BARBARA GIBSON – PRESIDENT
Barbara feels honored to become WSAC’s new president. She has been a member of WSAC for seven years and joined the Board five years ago. For the last three years, she has served as the Vice President. Barbara has chaired several Board Committees and has been a member of others. While a Board Member she also served a three-year term as Secretary on the Edmonton Seniors Coordinating Council.
Prior to retirement, Barbara enjoyed a very successful forty-four-year career in the field of Nursing, forty-one years of which were focused on Nursing Education. Four of those years were spent serving as Undergraduate Assistant Dean in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. When asked about her motivation for becoming a Board member Barbara said, “she wants to utilize her professional knowledge, experience & energies by volunteering to enhance the well being of seniors.”
Barbara is proud of the outstanding programming that WSAC offers its members and the community. She looks forward to working with her fellow Board Members to provide the governance needed for WSAC to thrive and flourish in the future.
Kaye Langager – Vice Presedent
Kaye has been a member of WSAC for two years, since her return to Edmonton. Kaye owned and operated an Insurance Brokerage firm, specializing in Corporate Group and Pension plans. She has been involved in numerous and varied non for profit Boards, including CLSA and Excel Society. She has also volunteered as a member of Victim Services and Restorative Justice. She has found WSAC to be a fabulous center for all that it offers to Seniors in the community and is looking very forward to being a part of an exciting and growing organization.
Dolores Brent – Director
Dolores has been a WSAC member for 11 years and wholeheartedly appreciates the benefits WSAC brings to seniors in the surrounding community. Over the years she has participated in a wide variety of classes, workshops, and drop-in activities, especially pickleball and yoga. WSAC has provided a safe, invigorating community, helping her stay active and ever-learning since her retirement from her fulfilling career as a registered nurse at the Cross Cancer Institute where her skills as a listener, caregiver, and organizer were a necessity. She has been a life-long learner, actively supporting Edmonton Lifelong Learning Association (ELLA) as a volunteer and a student. She has mastered the art of gardening in unique spaces, annually tending to a wide variety of vegetables, flowers and fruits. She is always ready for a good adventure, a game of cards or a meaningful chat over a pot of tea and has taught multiple generations life skills like baking from scratch, sewing and repairing clothes and growing your own food.
Kay Rother – Director
Kay Rother has been a member of WSAC since 2015. Most of her working career involved teaching – first at NAIT, then at Edmonton Public Schools in the elementary and high school programs. She also has experience owning her own business. A colleague of hers introduced her to WSAC and the wide variety of programs available and she happily participated in dancing, exercise and bridge. As well she took advantage of services such as the library. When presented with an opportunity to become a member of the board, she decided she would like to contribute her time and effort toward such an important institution. Kay is very impressed with the friendly people, the inclusive philosophy and the multitude of services to all seniors that this centre provides.
Lois Thurstan – Director
Lois has been a proud member of WSAC since 2018. She supports WSAC as it’s a great place for older adults to continue leading fulfilling healthy lives. Lois is looking forward to the opportunity to become a director on the board. It will provide a new challenge and allow her to continue to give back to the west end community where she has always lived. Currently at the centre, she enjoys participating in Pickleball and Spanish lessons.
Lois’ career was mostly working at a professional association for physicians. She has extensive experience with payroll, employee benefits, accounting and disability management. Lois’ education includes a human resource diploma, certified payroll manager (CPM) and a certificate in disability management.
Lois looks forward to serving the senior community at WSAC!
Lorne Brackenbury – Director
Lorne has been a member of WSAC for 5 years. He first came to the centre with a friend and neighbour to play pickleball. Later on, Lorne took on the responsibility of volunteer instructing at pickleball when the centre decided to have training for beginners of pickleball. Shortly after, Lorne was joined by Ryan Park, a long-time friend who is instrumental in the beginner’s pickleball instruction. Lorne is currently on the Pickleball committee with three other members, two of which are Board Directors at WSAC.
Currently retired for the last 7 years, Lorne was previously a Technical Sales Representative for Instrumentation, Electrical and Valves for various industries. He has been serving on the Board of the local chapter of the International Society of Automation for the past 32 years. Lorne has also been serving as Secretary/Treasurer for his Condominium Board since 2005. Lorne says he has met so many great people during his time at the centre and looks forward to contributing to WSAC during his time on the Board.
Richard Batty – Director
Rick has been a member of the Westend Seniors Activity Centre for almost 2 years. He is currently serving on the Facility and Planning Committee. He also enjoys volunteering some of his time around the WSAC. for repairs that may arise from time to time. His education, training, and experience spans over 40 years in the mechanical trades sector. He is currently signed on as a Handyman throughout the city of Edmonton with the Senior centres and other organizations. Rick takes a lot of pride in whatever his ventures are. Rick is pleased to be working with the WSAC Board of Directors. He will enjoy working with the team by learning and contributing to the Centre to keep it running strong and on course for a bright future for the members of this growing organization.
Sharon Quickfall – Director
Sharon has been a member of the Westend Seniors Activity Centre for 15 years and is currently serving her second term on the Board of Directors. Over the past decade, she has served in various capacities on nearly every WSAC volunteer committee gaining not only insight and experience but also a deep appreciation of the positive role WSAC plays in the lives of its members. Sharon has a strong & extensive volunteer background reaching back over 50 years. She is currently the president of her community league & sits on several City of Edmonton citizen committees.
She believes her background in strategic planning, program development & evaluation as well as communications will continue to support both the management team & WSAC’s members during her second term. She is excited about the centre’s future as a leader in Edmonton’s senior community & an innovator in developing programs to enhance the quality of life for not only its members but all seniors.
Shirley Devlin – Director
Shirley has been a member of WSAC for five years and is currently serving as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee. The WSAC has provided her with the opportunity to participate in programs to keep her active as well as develop social connections. Shirley has a background in Nursing and dedicated her career to pediatrics and nursing education. Shirley was encouraged by Barbara Gibson to put her name forward to become a director and is looking forward to the opportunity to meet new people and to strengthen the retirement experience for fellow seniors.
