Mulberry PARC

Retirement life in full bloom

You could say that Virginia and Bob have a green thumb. But call them gardening experts, and they’re immediately humble about their accomplishments, including their big win for best overall garden by the Burnaby Rhododendron and Garden Society. Accolades aside, gardening has always been a simple joy and fun challenge for this couple, married for an impressive 69 years.

When maintaining a huge yard got to be too much, Bob and Virginia decided to make the move to Mulberry PARC. But don’t think they put their love for gardening aside. They’re highly involved in tending to Mulberry PARC’s expansive garden patio, making sure plants and flowers stay healthy throughout the winter, and creating beautiful floral hanging baskets in the spring.

“This was a good move.”

Margaret moved into independent retirement living some years sooner than she had planned, and she hasn’t regretted it for a minute.

Margaret took up cycling in her 40s, and has been a member of the Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society ever since. As a nurse who worked in geriatrics, she had seen people who aged with difficulty, but as part of the Society, “I met seniors who were so vibrant, healthy and enjoying life”, she says. Margaret found it so inspiring that she still makes weekly trips to Richmond to meet up with a seniors cycling group for a 30km ride, and she regularly pedals around Burnaby, via nearby trails, to attend medical appointments and go shopping.

At Mulberry, Margaret is thoroughly enjoying the outings, meals, social aspect, and most of all, the opportunities to keep active, both mentally and physically. “When I first moved in, I used to drag myself up the stairs, but now my knees are much better”, she says, speaking of the PARC Fit program.