Residents and staff of the Big Hill Lodge have saluted the leadership provided by Rocky View Foundation CAO Carol Borschneck.during a Mar. 12 luncheon.

Borschneck is retiring after serving the seniors affordable housing society for 21 years. While CAO, she lead the completion of two new seniors affordable housing complexes and the expansion of another.

She has been working towards seeing a new Big Hill Lodge built in Cochrane. While she won't be CAO when it does occur, she has every intention of attending its grand opening.

In a brief tour, she pointed out some of the cracks in the wall to illustrate how it's time for a new lodge to be constructed. 

"If we can get this this funding from the province, that'll make all the difference," says Borschneck.. "We have good support from Peter Guthrie (local MLA and Alberta Infrastructure minister), so I think that that helps and hopefully we'll see something happen soon."

carol 2Big Hill Lodge manager Sandra Robin, right, praises the amazing support Carol provided the staff and residents of Big Hill Lodge.

It was an emotional luncheon for her. Big Hill Lodge manager Sandra Robin spoke of her contribution and lodge resident Gwen Connon presented flowers on behalf of the residents.

Borschneck says the Big Hill Lodge holds a special place in her heart and praises their staff.

"They do make it a fun place to live, and that's a biggest part, giving folks purpose, and having lots of activities and fun," she says. "That's so important."

She says the special events organized at the lodge are among the moments she'll treasure from her visits there. 

"They really go all out with their.Robbie Burns supper or any events that they hold here and try to involve as many residents as possible. I'm very proud of them for that."

Borschneck was CAO when they constructed a new lodge Crossfields in 2013 and most recently converted the Hampton Inn in Airdrie to a 93-room lodge. They also added on to an apartment building in Airdrie in 2010.

"There hadn't been an affordable seniors lodge operated by our foundation in Airdrie, so that opportunity came up through COVID and we were just lucky to be able to capitalize on it."

Sandra Robin says it was an honour to work with Borschneck for the last two decades. She says the foundation has advanced under her leadership and that she has always been an amazing supporter of the staff and residents of Big Hill Lodge.

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