Vancouver Island Seniors Find Community and Connection Through Rapidly Growing Facebook Group
VICTORIA, BC - A Vancouver Island Facebook group launched just seven months ago has blossomed into a thriving community for senior women, offering connection, support, and a renewed sense of belonging for its over 3,000 members. Vancouver Island Senior Ladies, founded by Trish Westeveld, provides a dedicated space for women across the island to forge friendships and participate in local activities.
Westeveld created the group after searching for a similar online forum and finding none to meet her needs. ”I looked and looked and couldn’t find what I was looking for, and now I’ve found what I was looking for – and it seems like it’s what everyone else was looking for as well, but couldn’t find,” she explained. The group’s success highlights a growing need for accessible social networks tailored to the interests and experiences of senior women.
The group’s rapid growth is fueled by the genuine connections members are making. “The positivity and the happiness and things it’s given everybody, it’s really heartwarming,” Westeveld says. Members are organizing events and activities in their own communities, often discovering they live near one another.
The group maintains a strict membership policy to ensure a safe and inclusive surroundings. “Definitely no men,” Westeveld stated, noting frequent requests from male applicants. “We don’t want that, though we keep getting them applying, so I’m not sure if they just want to hop in on the fun.”
Activities range from casual walks and shared meals to book clubs, journal groups, and invitations to local concerts and art shows.For members like Rosie Tyskerud,the group has been life-changing. “I signed up and I went the next day for the first walk and I came home and I phoned my husband about it and my kids, and everybody was so excited that I found something,” she shared.
The impact extends beyond social engagement. Judy Kauwell recounted a particularly meaningful connection made through the group. “My first time out I met a girl who had cancer and I was just going through the process of finding out if I had it myself, so we connected really strongly on our very first visit out, and I was like, wow.”
westeveld envisions continued growth for Vancouver Island Senior ladies. “I hope to have this grow and be more,” she said.”The sky is the limit to where I think I can go with this.”
Those interested in joining can find the group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/652108080645852. More stories about inspiring women on Vancouver Island can be found at https://cheknews.ca/tag/inspiring-island-women/.
