Date: Thurs. Jan. 16, 2020
Time: 9:45 a.m. - 11 a.m.
At: The Scott Mission, 502 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5S 2H1
TORONTO, Jan. 14, 2020 /CNW/ - When asked to describe her greatest wish, Shirley Burke could have chosen one that serves her own interests. At 84, the mother of two and grandmother of four has earned the right to relax.
Instead, the resident of Chartwell Westbury Long Term Care residence in Etobicoke asked for an opportunity to serve others, specifically to help the homeless.
This Thursday, January 16, Shirley will volunteer at Toronto's Scott Mission, a charity that has fed the hungry and sheltered the homeless since 1941.
"That's my Mom, absolutely. She'll put others before herself," says her son Paul Burke. "If you had asked her 20 years ago, she would have said the same thing."
Shirley's volunteer visit to The Scott Mission is made possible through Chartwell's charitable partnership with Wish Of A Lifetime Canada, which fulfills dearly-held dreams of deserving seniors.
Paul says his mother simply cannot refuse a need for assistance, whether it's an individual asking for money on the street or her support for a food bank, her church community or the Alzheimer Society. At Chartwell Westbury, she mentors her fellow residents.
"To help people is her greatest sense of accomplishment," Paul says.
Since 2015, more than 125 deserving seniors have had their dearest desires granted by Wish Of A Lifetime Canada in four categories: Commemorating Service, Fulfilling Lifelong Dreams, Reconnecting Loved Ones and Renewing and Celebrating Passions. From meeting Celine Dion in Las Vegas, to a reunion with a grandson in Thailand, to a WWII veteran's overdue flight in a Lancaster warplane, the wishes have each been unique and have been granted across the country. Nominations are open to any Canadian senior.
"Through Wish of A Lifetime Canada, we are able to enrich the lives of older Canadians, help them overcome barriers to fulfill their dreams and feel a sense of inclusion," says Brent Binions, President and CEO, Chartwell Retirement Residences.
About Wish Of A Lifetime Canada
Wish Of A Lifetime Canada™ preserves the wisdom and accomplishments of deserving seniors through fulfilling their life-enriching wishes. Through wish granting we combat senior isolation and shift the way society views and values our oldest generations by sharing stories to inspire those of all ages.
About Chartwell
Chartwell is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate trust which indirectly owns and operates a complete range of seniors housing communities, from independent supportive living through assisted living to long term care. It is the largest operator in the Canadian seniors living sector with over 200 quality retirement communities in four provinces. Chartwell is committed to its vision of Making People's Lives BETTER and to providing a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life experience for its residents. For more information, visit www.chartwell.com
SOURCE Chartwell Retirement Residences
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Media Contact: Claire Bickley, Senior Manager, Communications & Public Relations, Chartwell Retirement Residences, 416-937-4622, cbickley@chartwell.comCopyright CNW Group 2020