Category: Lifelong Learning

While the Winter Olympics are in full swing in Beijing, United’s Fish Creek community brought in Olympian Haley Daniels to speak with residents about resiliency and how to overcome obstacles.  Haley’s talk is another example of the quality and diversity of speakers and topics that United includes in our regular programming.

Haley has faced no shortage of obstacles in her young life, including a gender equality battle that kept her from competing in the traditional male Olympic sport of canoe slalom –  until she won a bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and a gold in the 2018 Pan American Championships. Women were finally allowed to compete in the canoe slalom event at the 2020/2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

“I worked toward competing in the Olympics my whole life, but I had to postpone my dream until the Tokyo Olympics. Setbacks and obstacles are part of life, but every time I’ve had a roadblock, it has made me stronger,” said Haley. “There’s a big difference between saying ‘I have to do this today’ compared to ‘I get to do this today’. The latter builds passion and desire to achieve whatever your goal in life is.”

A shock that Haley had to accept and integrate into her life was when Haley’s father Kimberly Daniels came out to the family as a Transgender woman. She was the first openly Transgender judge to ever officiate at the Olympic Games.

“That was something that was difficult to process in the beginning, but today I’m very accepting and supportive of my father’s choice. My mother always told me that experience is not what happens to you; experience is what you do with what happens to you. I find that inspiring and I’ve carried that attitude with me throughout my life.”

Resident Elaine Foo was impressed with Haley’s attitude. “I’ve always admired people who have gone through adversity and kept going. It warms my heart to see gender equality taking place more and more in sports and business. What impressed me was her positivity in the face of all these obstacles, and to find out her father is Transgender – to recognize that and take it in stride was impressive.”

“All of these hurdles have helped give me clarity about what I do. I know I’m on the right path. Compassion and gratitude make a big impact. If you really want something, no obstacle can stand in your way. There is more to be done in the area of gender equality. Women’s hockey and basketball are just two sports where inroads have been made but more needs to be done.”

Haley is off soon to Paris to train towards earning a spot on the Olympic team for the Paris Olympics in 2024. In the meantime, she is also preparing to become a firefighter…after all, in a way, she’s been fighting Olympic-sized fires her whole life.

Photos by Haley Daniels. Videos by Sherana Productions.

Talk with one of our active living advisors about life in a United community. They can arrange tours of our Garrison Green and Fish Creek communities. If you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community, send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a future visit. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

A full house greeted Mount Royal University (MRU) professor Duane Bratt at United’s Fish Creek community this week. Duane, a professor of political science, was invited as part of United’s partnership with MRU, and the community’s focus on lifelong learning. He focused his talk on the recent civic and federal elections and their impact on Alberta.

“The civic election underscored three themes – change, diversity and a rebuke of the provincial United Conservative party,” said Duane. New mayors in Calgary and Edmonton are both of south Asian descent, and the new Calgary mayor is the first woman to hold the seat. Calgary’s city council reflects more closely Calgary’s ethnic diversity, and the rejection of Conservative candidates by voters and the election of school board candidates who reject the UCP’s draft education curriculum shows a rebuke of UCP policies.

Duane also discussed the two referendums – Daylight Saving Time (DST) and Equalization. “DST will likely be rejected. While people don’t like to reset their clocks twice a year, they really don’t want winter darkness until 9.30 a.m. And Equalization was a major plank in premier Jason Kenny’s election platform, and it looks like it will pass, but without the resounding majority he was looking for. What Albertans want is a fair deal from Ottawa, but not necessarily through a removal of equalization from the constitution.”

Duane noted that Kenny’s approval rating has dropped to 20%, which is the lowest in Canada for a premier, and almost all of it due to the government’s response to COVID. “The UCP is very concerned about the rating, especially with a year and a half to go before the next election.” A leadership review is planned for next April, but may come earlier.

Residents were keen to get Duane’s thoughts with a number of questions: The accuracy of polling; the influence of the People’s Party of Canada on the federal election outcome; what happens with equalization now; the political split between Western and Eastern Canada; the reduced interest in voting; and how COVID is creating alienation between those who are vaccinated and those who aren’t.

“It was very informative,” said Elaine, a Fish Creek resident. “It was interesting the way he presented the issues and how he clarified the complicated ones.”

Resident Hugh said, “It was superb, excellent. Clearly the size of the audience shows the level of interest that people have in the issues.”

Duane speaks with residents of Fish Creek and Garrison Green (whom he meets with next week) a couple of times a year, and he says the questions and the high attendance clearly show that seniors have a keen interest in politics.

“This was a very engaged audience,” said Duane. “There were some very insightful questions. There is so much going on in politics right now, and a large number of ‘hot button’ issues. I look forward to speaking with the Garrison Green residents next week as I expect there will be a high level of interest there as well.”

Photos and videos by Sherana Productions.

Don’t hesitate to talk with one of our active living advisors about life in a United community. They can arrange for a tour at your convenience. If you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community, send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a future visit. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

The chefs at Garrison Green have prepared a two-week around-the-world “cruise” menu, which stops at a different country each day, giving residents the opportunity to sample a local, chef-inspired dish from each country.

Recently, the “cruise” stopped at Australia, which also featured a visit by a couple of cuddly friends, courtesy of Cobbs Adventure Park  in northeast Calgary. A baby kangaroo and a sugar glider were big hits. The sugar glider is a small possum with a taste for sugary foods. It has the ability to glide through the air, much like a flying squirrel, which it did on this visit when it jumped from one person to another.

“The residents had a blast and so did many of the employees who had never seen these animals up close before,” said Hayley Bell, Garrison Green’s program coordinator. The visit supports United’s philosophy of engaging minds and imaginations through a variety of interesting programs.

“It was a wonderful experience,” said resident Marina Vettergreen. “I had the privilege of  holding a baby kangaroo. It was so cuddly. It was a special experience that I’ll always remember.”

“I thought it was very cool,” said United Minds coordinator Bridget Coulter, who spent some quality time with the sugar glider. “It made itself right at home in the crook of my arm. It behaved almost like a cat and sat there grooming itself. It was very enjoyable!”

The baby kangaroo is eight months old and stood about one foot tall. The little sugar glider is about five years old. The residents also enjoyed a themed dinner of grilled garlic chili prawns which added to the Australia feel of the day.

Photos by United Active Living. Videos by Sherana Productions.

Don’t hesitate to talk with one of our active living advisors about life in a United community. They can arrange for a tour at your convenience. If you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community, send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a future visit. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

When Duane Bratt holds a political discussion, there is sure to be a full house. That was the case this week when Duane, who is a professor of political science at Mount Royal University (MRU), brought his knowledge of politics in two sessions to the residents of United’s Fish Creek and Garrison Green communities.

“I really enjoy my visits with the residents, even if this one had to be online. They are very engaged and knowledgeable about current events, not only about what’s going on in Calgary but around the world. And the questions they ask are very insightful!” said Duane.

In Tuesday’s sessions topics included the WE charity scandal, president Trump and the November U.S. election, the re-opening of schools and nuclear energy. “I was a bit surprised that nuclear energy made the list since it was just raised as a possibility in the last couple of weeks by the provincial government.”

Duane said they spoke at length about the prospect of nuclear energy development in Alberta. He is very knowledgeable, having written several books on the subject. “Alberta talked about nuclear in 2007 and again in 2011, but those discussions were around large scale reactors and the business case for their development wasn’t there. This time, the discussion is around small reactors.” Duane noted that small reactors have been used in military applications, but have not been developed for commercial use. Four provinces have indicated their interest in developing such technology.

Another issue that was top of mind was the re-opening of schools. “Because COVID has become an important part of their lives, they are very interested in how this might affect their grandchildren going back to school in a couple of weeks. They know the importance of school and that the children need to go back. Their concern was how to get classes going again safely.”

Fish Creek resident Ross Campbell enjoyed the discussion. “I always find Duane interesting to listen to. He is very knowledgeable. What I like is that he always presents both sides of an issue. COVID and how it is affecting politics, how the various political leaders are performing, the state of pipelines and the idea of introducing small nuclear reactors were a few topics that attracted my attention. He always has the ability to make you think.”

“Older adults are definitely not disengaged when it comes to politics. Look at any political party, civic or community group and it’s the older adults who make up the bulk of the volunteers,” said Duane. “They have the time to devote, but they are also very interested in what’s going on in the world around them. They are inquisitive and want to understand the issues. They ask great questions, which is why I like to have these discussions with them.”

Duane’s discussions are part of United’s partnership with MRU. Lifelong learning is an important goal of United’s programming. Duane speaks with residents of both of United’s communities several times a year.

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The restrictions on visiting mean that tours aren’t available right now, but don’t hesitate to talk with one of our active living advisors about life in a United community. They can arrange for a tour once we are able to do so. If you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community, send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a future visit. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.

Contact us here!

 

A wartime injury and a chance encounter with a well-wisher in a Scottish hospital combined to create a turning point in Dr. Gerald Hankins’ early life that transformed his approach to life and his medical career for the next 70 years.

While serving as a radio navigator during the Second World War, Gerald’s plane crashed. He spent the next year recovering from a spinal injury in a hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland. “One day, while I was feeling sorry for myself, I received a visitor. A woman named May Lynn, was visiting wounded soldiers and airmen,” recalled Gerald. “She asked me if I knew the Lord. I was surprised by the question, but knew that I was missing something important in my life. While in hospital I was also struck with how caring and competent the nurses and doctors were. Both of those events changed my way of looking at things and influenced my career.”

He returned to Canada and earned a medical degree from the University of Alberta in Edmonton in 1951.

“I had a classmate, Dr. Helen Huston who was working at a UMN (United Mission to Nepal) hospital in the hills of Nepal,” said Gerald, who has lived at United’s Fish Creek community with his wife Lois since last fall. “Helen asked me to take over for her while she came back to Canada for her parents’ anniversary. That temporary assignment eventually turned into a 12-year stay. I was uncertain about it. I didn’t know the language or the spectrum of diseases I had to contend with. I made my share of mistakes, but the experience was gratifying.”

While there, Gerald performed surgery and taught western medicine to local doctors. He quickly realized that there were few books on surgery that would help western doctors working in Third World countries. He and several other doctors compiled a two-volume textbook called Primary Surgery, that was published in 1987 and is still referred to today.

Gerald returned to Canada that year and eventually retired in 1990.

“These kinds of experiences change your values,” said Gerald. “Being of service to sick or injured people is rewarding. It helped to strengthen my faith. It was hard work and I had a lot to learn but the experience was deep and profound.”

Gerald found satisfaction in writing while working on the medical textbook. He turned his attention to biographies, and published four of them, all of colleagues or others who influenced his life. “My first one, in 1992,  was about Dr. Helen Huston, who won the Order of Canada in 1994. I knew her life story and greatly admired the work she was doing. All the factors were there to write her story.” Gerald followed up with biographies of three other doctors, and a book about the Mustard Seed Ministry in Calgary.

For his lifetime of contributions, he was awarded Alberta’s highest honour, the Order of Excellence, in 2005.

Even though he has written about others, he hasn’t considered an autobiography. “People don’t want to know about my golf game,” he laughs. “Writing about people I admire will suffice. But I have written some things, mostly for myself, about the influences in my life.”

Gerald has always loved the mountains and has surrounded himself with them all his life – in Nepal, and for a time he lived in Canmore. He chose the Fish Creek community “because I wanted to live in a community with people my age, with good programs going on. I’m interested in poetry and read quite a bit of it. Lois and I can’t walk like we used to, but we try to stay active. Part of me is still in Canmore and I would like to go back for a visit.”

Now 95, Gerald said that if there is one thing that has guided him all his life, it has been his faith and his desire to help others. In his suite he has a Bible verse pinned to his desk. “And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God.”

“I don’t think anything I can say is better than that,” he said.

Photos and video by Sherana Productions.

Do you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community? Send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a tour. We are happy to help! 

To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.

Contact us here!