Betty Burgoyne

Snapshot: Meet a Community Elder

Betty greeted me with a cheerful wave from the barn door where she had been tending to her two Welsh ponies. She walks with a spring in her step, and her smile travels to her eyes. It’s hard to believe she is nearly 86.

Family, ponies and a wide social circle keep the sparkle in Betty Burgoyne’s smile. Photo by Rosemary Hasner / Black Dog Creative Arts.

Betty and her husband Bob have been living happily in their charming bungalow north of Belfountain since 1967.

While equines are a passion, Betty’s essence is the enormous joy she feels in the company of others. Warm and radiant, she exudes compassion, empathy and kindness. It’s not surprising that her social calendar overflows.

Brought up on her grandparents’ farm as an only child, Betty calls her grandfather her hero and credits her grandmother with instilling the soft side of her personality.

She trained as a nurse and worked in health care, then as a flight attendant. For a long time she helped out in her husband’s dental office, and in about 1980, she started taking modelling jobs on the side. “I was always the mother,” she laughs.

A strong advocate of volunteerism, Betty remains deeply involved in community causes. “I admire people who share their time volunteering in the community,” she says. For fun, she models in and organizes fashion shows for local boutiques – but these events also have a serious purpose that reflects her dedication to volunteering. A portion of the revenue from most shows goes to local charities.

Betty’s love for and enjoyment of her husband and two sons and their families is her foundation. But interacting with her extensive circle of friends makes her life sparkle.

Smiling, she calls herself “hugs-a-plenty” – and gives them generously.