There was a changing of the guard last week at the Wallaceburg Adult Activity Centre.
Jill Van Zelst officially took over the duties as the coordinator of the downtown Wallaceburg centre, replacing Cheryl Burrage, who announced her retirement.
“It has been emotional,” said Burrage, during a celebration event on her last day.
“A little up and down. Everybody has been so kind. They sang me songs, brought me all kinds of wonderful things and smiles and hugs. So it’s emotional, I am happy but sad. I feel like I am giving up my baby.”
Van Zelst said it was an emotional day for her as well.
“I have big shoes to fill but I got to go forward and do the job,” she said.
“Finding my ground and working with everybody and learning everything. I have got my magic wand.”
Burrage said a magic wand came in handy during her time at the centre.
“When I first started here my husband gave me a magic wand. Anytime things weren’t working right or it was too stressful and too many people were asking for stuff, I could wave my magic wand and make it better,” she said.
“Then about a year ago, Sue opened up the kitchen here. She took over from Dorothy, so I handed over the magic wand to Sue. So same thing. If anything didn’t work out well in the kitchen, she could use her magic wand. So soon we thought we should both turn over the magic want to Jill so she can have her own.”
Van Zelst added: “And I have it. I can feel the power in it.”
Van Zelst was born and raised in Wallaceburg and she worked in the office at the Glass Factory for 22 years.
