My name is Mildred Williams. I worked for an oil company for 22 years and when they downsized I was laid off. I was looking for something different to do, something more meaningful and less stressful.
I run a transportation program where volunteers drive seniors to medical appointments. I'm in my twentieth year with the Calgary Seniors' Resource Society. I work with two wonderful groups of people: the volunteers, who are there because they choose to be, and the seniors because they are looking for assistance to go to appointments.
I've stayed with my job because I enjoy what I do, and I feel I'm making an important contribution to society. It's a good feeling to know that I'm helping others.
I'm 67 and I've chosen to work longer for two reasons: because I enjoy my job and because financially I really have to. I couldn't survive on government pensions. Our agency has just recently started a pension plan, which certainly isn't that helpful for anybody my age. It's mostly because I enjoy my job that I'm happy to stay on. I guess I'm fortunate that I didn't have to look for a job in the last 5 or 10 years, that I've been able to continue in the job that I enjoy.