The guest of honor and keynote speaker at the Creative Retirement Manitoba's 20th anniversary luncheon started her latest career at age 60. After a career in broadcast and print media, Adrienne Clarkson was appointed governor general in 1999.
The governor general told the sold out crowd of 500 that Creative Retirement was playing an important role in helping people to organize their lives, expand their horizons and improve themselves. Retirement can be a traumatic experience for some, but it can also be a time to pursue one's passion. There are some fortunate people who have been able to live out their passion in their careers and retirement offers them the opportunity to go on pursuing it in other ways. There are others for whom their life work has been primarily a means of making a living. For them, retirement presents a wonderful opportunity to pursue their true passion.
Helping people find out who they are and how they can become the person they want to be, is important work, she said. Creative Retirement helps bring that out in people.
Adrienne Clarkson, CC, CMM, CD, Governor General and Commander in Chief of Canada, was born in Hong Kong in 1939. She came to Canada with her family as refugees during the Second World War. Clarkson became a leading figure in Canadian cultural life, with a rich and distinguished career in broadcasting, journalism, the arts and public service. She worked as host, writer and executive producer of several influential programs on CBC Television, including Take Thirty, Adrienne at Large, The Fifth Estate and Adrienne Clarkson Presents.
Clarkson also had articles published in major newspapers and magazines and has written three books and wrote and directed several films. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1992, holds honorary doctorates from five Canadian universities and received three honorary academic distinctions.
"It was a pleasure and an important milestone for seniors and for CRM to have the governor general supporting lifelong learning in a way that gives seniors dignity, respect and hope," said Wood.
Seniors helping seniors through learning, sharing and growing is what CRM is all about, said Wood. To have a distinguished senior here to show the importance of this concept was a plus for all seniors, she added.
CRM's 20th anniversary luncheon was held Dec.8 at the Fairmont Hotel.
Her Excellency, Adrienne Clarkson, the Govenor General of Canada shakes hands with the Hon. Tim Sale after meeting CRM Pioneer Sybil Shack (to Tim's right)
(l-r) Her Excellency, Adrienne Clarkson, the Hon. Ron Duhamel,
Len (CRM's president) and Mary Bateman
Their Excellencies, Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul enter the Fairmont's ballroom
Her Excellency Adrienne Clarkson delivers an inspirational speech at the Luncheon
