The Lloydminster Region Health Foundations donated $500 towards the cost of an air filtration system at Pioneer Lodge in memory of Betty Christensen, a founding member of the Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society. From left, Dr. Raff Sayeed, LRHF CEO Stephanie Munro, Betty’s daughter, Deb Staldeker and Seniors Care Society president Graham Brown on May 20. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Everyone who lives and works at Pioneer House and Lodge will be breathing easier in recognition of Betty Christensen.
The Lloydminster Region Health Foundation (LRHF) has presented Pioneer Lodge with a $500 donation towards its air filtration system project in recognition of Christensen’s contribution to the Lloydminster Concerned Citizens for Seniors Care Society.
Christensen was a founding member of the seniors group and a director when she died in 2023 at the age of 85.
“After Betty passed, our group wanted to make a contribution to something that would be meaningful in her name,” explained Graham Brown, president of the Seniors Care Society at its May 21 Tuesday meeting.
Donating to Pioneer’s ongoing air filtration project was the perfect solution agreed upon by Christensen’s daughter Deb Staldeker, her husband, Brian, and the health foundation.
LRHF CEO, Stephanie Munro told the meeting the air filtration system, supported in recognition of Christensen, will keep out smoke from a forest fire that got inside Pioneer facilities last summer.
The air will be filtered in each room so if one person has a respiratory outbreak in their room it will be detected right away in the air filtration system so they’ll know where the isolation needs to occur.
“It’s just keeping everyone a little safer, decreasing the amount of outbreaks. We’re very excited about it,” said Munro who noted Pioneer Lodge was on a respiratory outbreak that very week and cancelled its spring tea.
“It goes to show what a big difference it’s going to be for people and their families, workers and the staff.”
Munro estimates more than 1,000 people including family and friends of Pioneer residents will benefit from the air filtration system.
Speaking to Deb before the cheque presentation Munro said, “We are extremely grateful to the seniors’ society and to your mom and for the decision to helping to contribute to this project.”
Dr. Raff Sayeed who knew Christensen as one of the five founding members of the Seniors Care Society spoke fondly about what she brought to the group over the years.
“She never missed a meeting. She was very constructive in her comments. She was always supportive. We were a small group then. There were only five of us, but we packed a clout,” said Sayeed directing his comments to Deb.
He also recalled some successes in those days hosting a public meeting with 75 people and another meeting that drew 250 people to the Legacy Centre where seniors meet each week.
Sayeed noted Christensen was also in charge of memberships.
“I can’t say enough about her contributions to this group especially when we were a small group of five and our pot in the account was between $35 and $50 which was carried in the wallet of Judy Plandowski,” said Sayeed.
“Those were humble beginnings back then. but we’ve evolved. Thank you to your mother for all the help she gave us in the early days.”
