I have to admit, writing this letter feels a little hard to believe.
This issue marks the end of our very first year of publishing Alberta Senior Living magazine. One full year; six issues; hundreds of pages; a whole lot of emails, deadlines, and last-minute changes (with a lot of excited cheers and some overwhelmed tears, too).
But mostly, it marks the end of a year that I am incredibly grateful for.
When I decided to start this magazine, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted it to be. What I didn’t know was exactly how we would get there. Starting something new requires a certain amount of faith—not just in the idea itself, but in yourself, in the people you bring alongside you; and, for me, in God. There have been plenty of moments this year when I didn’t have all the answers and simply had to trust that if this was where I was supposed to be, the next step would become clear.
More often than not, it did.
And I certainly haven’t done this alone.
I am so grateful to Andrew Johnstone, our Art and Creative Director, whose talent has helped turn the ideas in my head into the magazine you hold in your hands. I’m grateful to the teams at Burke Group and Media Classified, who have helped us get the magazine printed and distributed across Alberta. I’m grateful to every advertiser who took a chance on a brand-new publication and believed in what we were trying to build.
I’m grateful to every contributor who has shared their expertise, their stories and their time with us.
And I’m especially grateful to you, our readers.
You picked up the first issue when Alberta Senior Living wasn’t proven to be any good at all, and you’ve continued to come along with us. You’ve read our stories, shared the magazine with friends, sent us notes and told us what you’d like to see more of. That’s the part that makes all the work behind the scenes worthwhile.
Of course, I’ve had my own little cheerleading section throughout all of this, too. My husband, my kids, my extended family and my friends have listened to me talk about magazine deadlines, stories, advertisers and ideas for the next issue probably more than they ever intended to. Their support, patience and encouragement have meant the world to me.
And now, here we are.
I think it’s fitting that we end our first year with an issue centred around remembrance, connection and the people who make our communities stronger.
Our cover story introduces you to Janet Hazen and Jocelyn Guillemette, two Alberta veterans whose stories remind us that service doesn’t necessarily end when military service does. There are experiences, friendships, values and a sense of purpose that stay with us—and continue to shape the way we contribute to the world around us.
November is a time when we pause to remember those who served and sacrificed for our country. I hope you’ll take a few moments this month to reflect on that service and on the freedoms and opportunities we sometimes take for granted.
And then, of course, comes my favourite time of year: the holidays.
I love this season. I love the traditions, the food, the lights, the gatherings and even the little bit of chaos that seems to come with it. But I think what I love most is the reminder to slow down and pay attention to the people around us.
That theme runs through so much of this issue. We’re talking about navigating family dynamics and loneliness during the holidays, celebrating with dementia in mind, finding joy in simplicity, staying connected, supporting older adults, giving generously and making time for the things—and the people—that matter.
There are also winter getaways, holiday recipes, books to curl up with, practical advice for getting ready for winter and plenty of ideas for getting out and enjoying Alberta.
In other words, there’s a little something for everyone.
And while I’m feeling a little nostalgic about completing our first year, I’m even more excited about what’s ahead.
We’re heading into 2027 with big plans for Alberta Senior Living. We’ll continue growing the magazine, reaching more communities and, for the first time, expanding into video with the launch of the Alberta Senior Living YouTube channel. I can’t wait to introduce you to some of our contributors in a whole new way, share more of the stories behind our stories, and bring even more of the things we love about Alberta to life.
When I look back at that very first issue, I remember wondering what this magazine might become.
A year later, I still don’t know exactly where this journey will take us—and honestly, I think that’s part of the fun.
What I do know is that I’m incredibly thankful to be here, incredibly proud of what we’ve created together, and very excited to see what’s next.
Thank you for being part of our first year.
And from my family to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, a happy holiday season and a wonderful start to 2027.
Here’s to another year of living well, laughing often and enjoying the good stuff.
Warmly,
Kerri Leland
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Alberta Senior Living