STAFF SPOTLIGHT
As our members come and go from our centre, our team members are always working hard to make your experience at the centre the best it can be. Many of you have likely met or talked to them, but may not have had the chance to properly meet them! For the next while, we will be picking one of our wonderful team members to introduce to our community each month.
Charis – Engagement & Communications Coordinator
What is your role and a typical day?
I’m the Engagement and Communications Coordinator at WE Seniors Edmonton. My work involves connecting with our members, community partners and the wider community. A typical day can include planning and promoting programs and events, creating newsletters and social media content, coordinating community partnerships, and helping bring new ideas and initiatives to life. In a few words, I’d describe it as fast-paced but fulfilling.
How long have you been with WESeniors?
I joined WE Seniors as a placement student in May 2023 and officially started working at the centre on June 29, 2023. So, it’s already been more than three years! Time really flies, and it’s been a wonderful journey so far.
What music plays in your car?
My go-to is 99.3 UP Radio, especially because they play music from the ’80s all day! I love having music and human voices in the background while I drive. I also enjoy the trivia and learning about Canadian topics and history, and sometimes the jokes are good enough to make me laugh out loud in the car!
What part of your work do you enjoy most?
I really enjoy learning from people from all walks of life, and no two days are ever quite the same. Communications can be very fast-paced, but I find it rewarding when I can stay on top of things, keep everything organized, and see an idea or event come together successfully. I especially appreciate hearing positive feedback from our members about how helpful they find our educational presentations. Even when the feedback isn’t entirely positive, if it’s reasonable and constructive, I see it as an opportunity to learn, improve, and do better next time.
What is one project, program, or task you’re especially proud of?
Without a doubt, Older Bolder Better! It takes more than half a year of planning, with a lot happening behind the scenes, from coordinating with sponsors and partners to promoting the event and getting the message out to our community. It was such a big project that I even had dreams about working on OBB! But seeing everything come together and turn out well was incredibly fulfilling. And honestly, not long after it was over, I was already thinking about how we could make the next one bigger and better!
What is something people might be surprised to learn about your position?
People might be surprised by how much multitasking goes on behind the scenes. Communications is not just about creating newsletters or social media posts. It often means juggling several events, deadlines, requests and last-minute changes at the same time, while also coordinating with different people. It can be a busy workload, but I enjoy the variety and the challenge of keeping things moving and organized.
Hobbies or interests outside of work?
Outside of work, music is a big part of my life. I really can’t imagine life without it! I enjoy listening to music and the radio even when I am working, and I also like travelling. When I was in Hong Kong, I travelled quite a bit, including trips to Japan, Taiwan, Australia and Europe. These days, travelling feels more like a luxury, but I’d still love to visit Nova Scotia and Newfoundland someday because I love the ocean. I also enjoy learning simple crochet projects from time to time with a small group of people.
Do you have a favourite memory or fun story from your time with WESeniors that you’d like to share?
One of my favourite memories has to be the geese, ducks, ducklings and goslings at the pond right beside our centre. Seeing them leave, return each year, and even welcome new generations has always made me so happy. I love animals probably more than humans! If you see goose posts on our Facebook page, there’s a good chance I’m the one behind the camera recording and sharing them. I hope you enjoy watching them as much as I do!
What have you learned from seniors?
I’d especially like to give a shout-out to Ross Sutherland, a member of our Cribbage drop-in group. We partnered with The Waterford of Summerlea, one of our Friends of WE Seniors, to host a Cribbage Tournament there. As a new immigrant from Hong Kong, I had never heard of Cribbage before as it’s not part of our culture at all! Ross patiently helped me understand the game, set up the house rules and work out the scoring. He even handwrote a large scoring sheet for me, which I still keep as a little memento. It’s a great reminder that there is always something new to learn from the people in our community.
If you could master a new skill?
If I could instantly master any skill, I’d choose time travel! Sometimes I wish I could go back to the past and give things a second chance, and maybe even help solve some of the world’s problems. At the same time, I’d love to travel to the future and see what the world looks like, especially with AI advancing so quickly.
Favorite song or book?
For my all-time favourite song, I’d choose “Take Five” by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. I love its unique rhythm and how the song is built around five beats instead of the usual four.
Pickleball vs members?
Lose for sure! Many of our members have been playing pickleball regularly for years, so they definitely have the experience and skills. As they say, practice makes perfect. There’s no shortcut! I haven’t played pickleball for about a year, so I’d better get back on the court before challenging them!