Pat Edge leaves amazing LRCA legacy

When Pat Edge walked into the LRCA offices for the first time in 1996, no one could ever have predicted the influence she would have on the organization.

Her generosity of time, funds and leadership left an amazing legacy.

Before she died in 2012, she bequeathed her home to the LRCA which through its sale helped fund the purchase of church land on 3rd Avenue for the Affordable Housing Project now under construction.

Pat was instrumental in running the LRCA seniors office she made a full-time program in 1997, and became a strong advocate for seniors, assisting in any way she could.

She and her husband Gordon worked in so many ways to help the centre, offering substantial donations of money and funding things like an annual turkey dinner for seniors.

Pat and Gordon moved to Ladysmith from Calgary and had two daughters.

Pat was instrumental in making the seniors program a friendly one, establishing the Phoning Tree to make weekly calls to lonely or shut-in seniors and creating the 49th Phoners whereby grocery orders were taken twice a week over the phone and the 49th Parallel grocer made the deliveries.

She established the seniors transportation program, offering a ride for seniors to medical appointments in Duncan or Nanaimo, and initiated a Friendly Visitors program which trained volunteers to visit lonely and isolated seniors.

Pat worked with the Ladysmith Chronicle to create a seniors page showcasing activities and events. The special part of the newspaper still exists today.

In the fall of 2010, Pat was appointed to the National Senior’s Advisory Council which advises the federal government on the issues and concerns affecting Canadian seniors.

At the time, Pat said: “It’s interesting to have some kind of input to the ministers responsible for seniors to let them know what’s important to us.” She worked on issues relating to labour force participation of older adults and inter-generational relations.

Eventually Pat, who considered herself a “hands-on doer” became a member of the LRCA board of directors and remained so until she died. She was admired and respected by the community.  For her work with LRCA and other local non-profits, she was named Ladysmith Citizen of the Year in 2006.

The LRCA considers her commitment, dedication and generosity to truly be a godsend.

Thank you, Pat.