hdupuis@lethseniors.com

Coralee Palmer

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A reluctant interviewee for this column who reveals much more to her person under closer scrutiny, Coralee Palmer has been a proud member of LSCO since 2017.

She credits her daughter for approaching her with the idea of checking out LSCO to see what it has to offer.

The eldest of 3 daughters, Coralee was born in Peterborough, Ontario where her mother and sisters still reside to this day. Always keen to maintain her familial bonds, she keeps in regular contact with them and tries
to go out there twice a year.

She retired in 2010 while her husband, Gary retired in 2017. They then moved from Bragg Creek to be nearer to her daughter’s family and have lived in West Lethbridge ever since.

Coralee met Gary while they were in college where she completed a Law & Security diploma. She once harbored a dream of becoming a police officer but unfortunately, did not meet the height requirements of the role at the time. She then began a career with the Customs Agency at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario. She paints a humorous picture of her time at the Ambassador Bridge such as the times when they had to raise their voices and say, “Halt in the name of the Queen” when people from Detroit would attempt to cross the border without stopping. She also worked for the Customs Agency at Sarnia, Ontario and had a brief career as a postal carrier for two years in
Peterborough.

Due to Gary’s employment with Imperial Oil, they moved ‘out west’ to Fernie in 1988 where she then took up employment at the Roosville Border Crossing at Grasmere, B.C. Thanks to Gary’s job, the family also lived in Switzerland for two years. They used this opportunity to travel through Europe and other continents e.g. Germany, Czechoslovakia, Liechtenstein, Egypt, etc.

She reminisces on the seven times she visited Paris because that was always the top destination for her visiting friends. She also has a great story about adolescent nephews visiting in Heidelberg and coming across a ‘photo shoot’.(I believe she might
be willing to share if you politely ask her about it when you run into her) Gary eventually got transferred to Calgary, where Coralee had an additional 25 year career spanning the Canada Customs district office, the postal plant, and the airport before she retired.

She shares that she very much enjoyed her time working due to the variety of people she always came across, and “it was never boring.”

They lived in Bragg Creek with their two children that they had in Peterborough and Oshawa for 22 years, raising their family and commuting to Calgary. Sadly, Coralee and Gary lost their 18 year old son Josh in a Motor Vehicle Accident twenty-two years ago, as he was travelling from work with a friend. Animated and open to speaking about him; She surmises that he is still ‘present’ in their lives and always will be.

Coralee’s daughter Lindsey has been in Lethbridge since 2002, where she pursued her post secondary education at the college
and university before settling down and starting a family. Coralee is blessed with two grandchildren, Jacob and Emily. She shares that they were a main part of her and Gary’s decision to move to Lethbridge after their retirement.

Coralee is an avid fan of music from the 60’s-80’s but she considers Country as her favourite genre. She also enjoys walking her dog, reading, cooking and/or baking, and a bit of spice gardening. Her comfort food favorite is “potato chips”. Coralee and Emily are regular volunteers at the Last Chance Cat Resort. Coralee says she does ‘gruntwork’, but is pleased to be making a difference for so many cats in a clean environment that operates solely on donations.

Coralee believes that “what goes around, comes around”. She shares that she is sometimes teased for being “Saint Coralee”, but she takes it all in stride. She strikes one as an animated, approachable, and kind individual who does whatever she can for others. She revealed that she is most proud of her family: husband, children and grandchildren.

Coralee utilizes LSCO for all kinds of fitness programs and usually participates in at least one class per day. Additionally, she can be found in the kitchen regularly doing dishes, or any tasting when needed, every Thursday where you can stop by to say “Hi” and “Thanks for your volunteerism !”

If you would be like to be the next member featured, please fill out this form.

Your voice matters. Protect your CPP.

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The CPP is Canada’s national retirement plan. It’s designed to provide a foundation for millions of Canadians to build their retirement.
Right now, conversations are taking place about the potential of withdrawing from the CPP. It’s an important decision for Albertans, with implications for all Canadians.
CPP Investments, the independent, non-partisan, global investment management organization responsible for investing the CPP Fund, has launched a new online resource yourcpp.ca to support the conversation, and help residents make an informed choice about their future.
Today, the CPP is well-funded, resilient, and financially sustainable for generations to come, despite rapidly aging populations and longer life expectancies.

What’s at stake if Alberta leaves the CPP?

What makes the CPP one of the best in the world?

CPP Investments has a clear mandate to maximize returns without taking unnecessary risks, independent from government interference. Our diversified portfolio has achieved a 10-year net rate of return of 9.3% – a proven track record of performance surpassing many of our domestic and global peers.

  • The CPP is safe. When it comes to pensions, there is strength in numbers. Pooling contributions from more than 22 million Canadians helps protect the CPP Fund from market volatility and changing demographics.
  •  The CPP Fund is resilient and well diversified. The CPP Fund is invested in Canada and in more than 50 countries. It holds assets in many sectors, such as Alberta oil and gas, ports in the United States, and toll roads in Australia. The investment returns we generate abroad are brought back to pay pension benefits in Canada.
  • The CPP is portable. Since its creation nearly 60 years ago, the CPP guarantees full portability across every province and in almost 60 countries, allowing you to access your pension wherever you live.
  • The CPP is financially sustainable. Independent experts have concluded the CPP is financially sustainable for generations to come. That means you, your children, and grandchildren can rely on the CPP for security in retirement.
  • The CPP Fund is independent from government. The CPP Fund is managed by investment professionals who invest the funds and maximize returns without taking excessive risk. Governments do not direct how or where the CPP Fund is invested.

You’ve worked hard to protect your financial future.
Protect your CPP.

 yourcpp.ca

*This is a paid advertisement

Sharlene Peterson

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 Sharlene Peterson has been volunteering with Community Connect since 2019. Community Connect is a program that provides safety and connection to Senior’s in our community through regularly schedule phone calls and social interactions.

Sharlene also currently volunteers at schools reading to young people who need help developing their reading and English skills. “Volunteering gives you a good feeling,” she says. “If you’re having a poor day, you can just make someone’s day better,” and that helps her feel better in kind.

Giving back her community and others is important to Sharlene, and she challenges herself when working with someone who is having a difficult time, to help that person have a better day and feel more positive. It’s a win-win situation. “There is so much in the world that doesn’t make one feel good, but one always feels good when they help someone.”

Another important aspect of volunteering is that it has a way of humanizing those who she might have otherwise overlooked. It allows her to connect and associate with those she may not have while developing compassion for others in more difficult or unfortunate situations. Volunteering has shown Sharlene that you don’t need a lot of common ground to build a relationship, just an invested interest in getting to know the other person.

Sharlene was inspired to give back by her mother who gave a lot of time to her neighbors and the people around her by baking
for them and helping in her community. Her mother was always able to see the positive side of things, something she passed on to Sharlene and which serves her well in her volunteering with LSCO.

She says if someone wants to volunteer, they have nothing to lose and a lot to gain by doing so. People often underestimate the difference they can make in someone’s life and the community in general, so she encourages everyone to give it a try.

Why the CPP is one of the best in the world

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The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) provides a foundation for millions of Canadians to build their retirement.

Whether you choose to retire in Alberta, British Columbia, or Nova Scotia, the CPP stays with you. It’s one of the great safeguards of a national plan. That means regardless of where in Canada you choose to work, live, or retire, the CPP is there for you when you need it.

The success of the CPP is a direct result of 22 million Canadians pooling contributions to safeguard against market volatility and changing demographics.

CPP Investments, the global investment management organization responsible for investing the CPP Fund, has a clear mandate to maximize returns without taking unnecessary risks, independent from government interference. Our diversified portfolio has achieved a 10-year net rate of return of 9.3% – a proven track record of performance.

How has the CPP changed over time?

Federal and provincial governments created the CPP in the 1960s to help address poverty among seniors.  However, due to changing demographics and economic conditions, the Chief Actuary of Canada found in 1995 that the CPP was in danger of running out of funds by 2015 unless action was taken.

In response, the federal government and the provinces came together with a common goal – help secure the CPP for future generations of Canadians.

The solution? Governments agreed that a professional investment organization with a clear goal to maximize returns, free from political interference, would be the best way to secure the future of the CPP.

With an initial transfer of $12.1 million from the CPP, the Fund was born. Nearly a quarter-century later, CPP Investments now manages more than $590 billion dollars in the best interests of CPP contributors and beneficiaries. We are always seeking to generate above-market returns by searching the world for the most promising investment opportunities and constructing a broadly diversified, multi-asset class portfolio.

A key element of the Fund’s success is that we operate without any government interference. We report to all the participating provinces, as well as the federal government. This protects our ability to make decisions free from political agenda, strengthening the integrity of our decision-making process. Through years of government mandates, as well as wide-ranging political, social, and economic cycles, CPP Investments has stayed the course. We are steadily growing, diversifying, and helping build a solid source of retirement security to last for generations.

The impact? The foundation of Canada’s retirement system is solid today and for decades to come.

In an era of uncertainty, Canadians can find confidence in a strong, stable, and resilient CPP Fund. Economic and political winds may change, yet we remain rooted, drawing strength from our guiding principles of integrity, partnership, and high performance. More than 22 million contributors and beneficiaries, like you, are counting on us to deliver.

Get the facts.

 yourcpp.ca

*This is a paid advertisement

Barb Dodd

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Barb Dodd had always wanted to devote more time to volunteering within the Lethbridge community, but being a busy mom
raising kids, helping with the PTA, and working did not leave her enough time for all of the volunteer work she wanted to do.

However, volunteering is in her blood, having come from a small town that relied heavily on local volunteers, so she decided after retirement to donate her time to our Drive Happiness Program and the Good Samaritans.

Barb really enjoys working with and helping the seniors here in our community and knows that sometimes seniors can become the forgotten people of society. It’s important to her that she does what she can to help them feel cared for and supported. After all, she says “we will all be there one day.” Having lost her grandparents, spending time with seniors can feel a bit like having grandparents again, and she truly values that.

Also, she is sometimes able to bring her adult son who is special needs when she drives, which allows for meaningful interaction and connection for both her son and the seniors she drives for.

Barb says it’s always interesting and entertaining to hear the stories of those she drives for; she’s even been serenaded, having one person sing her rendition of Mercedes Benz by Joni Mitchell during a trip! Ultimately, she enjoys giving her time while getting to know and connect with those she drives for.

The flexibility of the scheduling of Drive Happiness makes it easy to negotiate her many recreational activities around her volunteering. According to Barb, if you’re looking for something that is flexible and allows you to give back, driving for Drive Happiness is the way to go!

Veronica Panich

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Veronica has been volunteering with LSCO for 8 years doing dishes, food prep, bingos, and (more recently) sitting on the Board of Directors.

She considers LSCO to be her second family and loves to watch the groups of seniors coming together here at the center to find a sense of community and belonging. Veronica started volunteering at LSCO right after her retirement as a way to keep busy and engaged. “I knew that if I didn’t have something planned to do, I would just sit at home and watch TV.” Since she had been volunteering in the community since she was in her early 20’s, taking on volunteer roles in retirement was a logical step.

Seeing our member’s smiling faces and having the chance to turn someone’s bad day into a good day with a smile and a kind
word are some of her motivations for volunteering here.

She sees a lot of men and women with spouses who have moved on gathering at LSCO regularly to talk and socialize, and
she honestly feels like if LSCO wasn’t here, these people wouldn’t have a place to go. “It’s so important to be with people,” she
says, and she loves how we encourage people to be together and support one another.

Veronica says that she hasn’t found one person here who she can’t see some good in, and that she always tries to look for the
positive when she can. Veronica’s late husband got her into volunteering nearly 40 years ago. She started with Sparks (Girl Guides Canada) because her husband volunteered for Beavers, and they continued volunteering in the community from then on.

Her message to anyone looking to volunteer is that they should come to LSCO and talk to the volunteer team because we can always use people. “It’s selfless but not,” she says, because while we are helping people, it also gives a great feeling.

Thanks, Veronica, for all that you do here at LSCO. 

To nominate a volunteer for the spotlight series, contact the volunteer team.

Jon Joyce

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Jon and his partner in crime, Toby the dog, have been volunteering for LSCO for about a year now as regular drivers for the Meals on Wheels program.

Jon moved from Ontario last year where he also volunteered with a community Meals on Wheels program there. Before that, Jon drove semi-trucks across Canada and the United States and enjoyed his travels to Alberta. After his mother passed away, Jon decided it was time to give Alberta living a try.

As many of our volunteers, Jon is a dependable asset to the volunteer team. On top of supporting the Meals on Wheels program, Jon has become one of the go to guys for random tasks such as helping with the recycling and making other important deliveries to seniors in the community.

Jon is ALWAYS willing to give of his time to support the LSCO and other organizations in the Lethbridge community. Jon learned from his experiences looking after his aging parents the importance of seniors being able to age in place and live in their homes as long as possible, if that is what they wish to do.

Jon explained that Meals on Wheels is a cause that he supports and is passionate about and for Jon it’s not only about getting those nutritious meals to the clients, but also a friendly visit. Jon says, “it can be lonely when you’re by yourself. Just going door to door and saying “Hello” for some of these people it is the only time they get to see somebody.”

Jon really goes above and beyond when he delivers the meals on his route; he enjoys hearing about the history and stories from the people he meets. Jon mentioned that one older gentleman he delivers to enjoys keeping him up to date and informed about the Calgary Flames hockey team. Jon’s favourite thing about volunteering with LSCO Meals on Wheels is getting to meet and know people, plus he enjoys driving around the city with Toby – Toby likes it too!

Jon attributed his inspiration for generously giving his time as a volunteer to his grandparents and parents. His Grandparents went through the great depression and his grandfather was very giving to those who were struggling. His Dad started working at about 14 years old and had an amazing work ethic that he passed on to Jon. Yet, the most profound experiences that inspires and continues to motivate Jon to give, was helping care for his aging parents – His mother graduated from this life about 5 years ago, and his father 15 years before that from Alzheimer’s.

Jon emphasized, “It’s not a job. Volunteering is enjoyable.” Jon explained, “I think giving back to the city is important, because at some point in your life – down the road – you might need that support…. Volunteering at LSCO, everything is very organized and well structured. It only takes an hour and the routes are planned out for you… It’s just an hour a day. It’s nice to get out and meet people.”

Jon has truly been a pleasure to work with; his willingness to step in and fill a need is heartwarming; he is truly a volunteer
superhero here at LSCO and in the community of Lethbridge.

To nominate a volunteer for the spotlight series, contact the volunteer team.

Vonda Giroux

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Vonda has been volunteering at LSCO since July of 2023 when her daughter told her that she should get out of the house and meet people — something Vonda took to heart.

Since then, she’s become an indispensable member of our volunteer team filling any shifts she can, preparing meals for the
Meals on Wheels program, washing dishes, and prepping the food for the diner, but also doing anything else asked of her. After all, as she says, “I don’t like to be bored!”

While it was the social aspect of volunteering that brought her to LSCO, the chance to meet new people, make a difference in her community, and enjoy a purpose to the day are what keep her coming back.

In fact, working in the kitchen has become something she’s excited to do. Vonda genuinely looks forward to waking up at 6:00am on those days she comes to volunteer because she enjoys the experience so much! It is important to be of service to the community which is something Vonda strongly believes in. “Volunteering makes you feel good,” she says, and it means a
lot to her to be able to help with the food preparation for Meals on Wheels especially because she finds it meaningful and a
privilege to be able to truly help those in need.

Having experienced what it’s like to not have enough help with things, Vonda always makes it a point to go above and beyond in her volunteering by helping with extra cleaning, dishes, meal prep, and events. She is also a mentor to other volunteers, assisting with their training and helping them to feel welcome and part of the team.

Truly, Vonda is one of our bright stars here at LSCO; we are grateful to have her here, and happy that the volunteer experience
has been so positive for her.

To nominate a volunteer for the spotlight series, contact the volunteer team.

Jerry

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Many of the programs at LSCO are run with the help of wonderful and dedicated volunteers. As a show of appreciation, we wanted to highlight one of our many hardworking volunteers.

Jerry has been an LSCO volunteer since 2019. After taking a break to be a caregiver to his mom, Jerry is back volunteering with us in the kitchen. Jerry has been a tremendous help these past couple months from helping us train new volunteers to
staying back and helping us out when we are short staffed.

Jerry’s main motivation for volunteering with the LSCO is making connections with others and giving back to the community.
He also enjoys working with the kitchen staff who he can joke around with. Jerry’s advice for new volunteers is to give it a shot. Volunteering at the LSCO is an experience that is rewarding and uplifting.

For Jerry, volunteering at the LSCO is something to smile about everyday.

To nominate a volunteer for the spotlight series, contact the volunteer team.