News

At 88, VON supporter Sally Wismer continues to contribute meaningfully to her beloved community of Guelph, Ontario, where she has lived since 1964. Sally began her journey with VON as a client and volunteer of the SMART (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together)® exercise program, later adding appreciative donor to her roles.

After moving to a retirement community in 2021, Sally was looking for a new form of exercise. “I had lived in another neighbourhood in the centre of Guelph where I'd walked a lot,” she says. “I knew that exercise was important. And I heard VON was offering exercise classes for seniors here in my building. I decided to give it a whirl.”

A former executive director of the Guelph Arts Council, Sally offered to help SMART instructor Janet Ferguson with administrative aspects of the class—taking attendance, printing materials, recruiting participants, cleaning and preparing equipment and more. 

 “I was very aware of the importance of the not-for-profit sector and knew that volunteer jobs or tasks here and there needed to be done,” Sally says.

Kelly Gee, SMART program supervisor, says Sally was a strong and successful advocate for increasing the number of scheduled classes offered each week. “Despite any mobility or health challenges she may face personally, Sally shows up with commitment and heart,” Kelly adds. “She embodies the SMART values—community, independence and the belief that movement can change lives. She helps create an environment where participants feel welcome, supported and cared for.”

Sally, whose husband John passed away in 2021, believes SMART classes have a dual benefit—improved physical fitness and increased social connection. “I realize that the less exercise I get, the more mobility issues I have,” she says. “And there are social benefits too. We have quite a fun group. Our instructor has great music, and she sings a lot. We all end up singing. I always feel good afterwards.” 

A graduate of Western University’s English and history programs, Sally says she has also learned a lot about the body. “Janet tells us this is working your glutes or your quadriceps or things like that. That's an interesting little side light for me—learning a bit more about how my body works.” 

This new knowledge has leant itself to discussions with a granddaughter studying kinesiology and a grandson studying nursing. Sally also appreciates VON kinesiologist Alan Sze, who offers lectures right in her building, covering topics such as falls prevention and osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, two conditions she lives with.

Recently, Sally became a client of VON’s transportation program too. “Someone else in the building told me about it, and so for any medical appointments—and I've had quite a few in the past three or four months—VON transportation has really made a difference for me as well. That's doubled my appreciation of VON.”

WhenSally’s investment advisor suggested she was in a good position to donate to charity, she immediately considered VON. “I thought, I'm getting a lot out of this, so this is a good way for me to give back,” she explains. No strangers to giving, Sally and John had previously established a fund at the Guelph Community Foundation to benefit the arts. 

“I certainly would be happy to encourage anyone, if they're looking for somewhere to donate, to give to VON,” Sally says. “I know I made the right decision in choosing to add VON to my list of donors. It just feels good and it feels right.” 

If you would like to support VON's programs, like SMART, please donate.