Who We Are
GEF Seniors Housing is the largest provider of subsidized seniors’ housing in Alberta.
We provide friendly, affordable and secure housing and services to close to 4,000 seniors in Edmonton.
Our wide selection of seniors’ self-contained apartments and lodge accommodations throughout Edmonton gives seniors more choices of where they want to live.
In 1959, our organization was established under provincial legislation as Greater Edmonton Foundation (GEF). In the 1960s the Alberta government built retirement homes throughout Alberta, called lodges, for low-income seniors. The province continued to build these homes until 1984.
Under an agreement between the City of Edmonton and the Alberta government, the City provided land for the buildings and the provincial government built the lodges.
Foundations were established to manage the lodges in one or more municipal districts or counties in the province. The Greater Edmonton Foundation was one of these foundations. In 2012, we changed our name to GEF Seniors Housing.
For more than 60 years, we have continued working with the community as an active partner in the important work of providing quality housing for seniors in Edmonton and its surrounding communities. Our self-contained apartment buildings and lodges offer accessible, affordable and safe housing in comfortable, supportive environments that promote opportunities for seniors to successfully age in place.
Our values define how we serve and build relationships with our seniors’ community, as well as our workplace family.
Respect
Dignity
Appreciation
Courtesy
Integrity
Trustworthy
Honest
Ethical
Well Being
Happiness
Health
Balance
Accountability
Responsibility
Commitment
Ownership
1959 Year established
540 Employees
46 Edmonton communities
4000 Seniors call GEF home
Our vision is to positively influence seniors’ quality of life in everything we do and our mission is to be leaders in friendly, affordable and secure housing and services for seniors.
Quality of Life Philosophy
In support of GEF Seniors Housing’s Mission and Vision, our Quality of Life Philosophy is:
“To provide seniors with accessible, affordable, and safe housing in comfortable and supportive environments that promote opportunities for them to successfully age in place.”
The Guiding Principles to the Quality of Life Philosophy include working together to:
- Promote and respect individual choice, recognizing that each senior has knowledge and experience to be able to determine how best to live their life;
- Ensure each senior is treated fairly and with dignity, regardless of their age, gender identity, religious belief, ethnicity and culture, sexual orientation, financial means, ability or life experience;
- Foster opportunities that contribute to promoting one’s well-being by supporting and encouraging each senior to live a healthy, independent life, where their voice is heard and respected;
- Encourage relationships between seniors, staff, and communities based on respect, kindness, and compassion;
- Promote accountability by providing each senior with the opportunity and encouragement to take ownership of, participate in, and provide feedback to the community in which they live.Print Version
Sustainability Framework
Seniors over the age of 85 are the fastest growing age group in Canada. In fact, 82 per cent of GEF seniors are between 71 and 100 Years of age.
The last 25 years in seniors living has seen a dramatic shift away from an institutional model to one that stresses the dignity and general wellbeing of the client, and the opportunity to maximize quality of life. At the same time, we are becoming more aware of the impact we have on the environment we all share.
We want to grow our organization in ways that contribute to seniors’ Quality of Life without compromising the needs of future generations. At Sakaw Terrace we implemented low carbon heating systems to reduce our carbon emissions.
This Sustainability Framework is our opportunity to grow strategically and responsibly, with Community Wellbeing at the forefront.
We recognize that there is a relationship between the physical environment and natural, financial, and human resources on the wellbeing of the people who live and work in our communities. We founded this framework in the three pillars of Social, Environmental, and Economic sustainability.
Our Sustainability Framework provides clear principles, key performance indicators (KPIs), and strategies that are inspirational yet pragmatic, with clear, transparent goals to drive action.
Delivering our Quality of Life philosophy, sustainably and with purpose, requires a holistic approach that emphasizes the health and wellbeing of our community