GEF marked its 65th anniversary by celebrating the joys of seniorhood and the vibrancy of its communities. The celebrations kicked off during Seniors’ Week in June and culminated with the unveiling of the 65th Anniversary Mosaic Art Project on October 1, the International Day of the Older Person. Here’s a look back at our celebrations.
A “Vibrant Community” Unveiled
First launched at the 65th anniversary kick-off event in June, the Mosaic Art Project came together over the summer and became the legacy project of our anniversary year. Artists Kelly Jans & Lisa Kutzner, who are also GEF staff members, worked collaboratively with residents and tenants from across our 41 communities to create the artwork. They chose sunflowers as the overall theme of the composition because the cheerful yellow petals remind us to embrace joy, seek out light, and stand tall in the face of adversity – a fitting description of seniorhood itself. Residents and tenants contributed to the mosaic by expressing what being a senior means to them. Participants did not necessarily know about the sunflower theme when they painted their individual canvases.
All was revealed at the October 1 event, which took place at Strathcona Place Apartments, was livestreamed on YouTube, and featured the creators of the masterpiece as the V.I.Ps. Project participants were invited to share their personal stories during an innovative open-mic segment. While each story was unique, they all reflected the optimism, resilience, embodiment of life, warmth, and longevity that seniorhood represents.
“We wanted to focus on one impactful activity that would leave a memorable impression on our community. “Vibrant Community” reflects the unique lived experiences of each individual within our communities as well as the creativity and vibrancy that exists in our communities as a whole.”
– Bernadette DeSantis, GEF Seniors Housing Director of Communications and Engagement,
Chair of the 65th Anniversary Committee.
Community members chose to name the mosaic “Vibrant Community” in honour of GEF’s rich history and vision to create vibrant affordable communities for seniors. The artwork will be on display at GEF’s Central Services location, and a photograph of the mosaic will be displayed in each GEF community for all to enjoy.
A recording of the unveiling event is available on our YouTube Channel.
Community Celebrations
Throughout the summer, tenants and staff, residents and their families were invited to celebrate the 65th Anniversary at their annual Lodge Summer Fairs and Apartment Barbecues. The weather cooperated for many of the outdoor events, but even when the events had to move indoors due to extreme weather conditions, there was plenty of fun and food had by all.
Together We Thrive: Celebrating Seniors and our Supporters
Stunning displays of culinary and visual artistry at Art Walk.
Seniors’ Week (June 3 to 9) is an opportunity to recognize the contributions of seniors, and with GEF becoming a senior itself, we chose June 6 to kick off our celebration of seniors and seniors-serving organizations. We gathered with our partners in the community at McQueen Place Lodge to mark 65 years of supporting low-income seniors to thrive in their Golden Years. Special guests included representatives from the Alberta Government, City of Edmonton, Alberta Seniors & Community Housing Association (ASCHA), Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton (SAGE), and members of the GEF Board of Directors. The event showcased the culinary and visual artists from our GEF communities. With this being our Sapphire Anniversary, we chose blue as our theme colour because it symbolizes loyalty and peacefulness in a long lasting relationship. A local school group collaborated with our seniors to produce the “wings” display which became a fun photo booth at the kick off event and summer fairs.
Brandon Lunty, Co-Chair of the Alberta Seniors Lodge Review Panel.
“The seniors housing sector in Alberta is constantly changing and shifting to best respond to the needs and expectations of today’s seniors. GEF is a leader in innovation – from intergenerational programming, supporting low-income community members, extraordinary dining experiences, and sustainable capital and operational models.”
— Irene Martin-Lindsay, Executive Director, Alberta Seniors & Community Housing Association (ASCHA)
McQueen Place Lodge residents and staff enjoy the celebration.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!
A HUGE thanks goes out to all of our 400 + GEF staff, whose dedication and commitment to creating a warm, friendly, and welcoming environment for everyone who lives in, works at, or visits our communities have brought us to where we are today and will help us get to where we want to be in the future.
For their role in our journey to becoming Alberta’s largest non-profit social housing operator for seniors, this year’s staff appreciation theme was ‘Enjoy the Journey’, and staff received “Explore the City” summer fun packs. If you’re looking for opportunities to connect, give back, and positively influence seniors’ quality of life, click here to join our dedicated team.
We also give gratitude to our board members, community partners, volunteers, donors, residents, tenants, friends and family members. Thank you all for being a vital part of our 65 years of service to the community. If you’d like to get involved and support our Vibrant Community check out the ‘Get Involved’ tab on our website to volunteer or donate. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of seniors.
Special thanks to the 65th Anniversary Committee for their role in making the celebrations so memorable.
Let’s enjoy the journey ahead knowing that every small step we each take today paves the way for tomorrow.