Jim Huinink Editor, Comfort Life June 2021

We spoke with leaders behind some of Canada’s most progressive retirement communities, capturing a portrait of a dynamic industry deeply invested in providing excellent lifestyle and care for our elders. In our just launched Inspiring Leaders Series, you’ll hear people expressing visions that are ambitious, innovative, and inspiring. Take 5 minutes to watch the feature trailer now. You’ll be glad you did.

It’s a timely addition to our abiding message promoting the vibrancy of retirement living, with the series focusing on five key questions. These themes include trends in the sector, what inspires leaders to drive improvement, how communities distinguish themselves, innovations coming to market, and what the future of retirement living looks like. Answers are provided with assurance by exemplary leaders who put a strong face on the industry.

As we emerge from a pandemic that’s eroded Canadians’ confidence in many things—but especially our sector—it’s the right message at the right time. There’s a lot to look forward to in retirement living. Post-pandemic investment by both the public and private sectors will make “senior living tremendously attractive two to three years from now, because of all the innovation and investment coming into the sector,” says Karim Kassam, co-founder of Optima Living and vice president of British Columbia Seniors Living Association (BCSLA). His words exemplify leadership in our country, and we all share his enthusiasm for the future. Let’s make it happen.

Watch the feature video and share the Inspiring Leaders Series with your colleagues and peers.

Leaders in the series include:

• Tanya Snow of Bria Communities
• Elaine Wood of Delmanor Senior Living
• Ernie Hee and Veronica Da Conceicao of Element Lifestyle
• Kevin Pidgeon of Nautical Lands Group
• Karim Kassam of Optima Living
• Louisa Flinn and Anna Louie of PARC Retirement Living
• Angela Kelly of River Crest Estates
• Marie-Josee Lafontaine of Scarborough Retirement Residence
• Tony DiFruscio of Zest Communities and St. Elizabeth Village

• Family insight video series: We’re currently interviewing families for Comfort Life’s Insider Perspectives Video Series. If you haven’t booked yours yet, please do so by July 15. These first-person testimonials of why a family chose your community will speak to the questions and concerns of your most important prospects. Highlights from interviews may also be included in editorial features, including our upcoming magazine and on ComfortLife.ca.


• Annual Comfort Life retirement guide: We’re gathering stories and anecdotes for consideration in this year’s annual print guide, released October 2021 and reaching more than 300,000 readers. Thank you to those who’ve submitted content. If you have a great story or idea to share, here’s a reminder of what we’re seeking:
  • Resident ambassadors who speak exceptionally well for your community. You can also tell us about any other people in your community who go out of their way to help others.
  • Stories and anecdotes about dining experiences in your community.
  • Community activities, fitness groups, or outings that residents really enjoy.
  • Quarantine move-ins who speak well of the change of address.


• Website traffic update: ComfortLife.ca is the most used platform in Canada to find, research, and choose a retirement community. Through the first five months of the year, ComfortLife.ca continues to track upwards, with 416,691 sessions so far, an increase of 68.27% over last year. Member community profile views have also increased 44.08% year-over-year, as Canadians use our trusted platform to explore their renewed interest in retirement living.

Copyright © 2021 Our Kids Media, All rights reserved