In Canada, 42% of seniors live alone, often struggling to find meaningful connections and inspiration.
Designed to address the challenges faced by older adults, this project shares the experiences of ten remarkable older adults who have overcome challenges, contributed to their communities, and embraced aging with dignity and purpose.
The initiative also fosters intergenerational collaboration by involving youth in the production process, creating opportunities for shared learning, mutual understanding, and valuable relationships.
Through these stories, seniors gain practical insights and inspiration to live healthy, independent lives, while families and caregivers better understand how to support aging with purpose.
The Aging Well Chronicles celebrates the wisdom and contributions of older adults, offering a powerful reminder that aging is a journey filled with potential and joy. Explore these stories and be inspired to live your best life at any age.
Join the movement for healthy, independent living by exploring the Aging Well Chronicles book
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Learn about their stories
Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes
Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes, a proud 68-year-old Nehiyaw Esquao (Cree Woman), lives by her ceremonially gifted name, meaning "Healing Woman Who Walks Far." A member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation (Treaty Six) and Métis, Cheryle has called Calgary (Treaty 7) home since 1993.
Cheryle’s life mission is guided by her heartfelt prayer: "Creator, let me be a conduit of your love." This mantra fuels her passion for teaching, storytelling, and advocacy. At just 17, Cheryle joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, where she gained discipline, pride, and fearlessness, achieving the rank of Corporal before her honourable discharge. Her military experience instilled a strong sense of purpose that would shape her future endeavours.
In 2019, Cheryle retired from her 13-year role as Administrative Coordinator at the University of Calgary's Native Centre. Her career capped decades of dedicated Indigenous activism, during which she championed justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people (MMIWG2S), environmental protection, and equality. Whether speaking, marching, or singing and drumming at rallies, Cheryle continues to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Her leadership extends to roles such as the former Leader of the Green Party of Alberta (2018–2019) and her work facilitating the KAIROS Blanket Exercise, which fosters understanding of Indigenous history. In 2023, she received the prestigious IAAW Esquao Award for Justice and Human Rights.
Cheryle is a respected Cree Elder, Traditional Knowledge Keeper, and Pipe Carrier. She shares wisdom through cultural teachings, storytelling, and ceremonies, all rooted in the seven sacred teachings: courage, honesty, humility, respect, truth, wisdom, and love. She often reflects on a guiding question: What would love do?
A pivotal moment in Cheryle’s life came in 1987 when she gained Indian status, the same year she became a widow. Reconnecting with her Indigenous identity in 2000 through the guidance of Blackfoot Elder Pat sparked her personal healing journey. She now helps youth and elders alike build bridges of understanding.
Influential figures in her life include a grade six teacher who nurtured her storytelling talents and her mother’s cousin, Sister Cecelia, who inspired her through kindness and generosity. Gordie Howe’s visit to her school also left a lasting impression with his call to action: "Ask not what your school can do for you, but what you can do for your school."
Today, Cheryle is a mother of two and "Kokum" (grandmother) to five. Retirement has given her the freedom to pursue her passions for storytelling, teaching, and community service, all while fulfilling her sacred mission: to be a vessel of love and healing.
Betty Good
For Betty Good, life truly began in her early 50s, sparking a journey of reinvention, exploration, and service.
Betty initially spent two decades as a teacher, raising her family while exploring various professions. However, at 54, she embarked on a bold new chapter: she gave away, sold, or loaned out everything she owned and moved to Japan to teach Conversational English at a private school. Immersing herself in Japanese culture, Betty lived with a young family and embraced the richness of their traditions for four years.
Before returning to Canada, she spent two months volunteering abroad, which eased her transition back and inspired her next steps. In 2006, Betty relocated to Calgary, dedicating nearly two years to supporting the homeless and marginalized. Driven by her desire to help others unlock their potential, she became a Certified Life Coach and a facilitator for Leading From Your Strengths assessments, eventually launching her own coaching practice. Alongside a friend, she co-founded a business focused on helping children, families, and organizations discover and harness their unique strengths.
Betty’s love for meaningful connections led her to work with newcomers to Canada for eight years, teaching ESL and mentoring young immigrant women as a career counselor. At 67, she joined a nonprofit that fostered relationships between youth and seniors. When the organization closed in 2023, Betty channeled her passion for intergenerational connections into a new social enterprise, which now supports programs across Calgary and provides training on a national and global scale.
A devoted grandmother to five grandchildren, Betty cherishes her role in their lives, believing in the profound influence older adults can have on young people. Her love for family fuels her commitment to being a positive role model.
Betty’s mission has always been to make a positive difference. She finds joy in helping others learn, grow, and change, drawing inspiration from women who have achieved remarkable things despite humble beginnings. Her personal faith guides her to treat everyone with love, a value she upholds in every interaction.
Betty remains active in her community, volunteering for her church, mentoring young women, and supporting friends in need. She leads a national intergenerational community of practice, attends a regular book club, and enjoys playing pickleball as often as possible.
The word “retirement” isn’t in Betty’s vocabulary. She believes her purpose is to be useful and to help others until her last days. Spending time with family and friends, especially her grandchildren, brings her the greatest joy. Betty hopes to be remembered for her loving, caring, and kind spirit, and her unwavering dedication to making the world a better place.
Ronald Lee
At 74, Ronald lives an incredibly active life, embodying the spirit of lifelong learning and community engagement. After a remarkable 40-year teaching career, he retired at 62. Yet his dedication to community service and leadership began long before retirement and continues to define his journey.
Ronald’s passion for giving back is reflected in his extensive involvement with various organizations. Over the years, he has served as a director for the Alberta Speech and Debate Association, the Chinese Academy, the Sien Lok Society, the Calgary Lees’ Association, and the Winston Heights Mountview Garden Committee. Since 2010, he has been the president of the Colonel John Walker Historical Society and served as the Honorary Director for the Chinese Heritage Language School for a decade.
A particularly proud moment for Ronald was being the World Convenor for the 2005 ConocoPhillips World Schools Debate Championship held in Calgary. He leveraged his expertise in speech and debate to author the “Barn Tour Guide,” a resource that grew from his 20 years of volunteering at the Calgary Stampede’s “Country Critters” area. This initiative showcased farming activities to children and families, blending education with entertainment.
Ronald’s contributions extend beyond local communities. In 2007, he volunteered as a tour guide for 29 Chinese educators visiting Calgary for a University of Calgary workshop. Five years later, he organized and led a six-province tour of China for 20 Canadians.
His dedication to preserving history and fostering intergenerational connections is evident in his work with seniors and historical initiatives. In 2017, he produced The Historical Legacy of our Elders, a photojournalism book featuring stories from 40 seniors. In 2019, he created Calgary’s first historical walking tour of Chinatown, offering a unique perspective on its cultural heritage.
Ronald has also been instrumental in advocating for the preservation of historic landmarks. As a director of the Chinese National League Benevolent Association, he works to save its historic building, inspired by his grandfather, one of the original donors.
A skilled communicator, Ronald has shared his expertise through workshops, presentations, and professional reports delivered to organizations such as BP Energy Canada, Education Matters, and the Calgary Consular Corps. His ability to bring people together and inspire learning is a hallmark of his career and retirement years.
Since retiring, Ronald has found inspiration in Buddhism. As part of the Pai Yuin True Buddha School translation team, he edits and proofreads the teachings of Sheng-Yen Lu, the living Buddha and spiritual Grandmaster of the school. Following the “Eightfold Path,” Ronald strives to live a life of mindfulness and compassion.
What brings Ronald the most joy is developing new projects that allow him to apply his diverse talents and experiences. He hopes to be remembered as a compassionate teacher who helped his students grow into responsible, engaged citizens.
Ronald’s advice for those approaching retirement is to embrace change, maintain an open mind, and remain a lifelong learner. He encourages others to develop an "exit strategy," let go of the past, and cherish memories without reliving them. He believes in staying active, engaging with different generations, and advocating for oneself and others. For Ronald, retirement is not the end of a career but the start of new opportunities to grow and give back.
Virginia Posadas
At 73, Virginia Posadas is thriving, embodying the idea that life after retirement can be an exciting new chapter filled with purpose and joy.
Virginia immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in 1980 in search of a better life for herself and her family. She built a successful career in the corporate world but realized as she approached the traditional retirement age of 65 that she wasn’t ready to slow down. She worked for an additional two years, using the time to prepare for the next phase of her life.
Through retirement seminars, Virginia identified her core values to guide her future:
Experiencing great joy – something she felt was missing in her corporate life.
Engaging in activities that bring meaningful impact to others.
Virginia found that joy had a profound effect on her physical and mental health, improving her memory, enhancing social interactions, and boosting her overall well-being. She was determined to share this joy with others.
Her fitness journey began at age 60, attending Zumba classes three evenings a week. Energized by the experience, she became a certified Zumba instructor and later obtained her Alberta fitness group leader certification at 64. After retiring at 67, she earned her certification to teach group fitness classes for older adults.
Virginia now teaches a variety of fitness classes, including chair fitness, strength training, and dance fitness, with participants ranging in age from their 20s to their 90s. Inspired by a cancer survivor friend, she also leads fitness classes specifically for cancer survivors at the University of Calgary. Even during the pandemic, Virginia adapted by teaching weekly Zoom fitness classes, which she continues today.
Beyond fitness, Virginia embraces adventure with zest. Her exploits include parasailing, jet skiing, ziplining, snorkeling, swimming with whale sharks, horseback riding, and even exploring bat caves.
At 67, she took a French chou-pastry class, indulging in her newfound love of baking. While she considered turning baking into a business, she chose to keep it as a joyful hobby instead.
Virginia’s advice for aging well is simple yet profound:
“Take an honest inventory of your values and what activities bring you joy. Ask yourself what you’ve always wanted to do but never had time for. From there, the sky’s the limit. Stay active physically, mentally, and socially. Don’t worry too much; go with the flow—everything will work out.”
Virginia hopes to be remembered for living a life of joy, sharing that joy with others, and inspiring those around her to embrace the beauty of every stage of life.
Manjit and Virender Sethi
For Manjit (60) and Virender (64), music is not just a passion; it’s the essence of their lives and the foundation of their partnership. This shared love for Indian Classical music played a key role in their arrange marriage, fostering a bond that has only deepened over the years.
Their journey in music began in childhood. Manjit enjoyed singing at family gatherings and special events, while Virender explored various instruments, mastering the keyboard, mouth organ, accordion, and saxophone. Unfortunately, he had to stop playing the saxophone five years ago due to its impact on his vocal cords, but this did not diminish his love for music.
After moving from Kitchener, Ontario, to Calgary in 2008, the couple decided to take their musical pursuits more seriously, embarking on formal training together. In 2016, they participated in the RED FM 106.7 music competition, RED FM Idol, where Virender secured first place and Manjit came in second. This pivotal moment transformed their musical journey, inspiring them to pursue Indian Classical music with even greater dedication under the guidance of one of the world’s top vocalists in the genre.
Their accomplishments include being three-time nominees at the YYC Music Awards and performing at international venues. Their most remarkable performances have taken them to Saudi Arabia, where they were the first non-Muslim couple and first female artist to perform, as well as to the Bahamas, California, Toronto, and Niagara Falls.
The couple also channels their creativity into composing and producing music at their home studio, sharing their work on their YouTube channel. They’ve begun organizing their own concerts, and their current ambition is to write lyrics, produce music, and release an album.
Music is a spiritual practice for both Manjit and Virender. Virender wakes at 4:30 a.m. daily to practice before heading to work, while Manjit dedicates an hour each morning and continues her practice throughout the day. For them, music is a form of meditation that centers their lives and deepens their understanding of themselves and the world. Their individual accomplishments also reflect their diverse talents. In addition to her musical pursuits, Manjit launched her own business, Strong Start Program, in 2023, teaching children with learning disabilities online.
Virender finds fulfillment as an engineer in supply chain management at Petro-China Canada and plans to continue working while pursuing his passion for music.
Their mission is to immerse themselves further in Indian Classical music, using every moment to learn, grow, and achieve greater mastery.
For Manjit and Virender, their life together is a symphony of shared dreams, dedication, and unending harmony.
Annette & Clay Stanwick
Annette and Clay Stanwick, aged 80 and 81, exemplify a life built on love, compassion, and a commitment to helping others. From their professional careers to their community work, their journey is a testament to resilience and faith.
Annette dedicated her life to healthcare, serving as a nurse and healthcare professional, while Clay, with a degree in agriculture, managed cattle ranches.
Together, they spent transformative years as missionaries in Ethiopia. Clay taught vocational agriculture and managed a school farm, while Annette delivered babies in mud huts and held family planning and immunization clinics for hundreds of local families.
Upon returning to Canada, Clay pursued a pastoral degree and served as a church pastor, while Annette retired as a healthcare executive at 70. Clay, ever resourceful, drove semi-trucks until the age of 80.
Even in retirement, the couple remains devoted to serving others.
In 1999, Annette faced a life-altering tragedy when her brother was murdered. Struggling with anger, she chose a path of forgiveness, expressing it publicly in a U.S. courtroom. At 63, she published Forgiveness: The Mystery and Miracle, an award-winning book that has also been translated into Mandarin.
Today, Annette is a sought-after speaker, author, and coach, teaching others to "Let go & Live Free." Her courses include topics like grief support, forgiveness, and palliative care, and her achievements have earned her numerous accolades, including the Integrity Award from Rotary International.
Clay has also pursued his passions with vigor. As a motorcycle enthusiast, he spent years traveling thousands of kilometers on his Harley, serving as chaplain of the Christian Motorcyclists’ Association. The couple shared a love for real estate, buying and renovating homes together, and Clay continues to support Annette at speaking engagements, connecting with attendees and sharing his warmth. For over 20 years, Annette and Clay have worked tirelessly to inspire and uplift others. They visit prisons to facilitate workshops for inmates serving life sentences and lead seminars on forgiveness, personal growth, and relationship building in Indigenous communities, including the Siksika and Tsuut’ina Nations.
Their work extends to the Narrow Road Home in High River, where they provide coaching and spiritual guidance to women recovering from addiction and exploitation. Annette credits her father’s leadership as her source of motivation, while Clay draws inspiration from the supportive adults who shaped his adventurous and compassionate nature.
Together, the Stanwicks aspire to be remembered for their love, compassion, and tireless efforts to share God’s love with all.
Lois Szabo
At 88 years old, Lois Szabo is a woman of remarkable achievements, resilience, and an enduring zest for life. Though health issues have slowed her down, her legacy as a trailblazer and community advocate continues to shine.
Lois spent 27 years as a taxi driver, a career she adored for the opportunity to meet and help people. She especially cherished her interactions with elderly passengers, appreciating their vitality, stories, and wisdom. After retiring in 2013, Lois remained active by driving a school bus as a substitute—a perfect fit for her love of driving.
Volunteering has always been central to Lois’ life. She devoted her time to Knox Presbyterian Church, assisting with concerts and preparing meals for families through Inn from the Cold. She was also involved with the UN Peacekeepers Retired Association and the Queen’s Own Rifle Association in Calgary.
Lois’ adventurous spirit extended to motorcycles, earning her the nickname “motorcycle bum.”
She rode with groups like Women in the Wind and the Calgary Chinook Outriders, clocking over 200,000 miles across Canada and the U.S. Her passion began in Germany in 1957 and continued until she was 87.
Lois has played a pivotal role in Calgary’s LGBTQ2S+ community. As a co-founder of Club Carousel in 1970, she helped create a safe space where people could embrace their identities. Her contributions were honoured with the naming of Lois Szabo Commons, a park celebrating her advocacy. She also helped establish Rainbow Elders Calgary, fostering connection and support for 2SLGBTQ+ seniors.
Key moments in Lois’ life include reconnecting with her grade four teacher, who inspired her love of music and made her feel valued. In the 1980s, she visited her former teacher to express her gratitude.
Despite her health challenges, Lois continues to be a friend and helper to those around her. She maintains her home and yard, and her network of friends and family keeps her motivated. Lois finds joy in "everything" and radiates positivity.
Her greatest happiness comes from being with people, and she wants to be remembered for making a meaningful difference in their lives. Lois’ legacy is one of resilience, love, and an unwavering commitment to community.
Clarence Wynter
At 68, Clarence Wynter is proof that retirement is merely the beginning of new opportunities. After a 30-year career in oil and gas, Clarence officially retired at 66 but quickly enrolled at Reeves College, earning a diploma in Supply Chain Management with Honours. This new qualification has opened doors for consulting opportunities. Clarence’s commitment to community shines through his extensive volunteer work, particularly within Calgary’s multicultural, Black and melanin communities.
He is a co-founder and Advocacy Director of the Calgary Black Chambers Society, where he mentors, coaches, and provides leadership support. In 2022, he was a featured speaker at their conference, sharing his insights on social and emotional learning.
For over three years, Clarence has served on the committee for the International Men’s Day Conference, receiving accolades such as the Men of Excellence Award, the JNI Lifetime Achievement Award, and, in 2023, the Immigrant Champions Award and Inclusive Leadership Award.
Clarence is a trusted mentor to international students at SAIT and an active participant in anti-racism initiatives with the University of Calgary and the City of Calgary. He also supports organizations like the Calgary Reggae Festival, Cari Fest, and the Calgary Food Bank.
An eloquent writer, Clarence has published articles on ageism, senior living, loneliness, and the power of storytelling. He is currently collaborating with Ruth’s House to establish a shelter for Black men, addressing social and domestic violence challenges in the community.
A staunch advocate for multicultural inclusivity, Clarence helps immigrant families navigate the school system and promotes unity among diverse communities. His vision is for seniors to leave a lasting legacy, inspiring him to collect materials for his forthcoming autobiography.
Clarence attributes his resilience to his mother, who instilled in him courage, patience, and independence. Her influence shaped his commitment to personal growth and care for others, and he cared for her until her passing at age 97.
Role models like Nelson Mandela, Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King Jr., and the Dalai Lama have also guided his values of integrity, empathy, and perseverance.
A proud father of four and grandfather of two, Clarence lives in Calgary, where he continues to advocate for meaningful engagement and community connection. His life is a testament to the belief that every story deserves to be heard and celebrated.
Reflections on the project
“Spending time with the remarkable seniors featured on these pages and hearing their stories left a lasting impression on me. A common thread ran through each story: the importance of serving others. This act of giving is what brings joy to the inspiring older adults you'll read about. You are never too old to make a difference for others!”
Betty Good
“Working on this project has been an incredible experience. I’ve learned so much from the inspiring stories of 10 amazing individuals and gained a deeper understanding of the importance of aging well. It’s motivated me to encourage older adults in my life to take charge and access valuable resources. I’ve also developed skills in filming and writing for older audiences. This journey has been so rewarding that I now genuinely look forward to my own senior years!”
Iman Bukhari
This project is created by the MPC Foundation, and is funded by the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program.