Celebrating our Incredible Volunteers: Nan Smith

As we celebrate Volunteer Week, we want to honour those who generously give their time and recognize their value as an essential part of our communities. Our residences have been illuminated by the love and presence of volunteers whose contributions have left lasting impressions on our residents. This week, we pause to thank these incredible individuals.

After retiring from a 35-year career in education, Nan Smith was encouraged by her ten-year-old students to continue nurturing others. She realized she had more to give and wanted to continue to care, nurture, protect, and enhance minds.

“Volunteering brings endless smiles, laughter, companionship, and trust from the residents. The sheer joy of their pleasure and happiness is evident on their faces… I am the one being rewarded,” she shares enthusiastically.

Nan describes volunteering as pure joy, free from pressures. There are no meetings, no reports—only meaningful moments of companionship and fun. She gratefully applies her teaching skills to engage with residents, ensure their safety, and lead monthly craft sessions, often adapting projects she once used in her classroom. Reflecting on her experience, Nan encourages others to volunteer: “Absolutely! The rewards and benefits outweigh any hesitations!”

Throughout the year, we have witnessed the commitment and warmth with which our volunteers accompany our residents, creating authentic bonds and meaningful moments. Stories like Nan’s remind us how volunteers bring life, joy, and compassion to our communities. We believe that a volunteer’s impact goes far beyond the time they give; a gesture of empathy and compassion can transform lives.

To all our volunteers: Your dedication and compassion are invaluable to our care team, and we are grateful to you every day.