Our Team
Ronda, ECE 111, BEd, BSW, RSW
Executive Director – Social Worker
Ronda has worked in social enterprise positions for many years. A farm girl background has taught her about hard work and installed a love of the outdoors. A successful competitor in horse shows and rodeos, she also enjoys photography, antiques, and day trips to check out the thrift stores.
Grateful for the life skills and teachings of her mom and dad she has always enjoyed helping her dad with carpentry and hanging out in the shop.
When Ronda’s mom went through the stages of dementia, Ronda moved to live with her mom, to fulfill her mom’s wish of remaining in her own home. During this time, Ronda found there was not a lot of support to assist people to remain, in their own homes and Age In Place. Ronda is an avid supporter of ‘Aging In Place’ and believes that we need to have more resources available to help older adults remain in their own homes.
Myrna, MSW
Volunteer
Myrna has recently retired and closed her private practice in Regina working mainly with children and their families. She has a Masters in social work from the University of Toronto and has worked in the helping profession and education for over 40 years. As a facilitator, Myrna is a good listener,compassionate, soft-spoken and fair. For her, it is important people know they are all valued for their contributions. She is interested in assisting participants of SCWW who are seeking knowledge and information to benefit their lives and help relieve loneliness.
Myrna is from small town Saskatchewan and knows the value of helping your neighbor. As a daughter of an elevator Agent, she and her family were very involved in the communities they lived in. Volunteering became an important part of her life and continues to this day. She has helped establish a Volunteer Bureau at the University of Saskatchewanin the 1970’s, was on the first board of the Early Childhood Education Program (ECIP) in Moose Jaw and has served on numerous committees and boards over the years. In 2012, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award for her volunteer work with the Saskatchewan Association of Social Workers.
Since retiring the first time in 2012 from the Faculty of Social Work, University of Regina as the Field Education Coordinator, Myrna became an avid quilter. She enjoys the socializing quilting provides. Myrna is involved in a group of quilters known as Connecting Threads. They sew for pleasure and to help the community in Regina by donating their time and thread. Quilts are made for the Neo-natal Unit at Regina General Hospital, Women’s Shelters and Wascana Rehabilitation Centre and other agencies as needed. Since Covid-19 she continues to meet online with her quilting friends.
Bonnie M.
Program Outreach Assistant
I grew up on a farm and always loved helping people so when Ronda called me this seemed like a good fit. I really enjoy keeping the senior’s company and helping Ronda with whatever she needs.
Lorne Jackson, Volunteer
Piano Player Extraordinaire
Lorne plays on a piano that once belonged to his grandmother, she got the piano in 1892. Lorne’s mother looked after the piano for many years prior to sharing it with Lorne. It is indeed a piano with a history and we are privileged to share in that history. Each piece that Lorne plays for us includes some info for the song and some wonderful music to accompany the story.
Lorne plays over the telephone every Friday morning, from 10:00 am to 11:00 a. Lorne is gifted at explaining the history of each song and is a talented piano player who can play a multitude of genres.
Lorne has provided countless volunteer hours over the past two years, of which we are so appreciative and feel lucky to have Lorne as part of our team.
Georgette, Volunteer
I enjoy being both a participant and a volunteer for Seniors without Walls.
As a participant, I am able to visit with so many wonderful people as well as learn new information to enrich my life.
As a volunteer, I especially take pleasure in the fact that together we can help ourselves and help others. In doing this, we are combating ageism in a positive manner.
Dorreen Gane, Advocacy and Community Outreach
Dorreen is a Human Services Specialist with 35 years of service and experience. Dorreen’s professional background includes a lengthy history with Social Services and Advanced Education and Labour in various roles including Eligibility Review, Career Services, Verification, Financial Worker, Sask Disability Worker, Assistant Supervisor and held her own employment contract as an Employment Specialist with the Saskatchewan government. She most recently spent 5 years working in Employment Readiness and Financial Literacy with Sask Abilities, Partners In Employment division. She retired from full time employment in December 2023 to join Seniors without Walls on a parttime basis.
Dorreen’s community history includes sitting on boards for the city of Moose Jaw on Special Needs and Housing. Provincial Disability Support member, City of Moose Jaw Emergency Services, Representation on the Hub committee through the Regional Sectorial Committee, Disability Strategy Public Forum, Past Chair Moose Jaw College Daycare Board, member and volunteer of Festival of the Word and a 17 year affiliation with the Moose Jaw Kinette Club.
Dorreen’s qualifications include excellent service management skills, strong communication skills, comprehensive knowledge of government programs and the ability to team with work groups to achieve goals. Her additional strengths are public speaking and engagements as well as Implementation of programs.
As a Senior herself Dorreen is delighted to be associated with Seniors Without Walls and looks forward to assisting all seniors in our community.
Community Partners
Karla Rasmussen, Western Development Museum – Moose Jaw
Karla credits the influence of her late aunt and uncle for inspiring her with a love of history and museums at a young age; she and her younger sister would spend a week with their extended family in Winnipeg exploring numerous galleries and cultural locations each
summer.
Originally from a small town in west-central Manitoba, Karla grew up in her family’s funeral home business. After completing the Visual Communications course offered through her vocational high school, she went on to become the fourth generation of her family to work in the funeral industry, where she found her niche in creating custom memorial designs in their monument sales office.
Moving to Moose Jaw in 2008, she explored several diverse careers where she was able to use her education in developing graphics, campaigns, media relations, promotional and fundraising materials for local non-profit organizations. In the fall of 2016, she accepted a position at the WDM Moose Jaw as the Education and Public Programs Coordinator.
Karla’s motto is “life is too short for boring clothes” and relishes the opportunity to dress up in period-appropriate costumes for the educational programming at the WDM. She thoroughly enjoys her job developing events and programs, talking with students and meeting visitors from around the world. Karla is a strong believer in the Museum’s vision of “a Saskatchewan where everyone belongs and histories matter”, and works hard to help make the WDM a welcoming place for all.
Christy, Education Coordinator – Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery
About the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery The Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery is a centre for the visual arts and Moose Jaw’s living history, sharing opportunities for education, exploration, and inspiration. The gallery exhibits art and history of local, regional, national, and international origin. Its mandate is to interpret, and promote the cultural and artistic heritage of Moose Jaw and its surrounding region. We are attached to the Moose Jaw Public Library and have a Performing Art Theater all in on facility.
Christy Schweiger from the Moose Jaw Museum & Art has been in the position of Education Coordinator for 18 years and has been providing the community with enriching art education for all. A large portion of her work is providing tours of the Art Gallery and Heritage Gallery to school groups as well as do a hands-on activities related to the exhibition. She also sets up public arts programs for the interested public and customizes programs to specialized groups such as Individuals with special needs and Seniors. At the beginning of COVID the in person programs at the gallery were morphed into virtual programs and “hybrid” programs which means they are both in person (smaller class) and online. The program she runs with Seniors Centers without Walls phone program began in Fall 2020 and continues to flourish and expand to this day.
Della Ferguson
Funeral Celebrant and Grief Support Worker
W.J.Jones & Son Funeral Services
Della Ferguson is a Funeral Celebrant and Grief Support Worker with W.J.Jones & Son Funeral Services, having worked on the Jones Team since 1998. Della facilitates grief support groups to fit the differing needs of those experiencing the death of a loved one as well as facilitates ceremonies that are focused on honouring lives and healing hearts.
Della grew up in Mortlach on the family farm and has a deep affinity with nature. Her parents believed in the power of community and gave of themselves in support and service for the betterment of their community. Della lives in Moose Jaw with her hubby and they celebrate being parents and grandparents.
Della is also involved in community initiatives such as the Heartland Hospice Board; Journey to Hope Moose Jaw; and Square One Community, carrying the legacy of her parent’s belief that “together we are stronger”.
Judith Silverthorne
Cultural Consultant
Silverlight Productions Inc.
Judith Silverthorne is an award-winning author and a well-seasoned presenter, editor, and workshop instructor. As one of the cultural leaders in the province, Judith first and foremost loves to share her knowledge and writing skills to engage, inspire, and awaken creative processes in others, and is sensitive to the needs of seniors, particularly those in more remote areas who often lack connections and stimulation in this area, and may be at risk.
During her seven-year tenure as the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild, she spear-headed programming for rural and northern residents, including province-wide programs for Indigenous by forming an Indigenous Advisory Circle for insights and suggestions with participants from all over the province. Though Judith comes from a settler background, she has developed long-lasting relationships with Indigenous communities and individuals, learning the importance of observing protocols, and gaining some understanding of the traditions and cultures throughout the province and is aware and respectful of the TRC Calls to Action.
Judith also has been instrumental in forming links with people in various other demographic groups and within communities in Saskatchewan, helping to build relationships and form partnerships. She understands the importance of connecting people with artistic endeavours and how art can not only be therapeutic mentally in stimulating cognitive abilities, but how it empowers, fosters a stronger sense of identity, and increases self-esteem. Her vision is to reach as many individuals as possible in remote and northern locations. She strives particularly to make connections with people, and communities, who otherwise would not have the opportunity or the means to participate in health enriching artistic programming.
Catherine Livingstone MA, CDCP
Catherine Livingstone, MA, CDCP is a former Long Term Care Recreation Coordinator and a current advocate for care partners and people living with dementia. She is passionate about merging creativity with social justice, inclusion and health literacy, especially in terms of cognitive and brain health. She spent many happy summers at her family’s farm in Grey County, Ontario. One of the highlights of her academic career was placing second last in her College Livestock Show (Dairy Cattle category, Holstein). She would like to report her dye and topline skills were noted as “adequate”.