Creative Retirement Manitoba's 2010

The 2010 recipients of the Ageless Heroes Awards were Dave Murray (Love of Learning) and Florence Terry (Bridging the Generations.). They were selected by a panel of independent judges from a field of eleven nominees, to receive special recognition in the awards program sponsored annually as a joint project of Manitoba Blue Cross and Creative Retirement Manitoba.

These awards, sponsored by Manitoba Blue Cross, recognize individuals who have made contributions to their community through their passion for learning and ability to bridge generations.

Love of Learning Nominees

Dave Murray, nominated by Dorothy Orebanjo, volunteers with a CNIB group called Transitions. Dave, who is visually impaired, helps others going through vision loss. His insights are personal as well as gained through years of volunteering with the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Celiac Society. He initiated and facilitated a diabetic support group at CNIB and regularly volunteers on outings, guiding blind clients. He has a deeply committed value to give back to the community and undertakes this commitment seriously and with modesty. Dave continues to strive for self improvement and has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge that inspires him to continue attending workshops and information seminars. He demonstrates enthusiasm for new projects and remains motivated and self sufficient in his efforts to achieve further goals. Dave has the gifts of both encouragement and inspiration, and has been able to impart valuable information about community resources as he shares.

Vivian Cameron, nominated by Pat Walmsley, is a longtime member of Manitoba Prairie Quilters. She has been instrumental in organizing, making and distributing quilts of all sizes to adults, babies and children (referred to as ABC quilts). Under her direction she and other quilters have produced over 3,000 quilts. Vivian herself makes between two and five quilts weekly. She also makes soft pillows for children from the north flying to and from Winnipeg for medical reasons. Vivian is determined to use every scrap of fabric (whether purchased by her or donated to her) to create quilts for someone under stress in need of a warm cuddle. Vivian has inspired many quilters, showing them quicker methods. Her team provides quilts to Children’s Hospital, the NICU at St. Boniface Hospital, St. Amant Centre, Healthy Start for Mom and Me, Pregnancy Crisis Centre, Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Cancer Ward, Global Quilting and Stahl Centre for World Service.

Shirley Kalyniuk, nominated by Rossburn Community Resource Council, is the longtime Mayor of the Town of Rossburn and Vice-President of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities. Shirley dedicates her time and energy as a volunteer on community committees and helping with events in the area. Shirley has been a great influence in keeping the local hospital available with a doctor. This has been a huge challenge. She has managed to increase programs and services that are keeping the community thriving. An example of this is her active role in “Community in Blooms”. She will go out and be sure the plants are watered and looked after. With the combination of her strengths and encouragement Shirley connects with the young as well as the seniors introducing new ideas gained from her outreach to other municipalities.

Yiddish Women’s Reading Circle, nominated by Elaine Stern, is being honoured for keeping the Yiddish language alive. The Yiddish Reading Group has over 20 members. Many have come to the group not knowing any Yiddish and now can read and speak the language. With an aging population the Yiddish language was dying and this group of various retirement ages is keeping the language alive. UNESCO published a report that states that “the Reading Circle activities have resulted in the revitalization of Yiddish language competence in its members. Reading the texts aloud and group discussion on the texts, as well as language issues more generally, has allowed for an invigorating exchange between more and less fluent Yiddish speakers.” An anthology of English translations of short stories written by Yiddish women authors was published as a result of the Circle’s translations.

Bridging the Generations Nominees

Florence Terry, nominated by Brenda Ryant, is known in the Kent Road School community as “Flo” and has contributed to the school for 20 years. Serving as immunization assistant to Grade 4 students three times a year, Flo hugs and calms the children before and after their shots. Working with ESL youngsters, she personally connects with them and collects articles at garage sales to help with the learning process. She spent hours working patiently with one eight year old boy who was new to Canada, our school system and spoke no English. Flo’s safe and nurturing environment led to the child visiting her on the summer holidays. At Christmas concerts Flo and her husband, Del volunteer making costumes, supervising younger students or selling raffle tickets. On Grandparents’ Day Flo shares her stories of growing up and each year she works at the annual Book Fair. At Field Day she loves doing face painting and she often judges at the Science Fair. As well as her dedication to Kent School, Flo is an active member of her church. She raised a Foster Child and is happy to walk youngsters to school when their parents are unavailable. Flo is a humble lady who has touched the lives of many children.

Lydia Chegwin, nominated by Wyllea J. Mikliechuk, is a committed volunteer at Fred Douglas Place and beyond. She is involved with the meal program as a silent coordinator between the Kiwanis Chateau and Fred Douglas Place. She watches for those who sign up for dinner and then do not come, making sure that dinners are taken to their apartments. Lydia helps with clean up and Monday night Bingo. As an avid gardener, she cares for the plants in the dining room. As a retired Serving Sister from St. John’s Ambulance, her knowledge of first aid continues to benefit many. Lydia visits residents who have been hospitalized and follows up by helping with grocery shopping and subsequent visits to the doctor. Lydia is an active member of Knox United Church. She assists at the services with handouts and the collection plates. She works at the church’s annual Harvest collection and outgoing food parcels as well as helps with clothing distribution. She volunteers weekly in the Tuck Shop at Central Park Lodge.

Romeo Dupasquier, nominated by Bev Collet, is an active participant in the Intergenerational Program that is a partnership between the Seniors’ Resource Program and the local high school in Notre Dame De Lourdes, MB. Romeo shares his skills in carpentry, electricity and plumbing with young people. He has opened his woodworking shop for students, allowing them to use his equipment. He helped them create a hunting shack which was raffled off as a school fundraiser. Romeo has a passion for teaching handyman skills and is always thinking of something different to interest the young people. He encourages those he mentors to use their newly acquired skills to help their parents and understand that they will be able to carry these same skills to their own homes. As well as life skills, Romeo incorporates safety issues around power tools and respect for co-workers as part of his training program.

Marion Masson and Donna Couling, nominated by Kimorie Lees, are being recognized for their gardening activities with students at Oak Lake Community School. Using flower plugs donated by the local garden centre, Marion and Donna help students transplant the flowers into larger containers and teach them to nurture the plants under growing lamps. Later they take the students to the local seniors’ housing complex and help them move the flowers into the special garden at the front of the seniors’ home. The students enjoy participating and each spring the seniors look forward to their flowers. In addition Marion and Donna have donated hours working with school staff and students turning a barren corner of the school yard into a lush garden space. Phase one of this project is completed. It includes a sensory garden, a vegetable garden and student made stepping stones. Marion and Donna demonstrate encouragement and patience with the young gardeners, teaching them to make the community beautiful and grow their own food.