Tag: charity

For GEF volunteer Tom Forbes, cycling is about more than just getting from one place to another. It’s about freedom, fresh air, good company, and making memories.

For the past two years, Tom has shared his love of cycling with GEF seniors as a volunteer trishaw pilot. He gives residents and tenants the opportunity to get outdoors, explore their neighbourhoods, enjoy the simple pleasure of a bike ride, and create meaningful moments with friends and family.

“When I take residents and their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren, all on the same vehicle, where they experience something together – that is a gift!”

~Tom Forbes, GEF Volunteer

Judy, a resident at GEF Pleasantview Place Lodge, enjoys her trishaw rides with Tom.

From Trishaws to Bicycles

While volunteering with the trishaw program, Tom noticed many bikes sitting unused in the bike racks at various GEF communities he visited. Some bikes had flat tires, rusty chains, or simply hadn’t been ridden in years.

This sparked an idea. Tom saw an opportunity to help more GEF seniors who were interested in riding, get back in the saddle through a bike program.

At GEF Montgomery Place, Tom began offering bike maintenance clinics. He helps tenants check and repair their bikes, making sure the brakes work, the tires are inflated, and the bikes are safe to ride. Then they are ready to hit the road!

What started as short rides around the neighbourhood has grown into bike rides of about twelve kilometres. The cycling group enjoys river valley views and stops for coffee and conversation.

GEF Montgomery Place tenant, Mary, looks forward to the outings.

Every Ride Builds Connection

The bike rides have inspired others to take part in the group activity. GEF staff have started joining in and bringing their families, creating a chance for seniors, staff, and families to spend time together in this new way.

“Tom is very familiar with the area, and he took us on a lovely ride.
I really enjoyed spending time with the community, the tenants, and the staff here at Montgomery.”

~Colleen Simpson, GEF Seniors Housing

For staff member Somaly, bringing her family along has been a special part of the experience.

What began as Tom sharing his passion has become a shared effort, bringing seniors, staff, families, and volunteers together.

Making Sure Everyone Can Join the Ride

Tom’s goal is to make the rides accessible to everyone who wants to join in.

“We’re planning and executing these rides so that everyone, no matter what kind of bike they have, can participate. We can take bikes with stability wheels, trikes, and certainly a trishaw, allowing other people to enjoy that maybe aren’t comfortable on a bike.”

~Tom Forbes, GEF Volunteer

The Reward of Helping Others

For Tom, volunteering is about contributing the skills he has to enrich the lives of others.

“To take people for a bike ride and see their enjoyment means everything to me.
That’s what keeps me coming back – is seeing how others benefit from what I can give.”

~Tom Forbes, GEF Volunteer

Get Involved. Give Back.

Tom’s story is a great example of how one person’s time, skills, and passion can bring people together.

Volunteer with GEF and share your interests with seniors across our communities. There are many ways to get involved.

Donate to the Quality of Life Fund to help support activities and experiences for GEF seniors. Thanks to community support, we have been able to purchase new trishaw batteries and continue maintaining our three trishaws.

🎥 See Tom and the GEF community in action! Watch our video story to see what makes these rides so special. 

This spring marked the fourth year GEF communities have come together for Planting Days. It’s a wonderful opportunity for residents, tenants, volunteers, staff, and community partners to connect while helping refresh the gardens and outdoor spaces.

From May 20 to June 4, across 26 communities, we welcomed 111 corporate partners and volunteers who planted, weeded, watered, and added colour and life to the green spaces seniors enjoy throughout the summer.

Residents and tenants contributed in many ways. Some grabbed gardening tools and started digging into the soil, while others enjoyed the sunshine, chatted with volunteers, and lent a hand where needed.

Gardens Grown by Many Hands

We are grateful for the incredible support of our community partners who helped make Planting Days possible.

This year, we were joined by 16 corporate/community teams from AMRE Supply, AutoCanada, Bell Mobility, Ecopest, Ford Credit Canada, North Pointe Community Church, Old Navy Canada, Park Landscaping, PCL Construction, Royal Caretaking Supplies, Serta Simmons Bedding, ServiceMASTER Restore of Edmonton, Source Office Furniture, Sysco Canada, TELSCO Security Systems, and TELUS.

Whether they arrived as a team of one or a team of many, every volunteer made a difference. Everyone showed up ready to plant, no matter the weather.

Extra Support in Full Bloom

Some of our partners found additional ways to help our communities flourish.

• AutoCanada donated $400 in grocery gift cards to support residents and tenants.
• PCL Construction brought treats to each of their Planting Days events, donated a gift card to GEF Knox Met’s Gardening Committee to purchase additional flowers, and provided 20 bags of soil to refresh the garden beds at GEF Pleasantview and Montgomery Place.
• Ecopest made a generous $1,300 donation to GEF’s Quality of Life Fund, helping enrich the lives of seniors well beyond Planting Days.

These contributions continue to help our communities bloom in more ways than one.

Where Connections Take Root

While the addition of flowers brings joy and brightens outdoor spaces, the most meaningful part of Planting Days is the opportunity for connection, friendship, and community.

Throughout the campaign, residents, tenants, volunteers, staff, and neighbours had a chance to enjoy the fresh air and spend time together. These moments are what make communities feel like home.

Keep the Good Things Growing

The planting may be finished, but the growing season isn’t over yet.

Throughout the summer, our gardens need volunteers to help water, maintain, and care for these beautiful spaces. Whether you’re an individual, a family, or part of a corporate team, we’d love to welcome you.

If you’re unable to volunteer, you can still make a meaningful impact. Donations to GEF’s Quality of Life Fund help create opportunities, programs, and experiences that keep our communities vibrant all year long.

Many thanks to all the staff, residents, and tenants who planted alongside our volunteers! 🌱

🌻 Click here to VOLUNTEER with us!
💚 Click here to DONATE to the Quality of Life Fund!

Thank you to every volunteer, community partner, resident, tenant, and staff member who helped make this year’s Planting Days such a blooming success!

🎥 Click here to watch highlights from this year’s events!

This winter, we launched our first Brighten the Lives of Seniors Campaign. Inspired by the new light display at GEF Central Services and McQueen Place Lodge, the vibrant lights reflected the warmth, joy, and connection that community support and donations bring to seniors who call GEF home.

📹 Watch highlights from our community light-up launch event here!

Your Support Made the Season Shine

From December through the end of February, we saw that support come to life across our communities. Seniors across our 43 GEF communities enjoyed a bright holiday season thanks to the generosity of individuals, families, and businesses. With help from the campaign, we were able to:

• Provide 109 grocery gift cards as door prizes for events
• Send approximately 270 seniors on 17 Holiday Light Tours
• Host 54 festive events that brought people together
• Add a new 32” smart TV to the common room at GEF Ritchie Pioneer Place

A Bright First Year

With a goal of $35,000, we raised $32,322 in this new initiative. This builds on last year’s $20,000 raised and shows what can happen when people come together. Support came in many ways this year. From donations and gifts to participation in our additional Brighten the Board fundraiser, people found meaningful ways to enrich the lives of seniors. Each donation to the Quality of Life Fund, helps support programs, experiences, and community enhancements that make a difference in our seniors’ everyday lives.

See the full list of donors and volunteers who helped make this possible.

Stocking Stuffers Success

Another highlight from the campaign was the return of the London Drugs Stocking Stuffers for Seniors program. With support from London Drugs, everyone who fulfilled a senior’s wish list, and the volunteers and staff who helped deliver the gifts, we reached more seniors than ever. A record 2,525 seniors across all of our communities received a present this holiday season.

📹 Watch some of the heartwarming moments from delivery day here!

Volunteers Made the Season Glow

So many wonderful volunteers also donated their time and creativity to decorate our communities during the giving season. The trees, lights, and decorations made our spaces feel welcoming, festive, and full of holiday spirit!

A special thank you to the Old Navy team in Edmonton. They helped decorate and donated over 330 gift bags for seniors in our communities, as well as for local seniors still waiting for a place to call home. This thoughtful gesture brought comfort and care during a busy, and often stressful, time of year.

Keep the Light Going!

While our Brighten the Lives of Seniors Campaign has wrapped up, its impact continues. Ongoing community support helps create more opportunities for GEF seniors to stay active, engaged, and connected across our communities.

Keep the bright moments going – DONATE to our Quality of Life Fund today!

Thank you again to everyone who made the season sparkle for seniors by contributing to our new campaign. We look forward to lighting things up again this November. Together we are creating meaningful moments that last well beyond the season.

WinterFEST made its way through our lodge communities throughout February and into early March, and it was such a great reminder of how special this season can be. The celebrations brought residents, families, friends, staff, and volunteers together to embrace the winter season, while sharing laughter, connection, and plenty of warm memories along the way.

A Blizzard of Fun and Games

Our Life Enrichment Team put so much care into this event. From the winter-themed games like Beat the Blizzard, Slap Shot, Ski Ball, and Winter Trivia, to the popular Polaroid booth and caricature station that had everyone smiling. There was something for everyone to explore in every corner.

VR Adventures

The Rendever Virtual Reality station was a big highlight! Residents and guests explored the Aurora Borealis, toured Banff and Jasper, went snowmobiling, and even took a snowy stroll with dogs, all without leaving the lodge! So many happy memories were made!

The excitement even caught the attention of CTV Edmonton, who stopped by WinterFEST at GEF Sakaw Terrace to showcase how our VR Program is bringing the world and new experiences to our seniors.

📹 Watch the CTV Virtual Reality feature here!

Cozy, Canadian, Comfort Food

As always, the food brought everyone together. The delicious poutine bar was a hit, along with pecan tarts, assorted desserts, snow cones, cider, hot chocolate, and mulled wine.

Making a Difference Together

Across our communities, more than 1,000 residents, family members, friends, and staff came together, with staff also welcoming their own families to join the celebrations. Approximately 80 amazing volunteers supported the events, and 50 door prizes were handed out along the way!

WinterFEST also featured a donation booth for our Brighten the Lives of Seniors Campaign, which concluded on February 28. Every contribution to our Quality of Life Fund helps support meaningful programs, experiences, and celebrations like WinterFEST across our communities.

Keep the Joy Going All Year Long!

Our WinterFEST events came together thanks to the hard work of our staff, volunteers, and community supporters. Want to help bring more joy to seniors in the year ahead? Here’s how you can get involved:

💙 Work with us – Join our caring team that makes a difference for seniors.
💙 Volunteer – Help create fun and memorable moments for our residents and tenants.
💙 Donate – Every contribution brings enriching opportunities and connection to seniors in our communities.

WinterFEST brought a little extra warmth and cheer to our lodges this season. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s celebrations a success!

This February, we shook off the winter blahs with our first-ever Winter Festival Family and Friends events! Inspired by our lively Summer Fairs, this new tradition brought together residents, families, and friends for an evening of fun, food, and unforgettable memories. The Life Enrichment team worked hard to create events that would truly engage residents. With interactive activities, and an art showcase, the festivals warmed the hearts of many during this long, cold winter season. With Family Day on February 17, the month was the perfect time to celebrate the connections that matter most.

A Flurry of Fun

Each of our Lodge communities hosted a Winter Festival, transforming February into a month-long celebration. The events featured something for all ages to enjoy.

Engaging Activity Stations:

Guests enjoyed a fun photo booth to capture memories with family and friends, while others explored new worlds with virtual reality from the comfort of a chair and headset. Some lucky attendees walked away with exciting door prizes, and everyone had the chance to admire the incredible talent on display at the Crafts & Art Walk, showcasing works from residents, and tenants. Roving entertainment kept spirits high, and a caricature artist offered personalized drawings as keepsakes.

Delicious Food & Drinks:

Guests indulged in a variety of delicious treats, including hot and cold canapés, cheese, pickles, and fruit desserts. The Coffee & Hot Chocolate Bar kept everyone warm, and for those who wanted a little something extra, the Drink Bar had spirits available for purchase.

Heartwarming Moments, Lasting Impact

The feedback from residents and families was positive, with many appreciating the amazing artwork, inclusive activities, and the thoughtful efforts that made the events feel special.

“So many people contributed to making these events a success. The atmosphere was welcoming and high-energy, the food was excellent, and it was meaningful to see residents, tenants, and family members of all ages enjoying the event.”

~Shelby Johnston, Life Enrichment Manager

Nearly 1200 residents, family, and friends joined in on the festivities, 58 dedicated volunteers helped make the magic happen, and 65 fantastic door prizes were won. The best part? The smiles, laughter and connections that filled the air at every single event.

Let’s Keep the Magic Going!

The success of our Winter Festivals was made possible by the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and outside supporters. Want to help create more joyful moments for seniors in our community? Here’s how you can help:

💙 Volunteer with us – Your time makes a difference!
💙 Donate – Every contribution helps bring more celebrations and enriching opportunities to life.

Thank you to everyone who made our first Winter Festival season a success!

The 2024 holiday season was a beautiful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together. Thanks to the kindness of individuals and businesses, we brought joy to 3,800 seniors across our 41 GEF communities. From festive events to thoughtful gifts, the generosity shown from our donors and volunteers made the holiday season even more special. Scroll through the slideshow of pictures below to look back on some of our favorite moments!

A Record-Breaking Year of Giving

Celebrated on December 3, 2024, this year’s Giving Tuesday campaign was a big success! Together, we raised over $20,000 for our Quality of Life Fund, surpassing last year’s total of $18,000. Every dollar raised helps us enrich the lives of seniors, and we are so grateful to everyone who contributed. Visit our Donor and Volunteer Recognition page to see a list of our supporters.

Making the Holidays Bright

Thanks to our incredible community, we were able to:

• Provide 168 grocery gift cards as well as other gifts to be used as door prizes for seniors at holiday events and upcoming winter festivals across all of our sites.

• Give 285 seniors a magical evening on the Borealis Holiday Lights Tour, completely free of charge.

• Bring vibrant energy to the billiards room at Strathcona Place with a new 32” Smart TV.

• Direct over $2,000 in individual donations to specific GEF communities.

• Contribute $2,500 to the Compassion Fund for those clients most in need.

A Successful Year for Stocking Stuffers for Seniors

The generosity of London Drugs and Albertans made this year’s Stocking Stuffers for Seniors 2024 campaign the biggest one yet! Thanks to their support, a record 1,600 seniors in 20 GEF communities received holiday gifts. Their kindness made the season brighter for so many.

Deck the Halls: Volunteers Made the Season Shine

Nothing says the holidays like twinkling lights and festive decorations! This year, several volunteers gave their time to decorate our communities, adding warmth and cheer to our seniors’ homes.

A special thank you to the Old Navy store team in Edmonton, who not only helped decorate but also donated 310 cozy holiday gift bags for several seniors in our communities — as well as housing applicants waiting for a place to call home.

The Spirit of Giving Continues

The holidays may be over, but the spirit of giving continues all year long. Your support makes all the difference! Donate to our Quality of Life Fund and choose exactly where your gift will go. Together, we can continue to bring joy and connection to the seniors who call GEF their home.

Thanks to all the individuals, businesses, and volunteers for making 2024 so unforgettable. Here’s to another year of compassion, kindness, community, and giving!

I was a very magical few days in December for hundreds of GEF Seniors Housing residents when Santa and his elves made their rounds to deliver presents as part of London Drugs’ Stocking Stuffers for Seniors 2019 Campaign.

What started out in 2015 with Operation Friendship Seniors Society and London Drugs partnering together with a goal to help 40 seniors in its first year has grown exponentially in five short years. Today, Stocking Stuffers for Seniors helps more than 4,000 seniors in Northern Alberta and 17,000 seniors across Western Canada have a brighter Christmas! The campaign now involves all London Drugs stores. Altogether, 878 seniors in eight different GEF Seniors Housing communities received a gift this holiday season.

The approach is simple, but the impact is immeasurable. Generous strangers carefully choose a name tag from specially-marked tree displays at their London Drugs store of choice and, our of the goodness of their hearts, but what’s written on the tag as their senior’s wish list – often adding in a few extra surprises. “I think the generosity of others in the community and the surprise of receiving a gift was really awesome,” said Montgomery Place Recreation Coordinator, Christine Kemp.

On delivery day, everyone was buzzing with anticipation. “I was up early – I am so excited!” said one resident. Santa and his London Drugs elves arrived, and the faces of residents and staff lit up like Christmas trees. “It was like Christmas morning for these residents – they were glowing,” said one staff member.

It was an overwhelming sight to see the number of presents that showed up under the trees at our GEF communities. After the gifts were distributed, residents started opening their presents. As well as the chorus of “oohs” and “aahs” around the room, seniors said comments like “This is more than I expected,” “This is over and above anything I could have imagined,” “I got just what I wanted,” “I wish I could say thank you to all the kind people,” and “I don’t usually get excited for Christmas anymore but this brought back feelings that I had as a kid.”

Some of our residents don’t have family so it was a surprise to them when they received a gift. “I wouldn’t have gotten any Christmas gifts this year, so thank you very much,” said one resident. At least one senior saved his presents to open on Christmas day because he doesn’t have any family. These unexpected gifts, filled with love, showed the residents just how much ther are cared for and each senior was grateful for what they had received.

“When you see someone’s face light up and the expression of someone who doesn’t normally get this, it’s a really special feeling and it makes my heart happy!” said another staff member.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this Christmas so memorable – not just for our seniors, but for all of the participating seniors who needed a little cheer this year! It will be a day they will never forget.