New Dining Room Chairs Bring Comfort and Support to Aspen Ridge Lodge Residents

July 28, 2026

Left to right: Clara, ARL Dietary Supervisor; Alan Miller, President of the MVSH Foundation; Pauline, ARL Resident; Kristy, ARL Admin Assistant.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, Aspen Ridge Lodge residents are now enjoying the comfort of 60 brand-new dining room chairs.

The replacement was long overdue. The previous chairs had been in service for over ten years and had faithfully supported residents through countless meals, celebrations, and gatherings. While they served their purpose well, it was time for an upgrade that would better meet the needs of today's residents.

The new commercial-grade chairs were purchased from Looker Office Furniture Red Deer, a long-time vendor of Mountain View Seniors' Housing, a valued supporter of the MVSH Foundation and a dedicated YEARLY sponsor of our MVSH Foundation Annual Golf Classic. 

What makes these chairs especially meaningful is that the residents themselves helped choose them! When Aspen Ridge Lodge learned that funding from the Mountain View Seniors’ Housing Foundation had been approved for new chairs, management ordered three different chair models and set them up in the lobby for residents to test. Over several weeks, residents were encouraged to sit in them, compare them, and cast their votes. The chair selected for purchase was the clear favourite among residents, ensuring the final choice reflected the people who would be using them every day.

At first glance, some might wonder whether a dining room chair is really the best use of donor dollars. After all, it's "just a chair." But for Aspen Ridge Lodge residents, these chairs will be used every single day. They will be there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, supporting residents through thousands of meals each year. They will be present during quiet mornings with coffee, lively conversations with friends, birthday celebrations, holiday gatherings, and the countless small moments that create a sense of home and community.

A dining room is about much more than food. It is one of the primary gathering places within the Lodge, a space where residents connect and enjoy time together. Comfortable, supportive seating helps ensure that residents can fully participate in these important social interactions, making a difference in their daily quality of life.

For Alan Miller, President of the MVSH Foundation, approving this project was an easy decision. "One of the Foundation's goals is to support projects that have a direct impact on residents' daily lives, and this was a perfect example. We were thrilled to approve funding for these new chairs. They're comfortable, supportive, and built to last, and we know they'll be used and appreciated by residents every single day."

The chairs have already received positive reviews from residents, including Pauline, who had the honour of being the first resident to sit in one of the new chairs. "They're very nice! Nice and comfy, and sturdy too!"

In addition to improving comfort, the new chairs offer practical benefits for staff. Their non-porous surfaces and commercial construction make them easier to clean, maintain and store, supporting the Lodge's ongoing commitment to resident safety.

Clara, Aspen Ridge Lodge Dietary Supervisor, highlighted the importance of that functionality. "These chairs are a wonderful addition to our dining room. Their durable, non-porous surfaces make them easy to clean and maintain while supporting the strict sanitization measures we follow every day to help keep residents safe. It's great to have seating that is both practical for our team and comfortable for our residents."

Projects like this demonstrate the impact that community support has on the lives of Mountain View Seniors Housing residents. Donations to the MVSH Foundation help fund important improvements ranging from furnishings and equipment to programs and enhancements that directly contribute to resident comfort, safety, and quality of life.

This project is also a wonderful example of what can happen when donors, staff, and residents work together. Community members provided the funding, staff helped coordinate the selection process, and residents had a direct voice in choosing the chair that would become part of their daily lives.

On behalf of the Mountain View Seniors’ Housing Foundation, we are deeply grateful to our donors, supporters, and community partners, including Looker Office Furniture, Red Deer , for making projects like this possible for our seniors!

Mountain View Seniors' Housing Foundation

Foundation@mvsh.ca