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Baby Hats a Labour of Love for Madge McAdam

December 26, 2019

Madge with some of her baby hats

For Garrison Green resident Madge McAdam, volunteering has been a lifelong passion.

Daughter Susan Snowdon says she can’t recall a time when Madge wasn’t volunteering for something. “She helped out with the Holy Cross Hospital’s teddy bear program for kindergarten students, spent time at the Colonel Belcher Hospital’s palliative care program, and even organized no-charge figure skating lessons in the community.” Though Madge stopped much of her volunteer work when she chose to stop driving at 80, she continues to find ways to give back.

“My mom was assistant director of nursing at the old Holy Cross hospital in Calgary when she retired at 65 around 1982,” said Susan. “When the hospital closed, she turned her attention to volunteering at the Rockyview Hospital as a baby cuddler, which is a pretty coveted position.”

Madge cuddling baby at Rockyview Hospital
Madge at Rockyview Hospital

Keeping a baby’s head warm is, of course, very important in helping them maintain a healthy body temperature. And it was during her time as a baby cuddler that Madge came up with the idea of knitting hats for these tiny newborns. At that time nurses would use whatever convenient materials they could find to cover the babies’ heads and Madge, an avid knitter, knew that little hats would be a great fix. She’s kept it up for almost 40 years, producing hundreds of baby hats, which are delivered twice a year to the Rockyview Hospital. The parents take the hats home with them, which become valued keepsakes of the day their child was born.

“I like to knit and there was a need,” Madge, now 102, says in her quiet voice, when asked why she started.  “These hands have to do something!” she laughs.

Madge’s volunteer work and her baby hat project have not gone unnoticed. She was given a Canada Volunteer Award in 1990.

Today, you can find Madge knitting in her favourite chair by the fireplace at Garrison Green, or in the weekly Fibre Arts Club meetings – “I like getting together with my friends.” –  where she continues to knit hats, scarves and baby blankets, many of which are donated to charity.

Photos by Susan Snowdon, Sherana Productions. Videos by Sherana Productions

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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.

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Garrison Green (Integrated Living) 3028 Don Ethell Boulevard SW
Calgary, Alberta
T3E 0C9
 
Rentals and Leasing: (403) 917-1389 Concierge: (403) 685-7200 Fax: (403) 240-3772
Fish Creek North (Memory Care + Assisted) 51 Providence Boulevard SE
Calgary, Alberta
T2X 0X2
 
Rentals and Leasing: (587) 841-5134 Concierge: (587) 481 7907 Fax: (403) 873-3961
Fish Creek West (Independent Living) 14720 1 St SE
Calgary, Alberta
T2X 2A3
 
Rentals and Leasing: (587) 609-8167 Concierge: (587) 481 7907 Fax: (403) 873-3961

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Unique Assisted Living at United's Garrison Green - Calgary, AB