Interview with Berwick Qualicum Beach resident, Maggie Sheehan

My life at Berwick Qualicum Beach is so busy, and I’m on the go from morning till night, which is what I love. Everybody has different opinions. Some people like to relax in their suite, whereas I’m a goer. I really enjoy doing everything, and there are so many things to do.

The things I really enjoy are the daily fitness classes, which run from beginner to more advanced, including Zumba and line dancing. I love the walking club and getting outside. I very much enjoy writing, and I’m very honored to have been able to write the play that the drama group produced this last summer. We have a flourishing book club, and having painted all my life, I love all the arts and the crafts, and there’s a lot of that there.

There’s a wonderful sense of community. Everybody is so friendly, and we sort of look out for each other. The staff is amazing, and they will do anything for you. So I feel very, very fortunate to be living there.

They’re just so helpful. Anything that you need, you just have to approach any of them and ask. We can ask if we want certain lectures or we want certain outings or anything, really, and they will look into it and decide if it’s agreeable. Usually, if we say, oh, it’s going to be lovely next Sunday, is it important, can we please have a bus ride out to such and such falls or a park, and it’s made available for us. That’s really, really nice.

There are many other things which I don’t partake in because they’re not my particular interest, you know, bridge, ukulele group, mahjong, many, many things. You can really be busy from the moment you get up in the morning until you go to bed, or you can just relax in your suite and do nothing. There’s no pressure.

There are many other things which I don’t partake in because they’re not my particular interest, you know, bridge, ukulele group, mahjong, many, many things. You can really be busy from the moment you get up in the morning until you go to bed, or you can just relax in your suite and do nothing. There’s no pressure.

There are many other things which I don’t partake in because they’re not my particular interest, you know, bridge, ukulele group, mahjong, many, many things. You can really be busy from the moment you get up in the morning until you go to bed, or you can just relax in your suite and do nothing. There’s no pressure.

I came from Ottawa because my son retired in Qualicum Beach. I didn’t know anything about it at all. I chose Berwick Qualicum Beach really because of the location. It’s right in the town, which is a very quiet, sleepy little town, which is lovely, but it has all the amenities of the shops and the bank and all the facilities that I wanted because I’m no longer driving. So that was really important to me.

I loved the building. It was new, a year old when I first came there. I like the landscaping because I’m a very keen gardener. There’s a beautiful waterfall at the front and a lovely sunken courtyard as well.

It was really easy. The staff were very, very helpful indeed. I had no problems at all.

Really, from day one. It was sort of unfortunate that I moved in during COVID times, so I was in isolation for a few days. But the staff provided books and games, so I had plenty to do. I also really enjoyed looking over the monthly calendar, which gives all the activities. As soon as I read through them, I thought, "This is for me. I’m really going to enjoy living there."

I think I would just say come because everyone is so friendly. We sort of look after each other. It’s not too big with residents, it’s just lovely.

I would say come because there are views of the mountains to the south and to the sea to the north. There are gorgeous walks around. The road that Berwick is on is very quiet, and I think they would just enjoy it.

Actually, I haven’t. I really haven’t. Trying to give it some thought, areas for improvement, I can’t think of any because the building is fairly new, five years old. The furnishings and the paintings are very charming and calming. I think the whole place is very calm, perhaps because of the color scheme and also the fact that the stained glass and the paintings perhaps remind me of England. Of course, it’s been many years since I came from England, but it gives me a feeling of home, and I think that’s really important.

Actually, I wouldn’t do anything differently. I feel I chose correctly. The staff were very helpful. There’s an ambassador there who is one of the residents who answered all my questions and introduced me to other residents. I can’t think of anything I would really do differently. Everything moved very smoothly, and I love it.

I think everyone is different. For me, I’ve always lived in a quiet house on a quiet street in the suburbs. I’ve never ever lived in a condominium or apartment. So I was a little apprehensive about moving in that I would get noisy neighbors. It has more than met my expectations. It is really quiet in your suite, which is really lovely.