Ian Hartley has been volunteering for years, offering his services as a hospital chaplain, working at the Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre and as a member of the Rotary Club. “I’m really at the peak of what everyone would call wisdom, information, experience sharing,” said Hartley, a resident of Red Deer.
His life has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic, and at 79 years old, he now has a lot more time on his hands. Hartley isn’t alone.
Thousands of seniors across the country who would normally be helping on the front lines during a crisis have become shut-ins, protecting themselves against the virus.
The loss of that senior manpower has had a dramatic impact on community organizations, health care and other sectors of Canada’s economy