While many people view retirement as an opportunity to slow down, others make the most of their new found time.
Doreen Kot has been retired for many years but continues to move at a speed that would exhaust a person half her age.
Since retiring from a career in the medical field, the 82-year-old has been busy helping others. Her time volunteering assists First Nations people and newcomers to Canada.
Doreen’s volunteering began when the church she attends, Parkdale United, partnered with the Calgary Urban Project Society (CUPS).
‘That's when we started looking around saying these people need a place to live,” explains Doreen. “You can't get your act together when you're running around trying to figure out where to go to bed the next night or where to get the next meal.”
Parkdale United and several other churches formed the Calgary chapter of an ecumenical organization called Kairos.
“We partnered with the Calgary Homeless Foundation and purchased the first (building), low income housing, 58 apartments and now we have four.”
Doreen loves watch as formerly homeless people receive the opportunity to rent a place of their own. She says, at first, many struggle with the initial adaptation but it's exciting when they start taking charge of their lives.
When not volunteering with organizations, the 82-year-old tends to a small truth and reconciliation garden at her church. The garden was created to honour the First Nations children who died in residential schools.
Rosemary Stuart met Doreen through aquasize classes at the Crowfoot YMCA. Rosemary says her 82-year-old friend's energy is amazing..
“She always comes to swimming,” said Rosemary, ”telling us stories of the latest refugees from Africa not speaking a word of English and having to teach them how to write their name in English then how to apply to the banks how to do those things.”
For all she does to make life better for hundreds of people who might otherwise be homeless, Doreen Kot is this week’s Inspiring Albertan.
With files from CTV's Darrel Janz
