Summer is in full bloom – literally – for David, who lives at Cambie Gardens. Maintaining a number of garden plots is one of the many interests he pursues.
He grows vegetables – including tomatoes, zucchini, peppers – herbs and flowers in locations in and around Cambie Gardens, which he tends throughout the week. When asked what he intends to do with his inevitably huge tomato harvest, he says, “Can ‘em, freeze ‘em, eat ‘em and share ‘em.”
David, who moved to Cambie Gardens in March, 2022, says he attributes “nosiness” to the reason he always seems to know what’s going on around him. He is a wealth of information about life at Cambie Gardens.
He says his life now is a big improvement over his last living situation. He likes to wake up early and be busy throughout the day, which he can do with some help from the CONNECT Partners coaches supporting him. He enjoys a greater level of freedom now.
“The people living in the apartment together and the coaches supporting us are like a little family,” he says. “That’s why it’s difficult when staff leave and casual people have to come in and help. The people living here want consistency and stability. We create a little routine within our household and organize things like going for Dim Sum and to the movies. The coaches are as much a part of that as the people living here.
“There are still lots of things that frustrate me, like when things don’t happen fast enough. But I spent 50 years in project management and IT where I controlled everything and had a specific plan in place for everything that was going to happen. It’s hard when things don’t happen as you expect and when you expect.”
He says his dad was like MacGyver, which influenced him to be curious about everything, including taking engines apart and fitting them back together, cooking, art and gardening.
He is also involved in some committees, including advising about the usability and adaptability of the building and apartments at Cambie Gardens. He says he also attends most of the organized activities and events.
Some goals David is working towards include: Trying to get on the list for a kidney transplant; transferring on his own without a lift; getting back into his manual wheelchair; and playing wheelchair hockey, basketball or tennis.
“There are lots of things I am working on and wanting to improve. Always working toward something.”