This Spring, we celebrated the shared efforts that help our GEF communities thrive. National Volunteer Week (April 19 to 25) and GEF Staff Appreciation Week (May 3 to 9) gave us an opportunity to recognize the dedication and commitment of the staff and volunteers who support seniors across GEF communities every day.
The theme of Pride and Shared Responsibility continues to reflect the way our staff and volunteers show up for one another and for the seniors we serve. Whether stepping in to help when it is needed or working together to create welcoming environments, their shared responsibility ensures our communities remain supportive, respectful, and well cared for. This season has been a time to pause, reflect, take pride, and celebrate the meaningful contributions that strengthen our communities.
All of this comes back to our Vision of creating vibrant, affordable communities for seniors. Guided by our Mission to provide well-maintained housing where people feel safe, can live with dignity, and thrive – our work is grounded in our shared values, strengthening our communities, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of the people who call them home.
Our staff and volunteers’ dedication, coordination, and commitment to quality service make a meaningful difference across our communities.
Our Collective Impact
Across our 43 GEF communities, over 500 staff support nearly 4,000 seniors.
Our volunteer program also continues to grow:
44 volunteers and 944 hours in 2023
152 volunteers and 4,173 hours in 2024
247 volunteers and 7,010 hours in 2025
Staff provide daily support and are the friendly, familiar faces our seniors see regularly. Volunteers spark engagement and create new opportunities in our buildings by participating in programs and sharing quality time with residents and tenants. Through their actions, both openly and behind the scenes, staff and volunteers help create communities where people feel respected and valued.
Our team of staff and volunteers create warm, caring interactions that make seniors feel understood and included.
Volunteer Week Highlights
During National Volunteer Week, we shared a series of videos highlighting the impact volunteers make across our communities. Tap each video below to watch.
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 eventhere!
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.
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.
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.
“The food is always a highlight at these types of events. The Food Services Team is very talented and creative. The benefit of community events like this is that staff, community members, and residents can come together and enjoy something out of the ordinary!”
~Shirley A., GEF Sakaw Terrace
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!
The holiday season is always a special time at GEF, thanks to the incredible support of our community partners who help make it meaningful. For the third year in a row, we were fortunate to receive a heartwarming donation from Old Navy. Their continued generosity brought warmth and holiday cheer to GEF seniors and housing applicants this festive season.
Throughout November, staff from Old Navy stores across Edmonton assembled over 330 holiday gift bags for GEF. Each bag included cozy socks from Old Navy, along with something warm, something fun, something tasty, and something practical. These sweet and caring gifts brought real comfort during a busy and often stressful time of year.
A Special Surprise for Housing Applicants
Our Housing Placement Coordinators were excited to step into the role of Santa’s helpers once again, handing out holiday bags. During housing interviews in December and early January, housing applicants were surprised with one of these gifts.
“One applicant was delighted by the kind gesture and said, ‘I don’t celebrate the holidays, but I really appreciate this! This is my first time receiving a gift!'”
Shelley Anna Adia, GEF Housing Placement Coordinator
With more than 1,300 people currently on our housing waitlist, these gifts offered encouragement and a reminder of hopeful things to come amidst the stress of the holidays and housing challenges.
Spreading Smiles in Our Communities
The remainder of the gift bags were delivered by Old Navy staff to seniors at GEF Sakaw Terrace in December. The happy delivery day brought plenty of smiles, and residents were deeply touched by the lovely visit and holiday gifts.
Thank You, Old Navy!
We’re incredibly grateful to Old Navy and our dedicated GEF staff for helping make this season brighter for our community. Through their generous donations and volunteer efforts throughout the year, Old Navy and their Edmonton-area team have gone above and beyond. Their partnership has made a meaningful difference in the lives of GEF seniors and brought warmth to housing applicants waiting for a place to call home.
Join Us in Brightening the Lives of Seniors
Let’s make this new year shine even brighter for the nearly 4,000 seniors who live with us. Our Brighten the Lives of Seniors campaign runs until February 28, and we’d love for you to be part of it! Donations to our Quality of Life Fund bring joy, connection, and comfort to our communities. Your generosity lasts well beyond the holiday season, bringing happiness to residents and tenants all year long.
Donate today and help enrich the lives of seniors!
November is Edmonton Housing Month – an annual campaign to raise awareness about the importance of safe, quality housing in the Capital Region and a time to reflect on what “home” truly means. Throughout the month, Homeward Trust Edmonton, in partnership with local organizations, will host a series of webinars featuring housing solutions and supportive programs across the city.
With a 90% client satisfaction rate, GEF is proud to contribute to these efforts by helping seniors find that sense of home through affordable housing and support that enables them to live with dignity and thrive in their communities.
For 66-year-old Ted W., moving into GEF Strathcona Place earlier this year finally gave him the security and comfort he’d been searching for.
A Fresh Start
Ted had lived in many places over the years, but none ever felt like home. Shared accommodations were inconvenient and uncomfortable, and a short-lived apartment in St. Paul turned out to be unsafe and expensive.
“A friend had told me to look into affordable housing options for seniors, but there was a stigma for me. I hated to admit that I needed help, but I realized that living the way I was wasn’t working anymore. It was very difficult.”
~ Ted W., Strathcona Place
After years of unstable housing, Ted finally has a place where he feels safe, settled, and connected.
“I love living here! The building is clean, ideally situated for walks, and there’s always someone to talk to. I haven’t been able to truly call a place home in 15 years, so it’s a really good feeling. Nicole at GEF was very helpful and made the process seamless.”
~ Ted W., Strathcona Place
Supporting Seniors
Nicole Davis, Ted’s GEF Housing Placement Coordinator, sees firsthand the growing demand for more affordable housing options for older adults. With over 1,300 seniors currently on GEF’s waitlist, the housing application system prioritizes need.
“Every human deserves to feel safely housed. When people feel safe, they can thrive. GEF uses the Social Housing Accommodation Regulation (SHAR) scoring system to determine placement and priority. The waitlist is based on need. We serve our communities’ most vulnerable first.”
This year, GEF expanded its Housing and Outreach teams to better support seniors – from applying for housing, to the move-in transition, and connecting them with the resources they need to thrive.
With that support, Ted has settled in and now enjoys the simple pleasures of cooking, meeting neighbours, and decorating his space one piece at a time.
“I feel like I can actually have a life! You know the term nesting? That’s what I’m doing now. Getting to slowly buy things, bring them back here, and decorate my place – it feels like home to me.”
~ Ted W., Strathcona Place
Recently, Ted sent a heartfelt note to Nicole to share just how much this move has meant to him:
Home and Community
This Housing Month, we’re highlighting Ted’s story – a reminder of why home, stability, and community matter. We’re grateful for the trust our residents and tenants place in us. Their feedback inspires us to keep listening, learning, and finding new ways to strengthen our communities for the seniors who call GEF home.
Summer BBQs bring our apartment communities together. This past month, the BBQ fun continued, with new faces and an extra reason to celebrate. Two new communities officially joined the GEF family!
Burgers, BBQS, and New Neighbours
Tenants from both Tegler Manor and Tegler Terrace enjoyed their first GEF Summer BBQ where seniors and staff had the opportunity to get to know each other better. There was good food, laughter, prizes, and plenty of connections made. It was a great way to welcome everyone into this new chapter together.
Tegler Manor BBQ
“I’ve lived at Tegler Manor for 14 years. It’s a nice, quiet building, and close to everything. We often see each other in the halls as we come and go and say ‘hello’, but I enjoyed today’s GEF BBQ because we were able to sit down with each other, have fun, and socialize.”
— L.C.,Tegler Manor
Tegler Terrace BBQ
“I’ve been at Tegler Terrace for 4 years and have met many wonderful people. Most tenants are over 85 with a few of us in our early 70’s known as ‘the kids’! This was the first of many events with GEF, and it was nice to see what they do compared to what we do as a social committee. The best part is always visiting with one another and the laughter. You know it’s a good time when the volume in the room keeps going up!”
— Joanne E., Tegler Terrace
Two Buildings, One Warm Welcome
Tegler Manor and Tegler Terrace have been home to Edmonton seniors for decades, and now they’ll continue that tradition as part of GEF. With their addition, we can now provide nearly 4,000 low-to-moderate income seniors with access to affordable housing and services in 43 building locations across Edmonton.
Tegler Manor is a 14-story building with 101 units, right in downtown Edmonton at 9943–110 Street.
Tegler Terrace is a five-story building with 83 units and takes up a full city block at 9918–149 Street. Both offer two-bedroom apartments and are already full of friendly faces.
Looking Ahead
With the addition of these two new communities, GEF is taking an exciting step toward our strategic goalof growing by 1,000 units over five years. The transition to GEF ensures the Tegler buildings remain designated as affordable housing for seniors in Edmonton. But with nearly 1,300 seniors on our waitlist for housing, we need and want to do more. Donations to the Building for Life Fund enable us to increase the number of housing units we own or operate.
Welcome to everyone at Tegler Manor and Tegler Terrace! We’re so happy to have you join the GEF family.
At GEF, we believe in more than just providing a place to live – we believe in building vibrant, welcoming communities. One of the opportunities we provide for people to come together is the annual summer BBQs in our apartment buildings.
BBQs, Burgers & Belonging
Staff, tenants, and community partners come together for tasty food, live music, fun prizes, and lots of smiles. It’s an afternoon of laughs, full plates, and memorable moments.
“I look forward to these get-togethers! I recommend everyone try to come out to more of these community events.”
Debbie G., Avenwood Corner
“We see people that we don’t often see. It’s a nice way to connect and socialize.”
Johanna F., Avenwood Corner
The music, the dancing, and the friendly faces all add up to something really special. Press ▶️ PLAY to see the toe-tapping tunes at GEF Groat House Apartments.
Tenants at GEF Trinity Lutheran had a great time singing and dancing at their sunny Summer BBQ. Press ▶️ PLAY.
Even those who prefer their own space find joy in seeing their neighbours having fun.
“I typically like to be more solitary. I enjoy doing my own thing. But what I like about the BBQs is seeing everyone having fun, seeing how everyone’s doing, and seeing the new faces!”
Holly K., Bateman Manor
Community Partners and Staff get in the Spirit
“We’re such a person-centred organization. We love the interaction between staff and residents, which is so important for building relationships.”
Peggy Caine, Manager, Portfolio 8
“It’s the food, the music, the mingling – what’s not to love? You can’t help but feel good when you’re surrounded by so much positive energy and fun!”
Theresa Fielden, SAGE Seniors Association Edmonton
Share Your Story!
As the Summer BBQS continue, we want to hear how you’re creating vibrant communities in your own buildings. Whether it’s a special event, or a creative idea to engage and connect – tell us your story! Share your favourite moments with us at communications@gef.org and don’t forget to include your photos!
Follow us on Facebook,Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Xto stay up to date on GEF news and to see what’s happening across our GEF communities.
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’sStocking 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 Fundand 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!
