Eileen was born in 1936. She lives in a condo with second husband Ronald. They blended their families years ago; together they have many grandchildren. Eileen’s first marriage ended when her husband finished his education in Winnipeg. She has four daughters. Ron, her second husband, two sons.  Ron will turn 90 when Eileen’s daughter, Rene, arrives from Australia. Rene and Eileen planned a trip to Florence, Italy: number one on Eileen’s bucket list.
Looking back, Eileen expresses frustration with damage people do to others. Powerful people with wrong motivations hurt people. Eileen’s life shows she values relationships and cherishes love and support from Ron and family. She speaks with her daughters every week on Zoom .
At 19, Eileen became Director of Music at Crease Clinic in Vancouver which specialized in innovative treatments for the mentally ill. She researched music therapy for mentally ill patients; with a musical background her work at the clinic into a wonderful experience she considers fortunate to have experienced, admitting some successes and some very sad outcomes among patients.
Today, she sings in her church choir, although she declares she can’t sing anymore. She recently overcame performance anxiety delivering a sermon about change. Thinking she wouldn’t be given another opportunity to speak in public, she put all her energy into delivering her sermon and did not experience anxiety. She also received praise for her sermon.
Eileen is a good role model for her daughters but is not as educated as she’d like.  She thrived in the workplace working only when required to earn a living. She wrote for television and was an assistant producer.
Women’s work in the 1960’s was challenging with few good jobs for women. She worked for City of Edmonton for seven years, then at CBC, CTV, CFCN and ITV on contract basis. She liked work but because men were always her boss, when one left, she had to teach his replacement his job. She was not paid well.
She researched for a neurologist at U of A hospital writing a book on intercranial aneurisms. She did literature reviews with no computer to organize data, working with three researchers they completed 8000 citations. Ironically, this work gave her understanding of aneurism when she collapsed on a BC beach at 62. At Victoria Hospital, a surgeon explained she’d suffered an intercranial aneurism requiring surgery with a 15% chance of survival and likelihood of long-term problems. She recovered with almost full capacity.
Full of gratitude to be alive, she takes nothing for granted.
 

Doug brings hope to the world, “I live in the turbulent present in anticipation of a hopeful future,” he says. “I don’t want to dwell on the past.”
His strong belief in God motivates him to complete the development of the planet begun by the creator, hoping his own life provides a better world. He is motivated by his belief that through modern technologies, along with developments in science, agriculture, and medicine more people will benefit than ever before. Humanity is struggling to develop a culture of peace to replace the old culture of war.
In 1965, Doug returned to Canada after eight years living in the United States and settled in Edmonton. Moving from the New York area to a region with cold winters required a huge cultural shift. But the move was successful and opened his public career as a Member of Parliament, and later Ambassador and Senator. Only three Canadians in the history of Canada have held all three posts. He feels that his life was not predestined; rather he moved from one stage to another with God’s guidance.
But our hope for a better world must be active. In this sense, hope is a verb. We must reach out to one another in whatever way is possible. Opening our hearts is the beginning of a culture of peace. Humanity is struggling to develop a culture of peace to replace the old culture of war.
He fears living too long, adding there are no last words when we leave this world. He’ll pass away. Life will go on. He considers himself one grain of sand on a long beach, with no delusions about his power to change the world. He remains constantly hopeful for a life of reconciliation for all.
In the closing chapter of his life, he contemplates death daily. At 93, he says it would be “foolhardy” not to think about approaching death. Every day he wakes is a surprise. He expresses his gratitude for health and a clear mind, which allows him to continue writing professionally. He suggests anyone wishing to examine his life read his memoirs, Creative Dissent (Novalis, 2008).
 
 

Cheryl led a full life living her way. She was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan of Norwegian heritage. Cheryl grew up in CNR stations where passing trains made their home rattle. She met husband, Peter, in grade 8. They became good friends. Cheryl was 15 and Peter 16 when they married. Two children, a boy and girl followed, but the couple decided two was all the children they wanted. Later she worked in Regina at the Department of Justice. Peter was transferred to Edmonton for work.  Cheryl is discouraged by Edmonton’s shorter summers, missing beautiful Saskatchewan skies.
Cheryl is pleased she and Peter stopped at two children.   Their two children provided them four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. A proud grandmother and great grandmother, she suggests they are smart and cute. All her great grandchildren are male, until recently, a girl was born. Cheryl hasn’t met her yet, but plans to sew her a dress,
At 77, Cheryl lives in assisted living, surrounded by tubs of quilt fabric. She loves to sew. She learned from her father’s mother who made quilts for each member of her family. Quilts became central to her extended family in married life.
Cheryl is passionate about family, quilting and faith. Not a member of a church since moving to Edmonton, her faith sustains her. She listens to hymns online, prays, and feels God within her.
Cheryl faced challenges in her life with the gusto she instills in family and quilting. She survived a major stroke in 2007, that placed her in a wheelchair. She describes herself as having “one arm and half a brain.” But after her stroke, she determined she was going to get on with her life. She participated in “Getting on with the Rest of your Life after Stroke,” a program provided by Edmonton General Hospital. But her journey back from stroke was long. Luckily, she accomplished it. Her faith gave her strength in stroke recovery. She learned neuroplasticity of the brain creates new pathways to relearn what was lost. She worked hard after stroke. And to her delight, she learned to paint with watercolours.
 Over 30 years, she and husband Peter travelled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. A son, daughter-in law and grandchildren joined them over time. 

Cécile is an Acadian, born in Somerset, Manitoba.  A grandmother of seven, Cécile, moved by her mother's generosity to neighbours in need, began a journey of faith and discovery.  
"The older I grow,” she says, “the fewer satisfying answers I have about life." 
Her strength lies in her belief in a challenging and loving God.  Images speak to her: "Read and enter the mystery of what you read and what you see,” she suggests. “We must look with a new heart." 
Cécile's mind is constantly on the move.  "I like to wonder about life and ponder God's Word,” she says, “as in Jeremiah 31:3: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.'  This Scripture spoke to me so long ago, never to be forgotten."  She sees life and death as a mysterious gift: death represented by a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis.
Cécile met her husband Ted on a blind date.  After a short courtship, they married on Easter Monday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church and moved into the house she now lives in. They were blessed with two daughters. 
Today family pot lucks involve a full house.  A widow since 2012, she continues to be challenged by her husband's passing but experiences inner peace and even joy as a result of her faith and the support of her daughters, sons in law
and grandchildren. 
"God continues to challenge me,” says Cécile, “and every day brings me to a deeper awareness of the beauty found in unexpected places. How marvelous and mysterious this wonderful world we live in!"