The Cheer Booklet Initiative
by Lee Hunt
Deb Angus, who initiated and coordinates the Little Cheer Booklet initiative
I first wrote about Deb Angus in 2015. At the time, Deb, who has suffered four concussions in her life, had established the Calgary Concussion Awareness Group. When COVID brought an abrupt and unwanted end to those in-person meetings, Deb switched the support group to an online entity.
At that same time, Deb decided to branch out to a more general audience with her Cheer Booklet Initiative. To that end, she has been incredibly busy collecting quotes and sayings which she gathers into an easily carried eight-page booklet each month. Some of the quotes pose humorous questions such as, “Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?”, while others posit sound philosophy such as a quote from Charlie Chaplin in which he advised, “Whatever you are, be a good one.” A shrewd observer of human body shapes noted, “Never wear skinny jeans if you don’t have skinny genes.”
Deb shared with me some of the inspiring feedback she has received regarding her booklets. One woman wrote that she “takes the Cheer Booklets to her sister’s chemo appointments to help both of them immensely during those difficult times”. A man told Deb that he passes the booklets on to his mother, “who reads them aloud with others in her seniors’ building and it has now become a social event for them.” As Deb hoped, her booklets have indeed become a source of hope and cheer for others.
Congratulations and thanks to Deb for your consistent endeavours to make our sometimes-frenetic world a more gentle and friendly place.
Congratulations!
by Lee Hunt
Eileen and Garry celebrate their 50th Anniversary
Eileen and Garry Purcell on their wedding day, August 2, 1975.
Congratulations to Brentwood residents Eileen and Garry Purcell who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 2, 2025. The pair was married in 1975 at Banff United Church. Right after the wedding, because Garry was a member of the Volunteer Fire Department, he and his bride were driven down Banff Avenue on the town fire truck – much to the delight of pedestrians and drivers.
Family and friends gathered to help celebrate Eileen and Garry’s 50th anniversary. Garry reminisced about their having met at the Banff Springs Hotel where Eileen was working and Garry was making deliveries. They also spoke of their favourite song, “It’s a Wonderful World”: in fact, they also sang it at this special occasion!
This positive outlook on life lead Eileen and Garry to Calgary in late 1975, then to Brentwood in 1985. The pair told me that, “the main reason we bought here was because of the three levels of schools so close by”.
Their son Garry Jr. participated in the band programs at Simon Fraser Junior High and at Sir Winston Churchill High. In the Brentwood Community Association (BCA) he played t-ball, baseball, and hockey, while daughter Betty took part in the figure skating program offered by the BCA. Eileen volunteered at BCA Bingos and Casinos plus with her children’s community activities.
Garry and Eileen also donated to our four large community murals over the years.
Career-wise, Garry joined the Calgary Fire Department where he started as a Junior Firefighter and worked all the way up to Captain. Eileen initially managed an apartment block, then worked at the Brentwood Co-op in the deli and later in the meat department.
In addition to spending enjoyable time with their daughter, son, and three grandchildren, Eileen and Garry like taking frequent road trips to Saskatchewan to visit family. Laughlin, Nevada has also been a favourite destination over the years.
When I asked Eileen what qualities she most admires in Garry, she commented on his “strength and leadership,” while Garry loves Eileen’s “wonderful personality.” Asked about the secret to 50 years together, the pair pointed to the importance of “understanding, a sense of humour, and especially working as a team.”
It has been a privilege to live just down the street from Eileen and Garry for the past 40 years, and especially to receive their support on the mural projects.
We at The Bugle wish Garry and Eileen all the best!
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