--- title: An Unbreakable Spirit description: In war or peace, Joyce Schmalz is someone you can rely on. When she saw confusion and inequality affecting seniors, Joyce co-founded what is now Seniors First BC. image: https://blog.aspiralife.ca/hubfs/Our%20Stories/Story67_364x164_RH.jpg --- CONTACT US **0800 920 2222** Search Sienna [CONTACT US](https://www.aspiralife.ca/contact-us/)     **[1-866-959-4848](tel:+18669594848)** [![Aspira-logo-lockup-RGB](https://blog.aspiralife.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Aspira%20Logos/Aspira-logo-lockup-RGB.png?width=3368&height=1403&name=Aspira-logo-lockup-RGB.png "Aspira-logo-lockup-RGB")](https://www.aspiralife.ca/) - [Our Locations](https://www.aspiralife.ca/our-locations) - [Find your Local Community](https://www.aspiralife.ca/our-locations) - [Living Options](https://www.aspiralife.ca/living-options) - [Seniors Apartments](https://www.aspiralife.ca/living-options/seniors-apartments/) - [Independent Living](https://www.aspiralife.ca/living-options/independent-living/) - [Assisted Living](https://www.aspiralife.ca/living-options/assisted-living/) - [Respite Care](https://www.aspiralife.ca/living-options/respite-care/) - [Memory Care](https://www.aspiralife.ca/living-options/memory-care/) - [Plan Your Move](https://www.aspiralife.ca/plan-your-move) - [How to Get Started](https://www.aspiralife.ca/plan-your-move/how-to-get-started/) - [Feature Webinars](https://www.aspiralife.ca/Plan-Your-Move/Feature-Webinars) - [Affordable Options](https://www.aspiralife.ca/plan-your-move/affordable-options/) - [FAQs](https://www.aspiralife.ca/plan-your-move/faqs/) - [About Us](https://www.aspiralife.ca/about-us) - [Essence of Aspira](https://www.aspiralife.ca/about-us/essence-of-aspira) - [Our Blogs](https://www.aspiralife.ca/about-us/our-blogs/) - [Leadership Team](https://www.aspiralife.ca/About-Us/Leadership-Team) - [Quality](https://www.aspiralife.ca/About-Us/Quality) Search Sienna ![Aspira-Photo-Hand-Painting-04-LR (2)](https://blog.aspiralife.ca/hubfs/Aspira-Photo-Hand-Painting-04-LR%20(2).jpg "Aspira-Photo-Hand-Painting-04-LR (2)") In war or peace, Joyce Schmalz is someone you can rely on. When she saw confusion and inequality affecting seniors, Joyce co-founded what is now Seniors First BC. - - - [Veteran Stories](https://blog.aspiralife.ca/lestweforget/tag/veteran-stories), [Mayfair Terrace Retirement Residence](https://blog.aspiralife.ca/lestweforget/tag/mayfair-terrace-retirement-residence), [Inspirational Life](https://blog.aspiralife.ca/lestweforget/tag/inspirational-life), [British Columbia](https://blog.aspiralife.ca/lestweforget/tag/british-columbia), [Retirement](https://blog.aspiralife.ca/lestweforget/tag/retirement), [Port Coquitlam, BC](https://blog.aspiralife.ca/lestweforget/tag/port-coquitlam-bc) ## An Unbreakable Spirit May 15, 2018 You can always rely on 97-year-old Joyce Schmalz to turn the worst situation into an opportunity for change. ![picture of Joyce during her time as a Military Police](https://blog.aspiralife.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/Our%20Stories/story67-mayfair-terrace-joyce1.jpg?width=227&name=story67-mayfair-terrace-joyce1.jpg)When the Nazi bombing raids over London in WWII made it impossible for her to attend university, [she joined the British Military Police](https://blog.aspiralife.ca/when-the-sound-stops). When she came to Canada, she found a way to provide for herself and her two daughters; and when her youngest daughter, Angela, died in a car crash just weeks before Christmas, Joyce found a way to persevere. So it should come as no surprise that when she saw the system was failing seniors she attempted to balance the scales. Joyce received the City of Surrey’s ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in 2013 for her work helping seniors; which included co-founding the British Columbia Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support in 1982, which recently changed its name to Seniors First BC. For Joyce and the seniors she’s helped, the journey all started when Joyce retired to spend more time with her husband, Bill Schmalz. “After about a week or so \[of retirement\], I just missed — it wasn’t the people so much, but it was the work,” Joyce said. She began working one day a week at a communications centre helping seniors fill in legal documents. After some time there, one of the paralegals who worked at the centre asked Joyce if she would be able to write a report for her, and Joyce, who had written several reports when she was part of the British Military Police, cheekily asked her if she’d like the report written in English or French. And then the house calls started. Joyce went out to visit seniors who were being taken advantage of in some of the worst ways, including being robbed by their families through the misuse of power of attorney. “I was just horrified. I didn’t know anything about this at this time, that families could do such a thing,” Joyce said. “Older people are entitled to respect and dignity, no matter what.” Hearing the stories of abuse from fellow seniors inspired Joyce to start putting together a list of resources. The biggest problem, in her opinion, is that many people don’t understand the laws or how certain decisions may affect them in the future.  “Be careful that you understand the consequences of your choice or your agreement and the options,” Joyce said. “When a person tells me what the problem is, then I tell them their options and what could, might, or would happen. You have to emphasise that it’s their choice. Whatever they want.” Helping senior understand their options has always been Joyce’s main goal. It’s why she wrote and starred in an educational film, ‘Finding a Future for Ellen,’ which follows the story of a widow who’s being taken advantage of by her daughter.  “When I wrote ‘Finding a Future for Ellen,’ I took it to the Justice of Offence of New Westminster to make sure I was saying the right things,” Joyce said. “I wouldn’t have it published unless everybody approved it and agreed that I got it right.” Filming was done in Joyce’s house, and Joyce stars as the main character, Ellen. Joyce had done a great deal of acting in seniors’ clubs before, and so wasn’t nervous about acting. “Oh, that was a wonderful day. We all had fun that day! It was easy for me, because I’ve always liked to do acting.” ![picture of Joyce with the 2 mayors](https://blog.aspiralife.ca/hubfs/Our%20Stories/story67-mayfair-terrace-joyce2.jpg)‘Finding a Future for Ellen,’ along with many of the other resources Joyce developed for seniors, can be found on the [Seniors First BC website](http://seniorsfirstbc.ca/), which Joyce is still involved in as an honourary board member. Joyce moved from Surrey to [Mayfair Terrace Retirement Residence](https://www.siennaliving.ca/retirement/locations/mayfair-terrace-retirement-residence.aspx) in Port Coquitlam in 2017, where she’s continued to advocate passionately for seniors. “I want to talk to the mayor again, I met the Mayor of Port Coquitlam,” Joyce said. “And I want to get some city councillors interested in senior’s affairs and know what’s going on. So that’s really what I hope to be able to establish once I get sort of known a bit around here.” It’s a guarantee that Joyce will continue to make strides in seniors’ equality in the years to come. 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