October 9, 2023

Dear Vibeke,

Once again, we asked our resident walkers why raising funds

for Hesperus is important to them!

Anna Carling: Center with her two friends, Renate on her right and Rosemarie on her left "We are in our nineties. We have all been on the team walking for Hesperus in previous years. This year I, Anna, am walking for us all. It is my pleasure to walk and having a special purpose to support Hesperus makes it even more pleasurable. Thank you for your generosity!" Click here to go to Anna and friend's page.

Susana Toledo: "An 'intergenerational community' is a strong force for joy. By sharing and supporting each other, despite the age differences, we all benefit.

Although the tendency nowadays is to create only senior residences, I feel blessed that our Hesperus Village embraces lovingly children as well. We are able to welcome relatives and friends to our events and meaningful activities. 

That is how my three grand daughters (5 ,8 and 10), feel part of our community, happily participating in every possible event. This year, thanks to the encouragement of some residents, they are determined to take part in the walk. Building and maintaining interrelatedness among all human beings leads to a healthy social life."  Click here to go to Susana's page.

Jon Gertler: "For me living at Hesperus has been a God-send. The first day I moved in I felt at home. I came to Hesperus through CMHA and sometimes there is a stigma attached to mental health issues. I felt a sense of belonging right away even though I was not part of the Waldorf or anthroposophic communities. Hesperus is a very welcoming inclusive community. Peace and comfort are good words for how I feel here. The only way I want to leave is when I am called 'home'." Click here to go to Jon's page

Eleonora Galius: "To me Hesperus matters because it is my chosen home. I chose to live here because its foundation is based on respect for nature and respect for the human being. The principles on which Hesperus was founded recognize that human beings have souls and that our souls need nourishment. The beauty everywhere at Hesperus, inside and outside in the nature that surrounds us, is nourishing. The social and cultural activities are an important support."

  Click here to go to Eleonora's page

Regine Kurek: "At Hesperus I feel like we are trying to make alternative lifestyles possible….to honour everyone’s individual path of aging…but also communally to help each other when people are in need. It is heartening to see how we give our best to support when a neighbour is in need. An important part of life at Hesperus is also how we gather together sharing cultural, artistic and spiritual activities."

Click here to go to Regine's page

Rose Donatelli: "I have loved walking my whole life.

I feel fortunate to live here because Hesperus cares about people.

I want to walk and help Hesperus raise funds for the Hesperus mission.

Hesperus is a big help to me."

Click here to go to Rose's page

Marianne Coleman: "I am walking because I love to walk and because I want to support Hesperus Village. I am amazed how hard people work here. Each staff member does the work of several people. Dedicated volunteers put in countless hours to keep programs running. Residents themselves devote their time to beautifying the building and grounds, as well as caring for each other."

Click here to go to Marianne's page

Mary Warkentin: "Hesperus is a unique residence for seniors and their supporters. The beautiful natural setting and harmonious atmosphere are appreciated by all residents.

It is a valuable community."

This will be the fourth year that Mary and her dog Dusty have done this walk. They are often seen walking the property.

Click here to go to Mary & Dusty's page.

Gregory Sass: "At a time when homelessness is rampant, the middle class is at risk of disappearing, and the disparity between the poor and rich is enormous, Hesperus is a beacon and model of social equity. It is a community that works and deserves support."



Click here to go to Greg's page

Zan Hewitt: "Hesperus is a very special place that takes into consideration not just the body and supplying housing for elders but also the needs of the soul and spirit. Nature and the arts are valued. It is a home, not an institution and I am very grateful to be living here."

Click here to go to Zan's page.

An Evening Out

at the Theatre

Twenty Hesperus residents enjoyed a complementary night at the Curtain Club in Richmond Hill watching The Fly Fisher's Companion, a poignant comedy about a long time male friendship. The theatre generously opens one evening to charities.

Weeks later the residents are still talking about how much they enjoyed the evening.

Congratulations to the theatre...they are celebrating seventy years of bringing quality community theatre to Richmond Hill.

Many thanks

to the Curtain Club

Monarch Nursery

So many residents, visitors and staff enjoyed watching the wondrous, transformative process from egg to caterpillars to chrysalis and finally releasing the adult butterfly. Many thanks to our 'Monarch Mamas', Barbara, Lisa and Susana, who supported the care and feeding of the butterfly nursery this summer. The migratory monarch butterfly is on the endangered list!

Once again the butterflies are the inspiration for our fund raising thermometer. (milkweed photo on the right below) Our goal is raise $40,000, each $1,000 raised adds a new butterfly. With still a few weeks to go, we are about a quarter of the way to our goal. Consider sponsoring and supporting the individual walkers or the Hesperus team in general. Click on this link to go to the team page. Many thanks!

Michaelmas Festival in the Community

Spiritual festivals belong to many cultures and peoples. Here at Hesperus the festival for the Archangel Michael has been a long tradition. This year we opened on Thursday 28th September with a reading of Rudolf Sterner’s Michael Imagination which unfolds for us a beautiful picture of what this Festival stands for. On Michaelmas day, Friday the 29th, an enthusiastic group met to stir and then administer biodynamic preparations on the grounds of Hesperus to support Nature’s forces in the coming year. Later at 5:30pm around fifty Hesperus residents and friends sat down to a simple Michaelmas supper of soup and bread. Following our shared supper we gathered for a reading of Richard Ramsbotham’s play, The Burning of the Goetheanum, part I in the seminar room. The readers were Polaris Branch members and Hesperus residents. On Saturday morning a number of us attended a talk on Archangels at the Rudolf Steiner College by Dr. Kenneth McAlister. The evening concluded with the reading of The Burning of the Goetheanum, part II. Throughout the whole event the seminar room was decorated with a beautiful chalkboard drawing by resident Marianne Coleman and banners from the art section of the Visual Anthroposophical Society, creating a special mood (see below). Write up by Jef Saunders Photo by Richard Chomko