Tag: community connections

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!

A Simple Game Creating Special Moments

At GEF Bethany Senior Citizens Home, a new shuffleboard table is doing more than just adding a game to the space – it’s bringing people together. Thanks to generous donations to our Quality of Life Fund, a portion of funds was used to relocate the shuffleboard from another site to its current home at Bethany. Now tenants have a new way to connect, stay active, and enjoy time together.

Bethany’s recreation room had been quiet as of late, but this shuffleboard table is already changing that. Tenants are stopping by, some to play, some to watch, and many to simply enjoy a cup of coffee and chat.

“It’s the perfect activity to get everyone out of their rooms. Once others see us having fun, maybe more will come out to join us! I’m going to start organizing weekly get-togethers and shuffleboard tournaments with prizes.”

– Paul K., Tenant

More Than Just a Game

Shuffleboard is easy to pick up, which makes it inviting for everyone. Some tenants are reliving old memories, while others are trying it for the first time. Most importantly, it’s bringing them together for friendship and fun!

Game on! Paul K. teaches Janice B. how to play shuffleboard for the first time.

“I’m just learning how to play shuffleboard, and I love it! I used to only come down here to check the mail, but now that we have weekly coffee talks and this new shuffleboard, it’s great to meet up with everyone like this.”

– Janice B., Tenant

The space around the table has become a lively gathering spot, helping to bring vibrancy and energy into the community. Their weekly conversations over coffee, laughter, and friendly shuffleboard competitions have become simple, everyday moments that make the community feel more like home.

Your Support Makes This Possible

The shuffleboard table is just one example of how the Quality of Life Fund has made an impact in helping seniors thrive in their community. Donations fund life enriching opportunities, social activities, and additions that make a real difference.

Want to help create more special moments like this? 

Donate to the Quality of Life Fund and bring more meaningful experiences to seniors across our communities.