Senior Spotlight: Betty-Anne Blyth

Juana Gramajo | Aug 09, 2023

When Betty-Anne and her husband Ian decided it was time to retire, they had no idea they would end up in Clarendon Station. They moved here in 2007, without any connections or knowledge of the area, but it didn’t take long for them to settle in their new home. Through social connections and volunteer work, Betty-Anne and her husband found more than just a place to live: they found community.

Betty-Anne soon met Ann Walsh, who introduced her to volunteer opportunities. Now, over 15 years later, it seems Betty-Anne is always on her way to a volunteer/agency meeting. She has volunteered with several programs and agencies through the years, such as Community Living North Frontenac; Village is Beautiful; North Frontenac Little Theatre; The Canadian Frailty Network; President of the Sharbot Lake and District Lions Club, and Seniors And Law-enforcement Together (SALT). She found that volunteering was an excellent way to meet new people and make social connections.

Betty-Anne, a senior herself, has a passion for safety, health, and wellness for older adults. I first met her through Seniors And Law-enforcement Together (SALT), a volunteer committee supported by Rural Frontenac Community Services. She believes that the information provided to seniors through this program is invaluable, and is always eager to plan and facilitate presentations and events. She is a strong advocate for maintaining health and strength of seniors. She regularly attends Tai Chi on Mondays, and even there, she can be found talking about volunteer projects or giving out surveys.

She also facilitates a Friday Night Ladies group, a social gathering for women, who meet on the last Friday of each month. “The group consists of all kinds of people. There are retired teachers and retired dentists, people from all walks of life.” They get together, share refreshments, and spend a wonderful evening socializing and catching up. However, after years of being unable to gather in-person, she finds it is more challenging to get the group together again. She is always looking for new members: she has connections throughout the township who inform her of new people in the area. Betty-Anne tries to contact them to include them in the group, paying it forward to how she started out here when she connected with Ann. The Friday Night Ladies each contribute $5 at the gathering, which is then donated to a local cause. Betty-Anne states the cause they give to “depends on what is needed in the community at that time.” They have previously donated to the local food bank and the Clothes for Kids program, among others. She notes that men seem to have a harder time finding socialization, perhaps hinting that someone should start a Friday Night Men’s group.

Through her volunteer work, Betty-Anne has found community in an area she knew nothing about. She appears to be returning the favour by reaching out and connecting with others, sharing the warm embrace of community she received on arrival many years ago. She refers herself as a “transplant” but her roots seem firmly planted in Clarendon Station now. She states, “We moved here without knowing anyone. Now, we can’t go from the pharmacy to the bank without stopping 3 times [to chat].”

If you would like to be included on the e-mail list for Friday Night Ladies group, please e-mail Betty-Anne at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.