In the fall of 2022, Brenda and her husband Bert made the conscious decision to shift things up for the next stage of their lives. The couple, who had been splitting their time equally between Victoria and Ontario for 14 years, realized they needed to “put down our tools and start to play – we had earned it, and it was time to allow ourselves to do that,” Brenda says.

Brenda is a perfect example of someone who is making the most of, and truly enjoying, life. For Brenda and Bert, that was a well-considered decision they made together. “When I retired, I walked in the door and I was met by my husband with a glass of wine and some roses, and we sat down and said, ‘okay, what now?’,” Brenda says.

The couple had both retired from their careers, but knew they had energy to spare. They decided to use their knowledge of antiques to source the best Ontario had to offer, then transport and sell their finds in British Columbia. They enjoyed BC so much, Brenda says, the antique business quickly fell by the wayside, and they started spending half the year in Victoria and the other six months in Ontario.

Their lives in Ontario were busy and physically demanding, though, with a set schedule from morning until night. “When we drove back to Ontario, I would literally get out of the car and start working,” Brenda says. “We loved it, and it was very satisfying, but when we moved to Tapestry all of that work was put away.”

Once Brenda and her husband made the move to Tapestry at Victoria Harbour, Brenda says she experienced a profound change: “I walked in the door, and a whole new life opened up.”

Brenda says Tapestry offers her all the things she loves. On any given day she might attend an early morning fitness class, followed by some kayaking or a brisk walk (she tries to get 8,000 steps a day), or even a stroll on the local beaches where she has discovered rockhounding and the relaxation of being by the ocean. “Really Tapestry’s 7 Dimensions of Wellness are so much a part of how we live,” Brenda says.

“I really feel that my life now is more active, less stressful, and very invigorating,” says Brenda. “I feel more fit, and I feel younger. A person’s age should not be defined by their chronological age, but rather how they feel in their head, how they are living, and how they perceive themselves,” she adds.

Brenda loves to tell the story of how she and Bert first met in 1967. They saw each other by the swimming pool in the condominium complex where they both lived, and Bert asked Brenda to join him after the pool for an ice cream date. That’s when Brenda found out Bert owned the new white Mustang convertible she had admired in the building’s parking garage. “I started to love the man behind the wheel,” she says.

It took Bert two years of dating to propose marriage to Brenda, which he admitted was because he was trying to decide whether to buy a Corvette or get married. That has led to the couple’s favourite joke – “Brenda, or Corvette?”.

Because Brenda and Bert have very different interests, at Tapestry they decided to pursue their own activities during the day, and then reunite every afternoon at 4 pm for “happy hour” where they enjoy a drink and each share what they did that day. “We are so different, and we don’t want to hold the other one back. We limit the number of things we do together and then when we do meet up, we enjoy each other more,” Brenda explains.

The couple recently spent time sipping champagne and reminiscing about their 55-year marriage while relaxing on a beachfront bench. Their life together, Brenda says, has been marked by “mutual respect, humour and forgiveness.”

“We are really enjoying this segment of our lives,” Brenda says. “We say to each other that this is the grand finale of a life well lived, and that we are so fortunate to be able to enjoy our life here.”

Even though Brenda has lived at Tapestry for less than two years, she has already made an impact in the community, especially when it comes to helping new residents feel at home. Brenda started a New Resident Mentor Program through the resident-driven social committee which helps people who have recently moved in to meet people.

“Most Sunday nights I make a table reservation in the restaurant and invite people who might be interested in meeting each other. Every week is a different group. It’s a wonderful party, and we often close down the restaurant just enjoying ourselves,” Brenda says. (Brenda is also a member of Newcomers of Victoria Alumnae, having joined the newcomers group after first moving to Victoria.)

“I find that meeting new people is a real challenge – not in a negative sense – but in an exciting way,” says Brenda. “It’s about finding out who they are, where they came from, and what their story is. Every person brings their past with them, and at Tapestry there are so many stories and interesting people,” she adds.

Brenda’s contributions to the Tapestry community have been so significant that last year, she was nominated for and won the ‘Let’s Embrace Aging Passionately’ or LEAP award, which is presented annually by the British Columbia Seniors Living Association (BCSLA). (BCSLA has since merged with the BC Care Providers Association.) The LEAP award honours a resident “who is inspirational, a champion, and makes a valuable difference in the lives of others every day.”

Having held many different roles throughout her career, Brenda says she loves change. “Once I moved into Tapestry, it ignited me,” she says. “I’ve taken on life with a passion. When I go into a situation, I have this desire to look for opportunities to change things for the better, and I go for it,” Brenda adds.

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Brenda is one of our company’s newest resident Ambassadors – volunteer community spokespeople who are pleased to share what they love about their life and living at Tapestry. We are pleased and proud to share Brenda’s inspirational story in print and video. We love the example Brenda has set for living her life to the fullest and continuing to contribute to her community as she navigates her life’s journey.