired and moved to Osoyoos, BC so Mike moved with them.
However, in 2012, Mike moved away to Penticton, BC and resided there for ten years to seek his independence. He decided to leave Penticton though because he felt that there was too much crime; thankfully he left before he became a victim of any particular crime e.g. you couldn’t leave your bike parked outside without fear of it immediately being stolen.
Mike’s work experience was at a bottle depot in Calgary a while ago, and at a Wal Mart in Penticton. He has a Web Design certificate from an online academic program. Mike then advanced his skills by creating a program using PHP and HTML which are tools used to build websites.
Mike re-joined his parents in Osoyoos in 2022. In 2023, the family decided to move to Lethbridge. As Mike has a paternal aunt which lives here, they were already quite familiar with Lethbridge. Mike was willing to move and says he has found the move turned out to be better than he expected. Overall, Mike says he is “pretty content” with his lifestyle for now.
Mike lives as independently as possible in his parents’ home. He has his own living quarters and cooks most of his own meals, which he learned to do in high school. His favorite dish is lasagna; he can make his own, but he is quite happy to let others make it for him, too. Mike does his own grocery shopping and can make a ‘mean’ shake-n-bake chicken’.
As far as sports, Mike enjoys watching F-1 (Formula 1 car racing) and NBA (basketball), especially the Toronto Raptors. He also likes Canucks and Flames hockey teams. Mike likes to walk outdoors and does weightlifting at LSCO. Mike used to play cribbage at LSCO, but is taking some time off to hone his skills and hope for better luck in the cards coming his way.
Mike likes country music, particularly the ex-rapper Jelly Roll and Chris Stapleton. That said, he’d probably be open to giving the symphony a try if the opportunity came along.
Mike likes TV’s Star Trek in all its incarnations. Mostly though, he is passionate about online gaming. He gave this writer an education into the world of how he “streams Twitch-TV” – a platform where people can watch others play video games Live. He has been playing World of Warcraft for an impressive 21 years! Mike indicates that he is very “tech-savy”.
Mike says his auto-biography should be titled: How to be Interesting More Than Once.
Mike’s mother and aunt are also LSCO members – his aunt enouraging him to give LSCO a try for some things to utilize his time. Mike has been a member for less than a year, but has already come on board as a kitchen dishwasher once per week for most of that time. Mike is proud of his volunteering experience at LSCO, and should be. The organization is very pleased to have his diligence and patience in this role.
This writer very much appreciated Mike’s openness with this writer in sharing his story. Thank-you, Mike!

Phyllis and Ken are members and regular guests/supporters of the Lethbridge Seniors Citizens Organization. They have been members for about 8 years.
Phyllis (nee: Hunter) was born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, but grew up on her parents’ ranch SW of Swift Current where they were involved with mixed farming and cattle. Her Dad bought the land and nurtured it, increasing the size of the property as he was able. Phyllis fondly remembers the free-ranging wildlife as hunting was not allowed on her family’s property. Phyllis’ brother still works the family’s farm.
Phyllis’ extended family lived geographically nearby, including both sets of her grandparents, who had homesteaded and farmed near one another. Therefore, her parents had grown up in close proximity to one another back in the day.
Phyllis went to the 1-room ‘Silver Craig’ School about 3 ½ miles away from home and she was able to attend Grades 1-9 there. Her and her brother and sister often walked to school across the prairie. In winter, when roads were blocked with snow, they walked along the railway tracks. Phyllis recalls enjoying swimming in the creek in summers and skating on it in winter. She got her Grades 10-12 by taking the school bus to Swift Current. After graduating, Phyllis went to Mt. Royal College in Calgary to take a 2 year Business course. Quite a change from the setting where she was raised, but she lived in student housing and when she got homesick, she had aunts to visit as she got used to the big city.
Ken was born in Rosetown, Saskatchewan, and spent his childhood in Elrose, a small town north of Swift Current. His father worked as a grain farmer, while his mother dedicated her career to teaching. Ken completed all his schooling, from Grades 1 through 12, in Elrose. He fondly recalls walking or biking to school and actively participating in a variety of school sports. A natural leader, Ken served as captain of both his high school volleyball and basketball teams—a role he humorously attributes to being the tallest player on the court.
Ken’s father passed away when he was 16 years old, a life-changing experience, but Ken did finish high school and then went to the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. He quit university, but then went on to DeVry Tech in Toronto to take Electronic Engineering.
Ken obtained employment at a Swift Current TV station in 1966 doing work on and off the air, being both in the studio and in control room. Then Ken was hired as a ‘newsman’ in radio in Regina. When his boss got fired, he was offered the job of news director, with very limited experience or knowledge of the position.
Phyllis and Ken met at the TV station and were later married in 1970. Phyllis moved to Regina where she was employed in the media. Then they moved back to Swift Current in 1972.
Phyllis and Ken went to Europe (Spain, etc.) in 1974 seeking a new lifestyle, but returned to Canada after 5 months. Phyllis said, “Looking back, we were very fortunate to visit Europe at the time when there were fewer tourists and we were able to visit galleries and tourist sights without line-ups. In 1974, Franco ruled Spain, so we saw a very different country than it is now. On Christmas Day, Ken played football on the beach in Torremolinos, Spain, immediately in front of our home-away-from-home, a 1- bedroom apartment immediately above a bar, for which we paid $4 a day, including breakfast. We also consulted our copy of Arthur Frommer’s Europe on $10 a Day daily.”
Phyllis and Ken resided in Lethbridge from 1975-77. Ken was hired at CJOC Radio & TV in 1975. He was a ‘commercial announcer’, because upon speaking with him, one can attest to this quality in his voice. When CJOC-TV became independent, he became News Director at CFAC-TV.
They bought a home in Stirling and have resided there since 1977. They have enjoyed their huge yard and the joys of gardening (veggies, herbs, and flowers) that it brings. Phyllis used to sell dry flower arrangements. For most of her working life, Phyllis worked in media advertising: radio, TV, newspaper, and two advertising agencies, but for 14 years she worked for Canada Post in Stirling. Phyllis has been ‘officially’ retired for 10 years.
Ken and Phyllis are deeply committed to their community and the world around them. Ken, a dedicated blood donor, gave over 100 pints during his lifetime. He was also a founding member of the “Friends” of the Helen Schuler Nature Centre, where he volunteered more than 2,000 hours, sharing his passion for nature through activities like his engaging “snake talks.” Additionally, Ken devoted many years to teaching English as a Second Language with County of Warner Further Education, helping others achieve their educational goals.
A passionate conservationist, Ken is actively involved with the Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society. Previously serving on its executive committee, he enthusiastically shares the Society’s mission and educates others on how to support these beautiful bluebirds.
Phyllis has been equally committed to her community, volunteering for many years with the County of Warner Further Education Council and the Stirling Lioness Club. Together, Ken and Phyllis share a deep enthusiasm for education and a profound respect for the natural world. Ken also pursued lifelong learning. While working full-time, he attended the University of Lethbridge part-time, earning a BA in Political Science in 1988—a testament to his belief that “everyone wants to be educated, don’t they?”
Over 54 years of marriage, Phyllis and Ken have travelled and hiked extensively. They enjoy learning and therefore, watch the Knowledge Network, TVOntario, and PBS to broaden their knowledge base. Phyllis has a loom and is an accomplished weaver; she also likes to read mysteries. Ken prefers to read non- fiction because of his desire to keep learning. They used to golf, but now will watch some TV sports instead. Ken used to play trumpet, clarinet, and piano, but none recently; they both like easy listening, swing, and blues music. Phyllis’ favorite meal is spaghetti and Ken’s is “anybody’s lasagna”.
Phyllis’ favourite quote comes from her grandmother Jane Burnett: ‘You’re not the only pebble on the beach.’
Ken has been a long-time user of the LSCO gym, where he maintained an active lifestyle for many years. Both Ken and Phyllis have enjoyed being involved as active members of the LSCO, finding not only opportunities to stay engaged but also forming meaningful friendships through their time at the Centre. Ken and Phyllis are very approachable and seem quite willing to meet more members as we all share the Centre in its varied ways.
Many Thanks to Phyllis and Ken for coping with a ‘walk down memory lane’ and to satisfy a curiosity about “just who are our LSCO members?”
Editors Note: Thank you to Carol for continuing to interview and write the member spotlight articles in 2024. I certainly enjoy learning about the people at the LCSO, and hope that all you readers do as well.

Gladys had been a longstanding, active member around LSCO. She currently still resides in Lethbridge, but is thinking about moving to Raymond to be closer to family. Gladys was struck hard by Covid and she is finally beginning to feel more motivated and active again.
Gladys was born in the village of Riding Mountain, Manitoba on December 24, 1938. Her parents were Canadian-born and her father started out as a farmer. Her paternal roots are from Ireland and her maternal roots are in Manitoba.
Gladys’ father and uncles were in WWII; in all, 8 of Gladys’ extended family were in the war effort. Gladys’ father was overseas, but not in combat. Gladys remembers that sugar was rationed and how margarine got “coloured”.
There were three children in Gladys’ family; she has two elder brothers. She and her brothers always got along well. Gladys attended school in Riding Mountain to Grade 9. She remembers walking 1.5 miles to school and snowbanks as high as telephone poles. Gladys’ household chore was bringing in wood for the cookstove on a toboggan. In her early school years, her school consisted of one-room, and was also a village church. Later, there was a stand-alone school building. Her brothers moved away from home as teenagers.
Gladys’ parents separated and she ended up moving to Winnipeg with her mother. Gladys got a job making license plates for about a year. Her parents reunited, but her father passed away at age 55 due to a heart attack.
Gladys was always very keen on learning and doing artistic handwork. She taught herself to crochet and even taught her mother. Gladys taught herself to cook and sew. She lived with her Gramma for some of her adolescence and participated in 4H.
From Winnipeg, Gladys and her mother moved to Edmonton. Gladys was trained to be a telephone operator by Alberta Government Telephones and did that job for a few years. Afterwards, she moved to Vancouver for awhile where there was work and friends. Gladys returned to Alberta and in Calgary, she reunited with her mother.
Gladys married her husband Bob in 1959. They had three sons, but separated after 11 years and Gladys took on single parenting.
Gladys took ceramics courses in Calgary and then began to teach from her home. Instructors told her that she was “a natural”. She had earned a teaching certificate in Ceramics while in Calgary.
She remained in Calgary and eventually married Norman, who came with four children. They had a daughter together, and Gladys was a very busy mother and homemaker to this family! Gladys says that she is satisfied with how the children blended and that she continues to have good relationships with them.
Norman also had a farm (Magrath), which he operated even though he had a successful career off the farm. Gladys and Norman, and two of the children moved to Magrath in the early 80’s, but she wanted to do something more. She describes Norman as a good provider and farmer; he also helped with Gladys’ ceramics business that she set up in Magrath, but Norman passed away in 2002. Gladys hired schoolkids who would come after school and help her with the business, as the work was too heavy for her on her own. She had also begun to teach ceramics in Lethbridge, so Gladys decided to move to Lethbridge because farming was not practical for her any longer.
Gladys began to teach herself ‘china painting on porcelain’, but it is a lengthy process and although she taught it for a few years, its popularity began to wane like ceramics.
Gladys began teaching knitting and crocheting at LSCO; she was age 53 at this point. (LSCO rules were such that she could not buy a membership at the time due to her young age!)
Gladys’ LSCO history is lengthy so far, 32 years! She volunteered e.g.in the boutique, taught ceramics, participated in quilting, knitting and crochet, watercolours, and Zen tangle. (Zen tangle can be viewed on the west wall in the card playing area.) Gladys was such an involved quilter that she made quilts for each of her family members!
Gladys ‘ enduring belief is that everybody should be treated equally; we may have different bodies, but we are all human.
Gladys met Stu at LSCO almost 20 years ago. They travelled across Canada, took shorter bus tours, went to events together, and generally enjoyed each others’ company; their children were happy for their parents in their relationship. Gladys enjoyed cooking supper for her and Stu as long as possible. However, Stu has passed away and Gladys is as much a new widow as anyone else has experienced.
Gladys’ comfort food is “meat and potatoes”; she does not enjoy eating alone, no matter how fancy or expensive the food is. She has an enduring positive memory in that for her 70th birthday, her children threw her first proper birthday party; it was a success!
Gladys enjoys watching many TV sports e.g. hockey, tennis, curling, football, soccer. She likes Country music e.g. Willie Nelson, Blake Shelton.
Gladys would like people to know that she likes “to try new things.” For now, she has become an avid 5-Pin Bowler; she bowls in two leagues and she is consistent in her scores. She has also returned to taking up Hardanger, a type of embroidery that she learned years ago.
It should go without saying at this point, but it seems obvious that Gladys likes to keep her mind and body active. We look forward to seeing more of her again around LSCO.
Welcome Back Gladys!