Former nurse, 85, champions fitness for seniors through county program

‘They help create connection, reduce isolation and enhance the well-being of the individuals we serve,’ VON Simcoe County official says of volunteers

Nursing is the calling Barbara Evans-Boyden has always answered. 

From volunteering as a ‘candy-striper’ as a teen, to decades working in hospitals, on cancer wards and eventually in drug trials, the Collingwood resident continues in the field with her post-retirement volunteer work. 

Evans-Boyden, 85, has been a fitness leader for seniors in the Collingwood area for VON Simcoe County for more than 10 years. She leads classes as part of the Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together (SMART) free exercise program. The program was created to help prevent falls by training balance, endurance, strength and flexibility with 45-minute to one-hour classes in community spaces.

It is in keeping with her life’s work. 

The origin of VON, once called the Victorian Order of Nurses, goes back to 1897 when a shortage of nurses, doctors, and hospitals meant many people died, especially in remote areas, because they had no reasonable access to health care. It was one of the first organizations in Canada to provide home nursing care and public health nursing. 

Evans-Boyden teaches two classes a week for VON, and also volunteers at the YMCA in the cardiac rehab program.

Her classes include a cardio warm-up, balance and mobility exercises.

Often, the class participants come early for a chat and follow up with a coffee at McDonald’s.

Through the year, the group of about 18 people will gather together in the back room at Georgian Bay Family Restaurant for a meal.

They coordinate their exercise outfits for holidays, wearing red for Valentine’s Day, and green for St. Patrick’s Day.

“It’s another environment for people who are by themselves to have an opportunity to chat with other people, and that’s a big part of it,” said Evans-Boyden. “It’s a mental and social exercise, too.”

In fact, Evans-Boyden does build a relationship with the people in her class. 

Weekly, she’s connecting with between 15 and 18 people at the various classes. It’s few enough that she will miss someone who’s not there, and will check in on unexplained absences, especially for those who live alone.

She’ll encourage people to talk to their doctor if they have concerns, and she watches for signs of trouble, without doing any diagnosing.

“I really feel that I found a way to help others and that, to me, is the essence of nursing,” said Evans-Boyden.

Through her own life’s challenges, she has kept coming back to her volunteer work. 

Her husband of 33 years died during the COVID pandemic. His own volunteer work – he received a 10-year-pin as a volunteer at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital – still inspires Evans-Boyden to keep offering her time and expertise. 

She greatly admires the responsibility and commitment of the volunteers at Collingwood’s hospital and in Ontario’s healthcare system, which relies on volunteers for many jobs. 

She would know, first because she was formerly a nurse and spent the latter part of her career working in clinical research. She started out working for Red Cross, then at Sick Kids’, and at Sunnybrook teaching new nurses. She has a Master’s degree in adult education. 

“Volunteering has been able to bring that back into alignment for me, because I feel like I’m really helping the seniors in my class stay as fit as they possibly can,” she said. 

Secondly, she has experienced – as a patient – the role volunteers play in healthcare and recovery. 

In 2023, she was diagnosed with a cancerous ulcer and dropped to 95 pounds following radiation and chemotherapy. 

She was motivated to get strong again so she could return to teaching her VON classes. She returned to her volunteer job on her late husband’s birthday. 

“I was absolutely determined that this was not going to hold me back,” said Evans-Boyden, crediting many factors, including her exercise regime, with her complete recovery. 

She encourages everyone to volunteer for the betterment of the community and the people in it. 

“I think volunteers really play a part in the community growing in a positive way,” she said. “I think the more volunteers we have with whatever their experience has been, it helps us not get linear about our thinking … it helps us keep a broad perspective.” 

Debbie Ferris-Giammoattolla, the volunteer coordinator for VON’s Simcoe and Muskoka regions, said there were 86 volunteers helping to run the SMART and adult day programs in Simcoe County and Muskoka last year. Those volunteers logged 5,745 hours. 

The adult day program provides recreation, socialization and support for adults living with dementia, chronic illness or mobility challenges. Some of the activities include crafts, games, music therapy, and conversation. 

“The value these volunteers bring to our organization cannot be overstated,” said Ferris-Giammoattolla. “They help create connection, reduce isolation and enhance the well-being of the individuals we serve.” 

She added the volunteers not only provide practical support, but also bring compassion, kindness, and a sense of community that strengthens the VON programs. 

VON has offices in Barrie, Beeton, Bracebridge, Collingwood and Orillia. You can find information about volunteering on the VON website.