Mercedes Montgomery is a retired Registered Nurse and Nurse Educator. Her nursing career included 30 years as Director of Nursing at Saskatchewan Polytechnic (SIAST) with the Diploma Nursing Program. She is also a past Chair of the Saskatoon St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation Board. Mercedes’ volunteer journey with the Saskatoon Council on Aging (SCOA) began in 2006 as a member of the Publications Committee. She continues today as President of the SCOA Board, and as a member of the Communication Committee, the Age-friendly Committee, Development Committee, and the Evaluation Committee.
Since joining SCOA in 2006, Mercedes has been a strong advocate in the community. Her focus has been to educate Saskatoon to create a future state where all people can live well regardless of their age. With 30 years as a Director of Nursing, her work as a Rector’s Warden with her church, her devotion to her family and her current work with SCOA under her belt, providing education has always been her goal. Mercedes has tirelessly educated generations of Saskatonians about ageism and strived to make Saskatoon an age-friendly community. Through what she has called her ‘Age Alive’ presentations, Mercedes has spent many years teaching young people about older generations in high schools around the city. Armed with a PowerPoint presentation, picture boards and good sense of humor, Mercedes and her partners broke down age-related barriers, one group at a time.
Mercedes views ageing well as a journey that takes courage, persistence, and a good deal of support from people and organizations that help older adults to find their voice. Through SCOA, Mercedes Mongomery has remained engaged with her community in ways that encourage others to embody healthy ageing as well. Her background in health and her management skills provide her with a keen insight, a lens through which to identify community needs and conditions to help older adults to age gracefully and stay well. Mercedes is a local leader who personifies healthy ageing and inspires others in her community to do the same.