What happens when a teacher refuses to give up on students struggling with addiction? Hugh Fraser's remarkable journey from college instructor to founder of a groundbreaking recovery program reveals the transformative power of compassion, structure, and wilderness in healing young lives.

Fraser's story begins in the classroom, where he noticed bright students failing due to substance abuse. Rather than simply expelling them, he took a revolutionary approach, creating a structured program combining academic accountability with addiction recovery support. The pivotal moment came when Fraser brought students to a remote wilderness camp, witnessing profound spiritual and emotional awakenings away from technology and urban distractions.

From modest beginnings with just $3,000, the Fraser Recovery Program received a life-changing $50,000 donation from an 86-year-old woman, allowing Fraser to establish a dedicated wilderness camp. Today, the program operates on five straightforward principles that "cost absolutely nothing": daily commitment to sobriety, peer support, connection with long-term sober mentors, addressing personal issues, and helping others. This model has produced remarkable success stories, with graduates achieving advanced degrees and meaningful careers.

Fraser challenges the common belief that addicts must "hit bottom" before recovery, instead advocating for early intervention and "raising the bottom." His compassionate perspective—"There's no shame in being an addict, the only shame is not doing anything about it"—has helped countless young people overcome stigma and find healing. Even at 82 and officially retired, Fraser continues mentoring individuals struggling with addiction, demonstrating that one person's dedication can create ripples of positive change across generations.

If you're concerned about addiction in your family or community, remember that help is available. The wilderness-based approach pioneered by Hugh Fraser offers a powerful model for recovery that has transformed countless lives. Visit the Fraser Recovery Program website to learn more about this groundbreaking approach to addiction treatment.

Remember when computers filled entire rooms yet had less memory than today's smartphones? Two pioneers of the computing revolution take us on a fascinating journey through technological history that spans from the late 1960s to today.

This captivating conversation reveals what it was like to program with punch cards, transition from manual typewriters to early word processors, and adapt to constantly evolving technology while raising a family. "Every time there was a new step, the learning curve just got bigger and bigger," our guests explain, highlighting how they navigated professional challenges that many of us can't even imagine.

What makes their story truly remarkable isn't just their front-row seat to technological revolution, but how they've applied that same adaptability to create vibrant, fulfilling lives in retirement. From reviving an old passion for photography and learning digital editing techniques to coaching barbershop singers and joining community activities like line dancing, they demonstrate that continuous learning doesn't stop with retirement—it expands.

Their nearly 50-year marriage serves as a testament to supporting each other through life's transitions, including the evolution from room-sized computers to smartphones. The conversation culminates with powerful advice about maintaining cognitive health: "You have to keep the brain going, because once that slows down, then the rest just follows." Their journey offers valuable wisdom for listeners of any age about embracing change, pursuing passions, and maintaining meaningful connections.

Listen now to discover how two technological pioneers have transformed their experiences into a blueprint for thriving at any stage of life. And don't forget to join us for our next episode, where we'll continue to share the stories that make our community special.

What happens when you spend your entire career at the forefront of technological revolution? In this heartwarming conversation, we meet a remarkable couple who witnessed computing history unfold firsthand—from room-sized machines with less memory than today's smartphones to the digital revolution that transformed our world.

Our guests take us back to 1967, when computing meant punch cards and enormous mainframes. With candid humor and keen observation, they describe learning new systems every few years without formal training, adapting continuously as technology evolved at breakneck speed. "Every time there was a new step, the learning curve just got bigger and bigger," one reflects. The journey from manual typewriters to early word processors like AES paralleled their personal journey as they balanced demanding careers with raising two children born at the dawn of the personal computer era.

Their story isn't just about technology—it's about human resilience, partnership, and the art of aging purposefully. Now retired (since 1995 and 2004 respectively), they've channeled their love of learning into vibrant hobbies: digital photography, barbershop singing coaching, line dancing, and community involvement. Their nearly 50-year marriage stands as testament to mutual support through life's evolutions, with a philosophy centered on continuous challenge: "We try different things and stay aware of what we can do within our limits, trying to keep the brain going." 

Ready to be inspired? Listen now to discover how embracing change and maintaining curiosity creates a fulfilling life at any age. Then share your own story of adaptation and learning—we'd love to hear how you're keeping your brain active and engaged!

"What doesn't hurt, doesn't work" might sound counterintuitive, but for Gail and John—a couple approaching their 50th anniversary—it's a philosophy that keeps them thriving at their retirement community. Their remarkable story begins with an unexpected meeting at a theatre where John's quirky ballet performance as a Sugar Plum Fairy caught Gail's attention. "I thought, who is this guy? Anybody crazy enough to do this... I'm intrigued."

Fast forward five decades, and they're revolutionizing retirement living at The Bradley. Unlike many who wait until health crises force decisions, they chose their community while still healthy and independent. "It's about maintaining your own life as best you can," Gail explains, capturing the essence of empowered aging. Their forward thinking allowed them to select a bright, spacious community just minutes from their children and grandchildren—creating continuity rather than disruption in their family connections.

When COVID locked everything down in March 2020, rather than retreating into isolation, they launched a daily line dancing program that continues to transform lives. Five mornings a week, they teach modified movements that improve balance and cognition for residents of all abilities. Even a 99-year-old participates from her chair, while another resident with severe memory challenges experiences breakthrough moments of joy through muscle memory. Meanwhile, Gail continues her 48-year passion for barbershop singing, now watching her musical legacy flourish as grandchildren develop their own artistic talents. What will your next chapter look like? Will you choose it, or let circumstances choose for you?

Grief transforms us in profound and unexpected ways. In this deeply moving conversation, Kim Han shares how she navigated the devastating loss of her daughter to ovarian cancer and found purpose through her pain. Kim's book, "I Am With You Everywhere, Finding Solace in the Mists of Grief," chronicles not just loss, but also her daughter's extraordinary spirit.

When first diagnosed, Kim's daughter was given just five years to live. After surviving that milestone, she celebrated by embarking on a 1,000-kilometer dog sledding journey along Baffin Island—a month-long testament to her resilience and love of nature. For five more years, she lived fully, embracing her passions until cancer returned "with a vengeance." Even then, her response was remarkable—purchasing her dream car and making a final pilgrimage to the Redwood Forest.

"Just because I have cancer doesn't mean I have a death penalty," her daughter once said, embodying a philosophy that continues to guide Kim. The grief manifested physically for both Kim and her son as "broken heart syndrome"—actual cardiac symptoms requiring hospital visits despite having healthy hearts. Meanwhile, Kim's husband processed his grief differently, stoic until a memory of their daughter's childhood "apple cheeks" finally broke through his composed exterior.

Kim found healing through creative expression, nature, and ultimately by establishing a living legacy. Today, she offers scholarships to Inuit students studying environmental technology and donates all proceeds from her book to Iri Saksvik, a non-profit addressing Inuit mental health challenges stemming from historical traumas. Her journey shows us that grief isn't something to overcome but to move through, honoring loved ones by living meaningfully and helping others. Have you found ways to transform your own grief into purpose? Kim's story reminds us it's possible to climb back toward the light, one step at a time.

Kaye has lost six family members in fifteen years—parents, sister, husband, daughter, and grandchild. Yet speaking with her feels like basking in sunshine. Her resilience isn't from avoiding grief but from facing it directly and choosing joy alongside it.

The most challenging aspect of her grief journey? "People being afraid to talk to me," Kaye reveals. We explore how our society's discomfort with grief creates isolation when connection is most needed. Kaye shares that often all someone needs is a simple "Are you okay?" or an invitation for coffee—acknowledgment without perfect words. While support often fades after a few months, the need for understanding continues for years.

Kaye speaks with particular compassion about losing her daughter. "Until you've been there, you don't really know what it's like," she explains, describing why she makes a point of connecting with other bereaved parents. There's profound comfort in knowing others have walked a similar path and survived.

Today, Kaye approaches life with remarkable purpose—volunteering, dancing, singing, and even "being foolish." Her Bradley Residence community provides the support network that combats isolation, where neighbours check on each other and share both sorrows and celebrations.

Her advice for those grieving is beautifully simple: "Take every invitation... Don't stay in the house... Find something happy or simple every day." This isn't about denying loss but honouring it by continuing to fully live. As Kaye wisely notes, those we've lost "don't want you sitting in the corner crying all day."

Have you experienced grief that others seemed uncomfortable discussing? Share your story or reach out for support—connection is how we heal together.

Art doesn't retire, and neither does the creative spirit—a truth beautifully exemplified by Vera Van Buren in this warm, enlightening conversation from The Bradley Retirement Living.

Born and educated in Holland, Vera shares her journey from a 16-year-old art student to her life today as an accomplished artist with nearly four years at The Bradley. Her story spans continents and decades, beginning with her education at the Academy of Art in Holland where she studied textile design before marrying and eventually immigrating to Canada some 50 years ago.

What stands out about Vera is her remarkable artistic versatility. Unlike artists who specialize in one medium, she moves effortlessly between semi-abstract compositions, watercolors, mixed media, portraiture, and her increasingly popular pet portraits. "I just do what I like," she explains with characteristic simplicity, revealing a philosophy that extends beyond canvas to her approach to life itself.

The conversation challenges common misconceptions about retirement living. Far from surrendering independence, Vera describes The Bradley as a place where choice reigns supreme—whether participating in her beloved morning line dancing (which she insisted remain unchanged when she moved in), painting in her room, or walking with friends. After 63 years of marriage and following her husband's declining health, Vera found an immediate connection to her new home. "When I came here and walked through the door, I thought—this is it," she recalls, capturing that ineffable feeling of belonging that transcends age.

Join us for this enlightening conversation that proves creativity, independence, and community connection don't diminish with age—they simply find new expressions and environments in which to flourish. Listen now to discover how senior living at its best doesn't just sustain life, but enriches it.

Meet Gilbert Jeleno, whose remarkable life journey takes center stage in this heartwarming conversation at The Bradley Retirement Residence. From his early days in Ottawa's Mechanicsville to his current vibrant life in retirement, Gilbert's story captivates with unexpected twists and profound wisdom.

As a young man with a knack for sales, Gilbert's career path included working for the railroad, winning a Canada-wide contest at Bata Shoes, and eventually establishing his successful business, "The Appliance Market." His entrepreneurial spirit shines through as he explains how he recognized a market need for appliance recycling before formal programs existed. But perhaps the most surprising revelation? Gilbert once babysat a young Paul Anka before he became a music sensation, even driving him to promote his freshly recorded hit "Diana" at a local radio station.

Gilbert's personal reflections on his 65-year marriage, raising five children, and his passion for classic cars (including his teenage pride—a 1934 Terraplane Coupe convertible with a rumble seat) offer delightful glimpses into a life fully lived. His transition to The Bradley came after his wife's passing, when his daughter suggested he might benefit from community living. The moment he walked in and saw the grand piano in the dining room, he knew he'd found his new home.

What stands out most is Gilbert's challenge to misconceptions about senior living. Far from being inactive or dependent, he describes a fulfilling lifestyle filled with daily exercise, engaging activities, and newfound friendships. "People should not be afraid," he emphasizes, highlighting the independence and quality of life he's discovered. His wisdom about aging with purpose and maintaining lifelong interests serves as inspiration for listeners of any age. Join us to experience Gilbert's contagious enthusiasm and learn why he says, "It's been a good ride."

Join us as we discuss Melissa's personal journey to finding friendship and community in a senior living environment. Life transitions can be challenging, but with the support of a local community, building connections becomes easier. Watch as we talk about navigating the ups and downs of transitioning to a new chapter in her life. #seniorliving #buildingconnections #localcommunity #communitybuilding #lifetransitions