Tag: volunteers

Spring brought more than just warmer weather to GEF – it brought colour, connection, and the return of Planting Days! From May 14 to June 6, our third annual Planting Days campaign bloomed across communities, with residents and tenants coming together with over 150 corporate partners and volunteers to bring fresh life to the outdoor spaces our seniors call home.

Ford Credit at Brittania Gardens.
Royal Caretaking Supplies at Cathedral Close.
Source Office Furniture at Londonderry Village.
RBC at Mountwood.
AMRE Supply at Ansgar Villa.

Our residents and tenants joined in however they could, some pulling on gloves to help, and others cheering everyone on from the benches. For those with limited mobility, just being outside and chatting with the volunteers brought joy and laughter.

Community Partners Make It Happen

This year we welcomed 21 corporate partners, who brought teams ranging from one person to groups of 11. Many gave their time to more than one site, and they all brought their energy and enthusiasm, rain or shine. Together, they helped plant, dig, weed, and transform garden beds across 25 GEF communities.

A sincere thank you to TELSCO Security Systems, Ford Credit, Telus, Old Navy, Centennial Food Solutions, Source Office Furniture, PCL Construction, Royal Caretaking Supplies, Simmons Canada, ServiceMaster Restore of Edmonton, SYSCO Canada, Ecopest, AMRE Supply, Boilermaker’s Lodge 146, Telecon, Park Landscaping, Bell Mobility, and RBC! Your kindness, teamwork, and community spirit were felt and appreciated.

Some of our partners lent their support to the campaign in other impactful ways.

  • Supreme Landscaping donated topsoil to refresh the raised planter boxes at Trinity Hall.
  • Budget Printing provided signage to help us recognize and thank all the amazing volunteers at each site.

Everyone’s contributions helped to support our goal of creating spaces that are not only beautiful, but welcoming and accessible for residents and tenants.

An On-Air Shout Out

We were also delighted to welcome CTV Edmonton meteorologist, Josh Classen to Westlawn Court. Josh got his green thumbs dirty, planting alongside volunteers and tenants and kindly gave GEF a shout out during the evening weather report. His visit brought extra excitement to the day.

Cultivating Connections

Planting Days are about more than just flowers and gardens, they are about cultivating connections between volunteers, residents and tenants as well as neighbours and friends. After each planting event, teams and seniors shared lunch together, swapping stories, smiles, and a sense of pride in a job well done.

SYSCO Canada at Sakaw Terrace.
Centennial Food Solutions at Ottewell Manor and Ottewell Terrace.
TELUS at Montgomery Place.
TELSCO Security Systems at Rosslyn Place Lodge and Westlawn Court.
PCL Construction at Strathcona Place.

Help Keep the Gardens Growing

Planting Days continue! We need volunteers to help maintain, water, and care for the gardens throughout the summer. Whether you’re an individual, a team, or someone who just loves to spend time outdoors, we’d love to have you join us. If you were unable to take part in Planting Days, you can still make a meaningful impact! A donation to our Quality of Life Fund helps keep our communities vibrant and in bloom.

Community volunteers at McQueen Place Lodge.

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

Together, we’ve planted more than flowers! We’ve planted happy memories, friendship, community, and care across our GEF communities. Thank you to everyone who helped make it possible!

🎥 Click here to watch heartwarming highlights from the events!

May is a time to appreciate all of the wonderful people who make GEF a welcoming and enriching community for all! Staff Appreciation Week (May 25 to 31) and National Volunteer Week (April 27 to May 3) are opportunities to celebrate our 500+ staff and 150 volunteers. Together, they support our mission to provide affordable, well-maintained, and secure buildings, where our clients can live with dignity and thrive in their communities.

Our staff and volunteers have a shared dedication to uplifting seniors and fostering a supportive, respectful community.

Celebrate the Journey

We are on a journey to create vibrant, affordable communities for seniors. Each step we’ve taken, every challenge we’ve overcome, and all the successes we’ve achieved have been possible because of the energy and creativity of our volunteers and the dedication, hard work, and passion of our staff. Together, they deliver quality services and create meaningful connections that strengthen our communities.

Beyond responsibilities, our teams’ commitment to small gestures – from positive affirmations to meaningful connections – creates a lasting impact.

Living Our Values

Through the remarkable contributions they make to our collective journey, staff and volunteers demonstrate our values:

  • Put people at the centre of everything we do
  • Show respect and kindness in every interaction
  • Foster equity, diversity, and inclusion
  • Be accountable and responsible
  • Uphold trust, integrity and fairness

Their commitment to quality experiences and well-being is reflected in positive resident feedback and the strong connections formed.

Through dedication and teamwork, they ensure a positive resident experience, where tenants feel heard, valued, and actively engaged.

Many Thanks

To our staff – thank you for all that you do! Our seniors say it best – and from the heart! They appreciate all the ways you make a difference.

👉 Click here for a message from our seniors.

To our volunteers – thank you! Your skills and passion enrich programs through diverse activities and new opportunities.

👉 Click here for highlights from National Volunteer Week.

Join Us

Join our team – work with us or volunteer – and help create thriving communities where everyone feels valued and supported!

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!