Meet King Kan, volunteer, Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre
April 16, 2024
By Katrina Lingrell, senior advisor, digital communications
King Kan, a volunteer at Covenant Health’s Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre, has been enriching residents’ lives through Tai Chi for more than seven years.
Commuting 45 minutes to the centre four days every week, King is devoted to fostering comfort and security among residents to support their well-being.
“Depending on their individual conditions, I think Tai Chi can make residents feel happier and at the same time help them move more flexibly,” King says.
With more than 20 years of experience practicing Tai Chi, King finds great fulfillment in connecting with residents of all ability levels.
“I always encourage them to do what they feel comfortable doing and not to force themselves,” King says. “If they can manage, I am happy to help them do more.
“My most memorable experiences are when I meet residents who don’t have the interest or aren’t able to do any steps at first, but after a few weeks or months, they follow along easily and show more interest in Tai Chi. That’s when I feel so good.”
King’s passion for boosting residents’ wellness has led to her being nominated for Covenant’s 2024 Mission Award for Collaboration. The award recognizes Covenant team members who show exceptional commitment to working with others toward a common goal.
King says the nomination was “really a surprise. I was reminded that I have fully devoted my time and love to care for others in need. I really enjoy working with residents because I can see them improve, and each resident has a different level of function.”
The kindness Edmonton General staff show residents reminds her that she’s part of a team of like-minded people, King says.
“I find the staff here show respect to every resident and really care about making them feel good about themselves. They truly care about the residents in a heartfelt way and show them love and care.”
And while King enjoys seeing residents blossom through Tai Chi, the gifts she receives from them are invaluable, she says.
“We, as volunteers, are also enlightened through volunteer work. I believe it makes our lives more abundant. I have gained life experience from them, and this is what I treasure the most.”