Our Spotlight this issue is Superman! Okay, not quite, but close. Hill Bylholt is our ‘super’ senior, although, ‘senior’ may not be such an appropriate description considering how active and involved he is at the age of 75 in his community of Gimli, Manitoba. He has boundless,
contagious energy.

We owe sincere thanks to Stephanie Wood of Gimli for pointing Hill out to us.

Where do we start? When Hill retired from his employment with the University of Manitoba in 1989, he and his wife, Elizabeth, moved from Winnipeg to Lake Forest, Manitoba, north of Gimli where he had built a house.

Hill was extremely active already in the community of Gimli and the commute to his meetings became too much. He and Elizabeth decided to move to town in 1997 and Gimli has been their home since.

This move allowed Hill to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week… literally. He seems to have made a career out of volunteering. “It’s an honour to still be able to help,” says Hill earnestly.

If Hill was busy volunteering before retiring, which he was, today he could easily fill a 24 hour day serving his community and he probably does from time to time.

While living in Winnipeg, Hill’s volunteering was intertwined with his work at the U of M and his personal life. He helped fundraise through the U of M for the United Way, he was active with Folklorama, and still is, plus he coached soccer for many years. More impressively, Hill coached the U of M Bisons soccer team to the National Championships.

Caring for others is second nature to Hill. A regular 24 hour day for him might include visiting with seniors wanting company in their home or hospital room, and then maybe off to a meeting at the New Horizon 55+ Centre in Gimli of which he is very active with fundraising. He served as President here for nearly ten years—1989-1997. He might then transport someone to a medical appointment in Winnipeg, and then drive the 2-1/2 hour route around Gimli and the surrounding area monitoring suspicious activities for Gimli’s ‘Citizen’s Patrol’.

Hill currently serves as President for this 35-member citizens’ organization.

A call—or sometimes several—in the middle of the night from the local “Lifeline” a non-life-threatening emergency service for seniors, might summons Hill to assist somebody in need. Hill has been on-call basically 24-hours a day for the last ten years for Lifeline. The Kiwanis Club in Gimli is lucky, also, for having Hill as a member to help fundraise for them.

If there’s any spare time throughout the day, Hill might squeeze in a little choir practice with the Gimli Man’s Choir that performs year-round mostly for seniors in various towns. (If anyone is interested in booking this choir, you can contact Charlie Boudreau at 642-4423 in Gimli.) Hill may attend a meeting for Gimli’s Meals on Wheels of which he now serves as President and has been a board member of for a total of 13 years. He may dash off to a meeting for Folklorama, of which he’s the Programming Coordinator Chair for the Dutch Pavilion, and he is one of five that sits on Folklorama’s Steering Committee.

And let’s not forget his role as a husband to his very dear and patient wife, Elizabeth, who keeps him organized. “I’m lucky to have her,” Hill says. He realizes it’s hard for her at times.

Hill is involved in so many different activities, some of the things slip his mind only to be reminded by a friend, of some other activities he was involved with. Lori Helper, a board member and volunteer of Evergreen Basic Needs—a food bank and used clothing store in Gimli—tells us, “Hill is the hardest working volunteer that Gimli’s ever had. His efforts are diverse. He has done a lot of good for both youth and seniors here.” Hill is credited for his involvement with the development of a skateboard park for the youth as he sits on the board for the Youth Centre. He is the President of Evergreen Basic Needs, and he was responsible for bringing the MSOS 55+ Games to Gimli in 1997 when he served a two-year term as President of the local MSOS branch. Hill even participated in the MSOS Games himself competing in carpet bowling and darts. He earned a silver medal in the National Dart Competition that he travelled to Medicine Hat, Alberta, to compete in.

In the past, Hill was involved for many years with organizing the entertainment for the Canada Day and Family Day celebrations in Gimli, not to mention his involvement with Camp Morton’s Heritage Day celebration. He also is a board member of the retirement community where he lives.

For the next couple of weeks, Hill will be participating in the Dutch Pavilion for Folklorama in Winnipeg. Be sure to stop by and say ‘hi’. Hill’s wife, Elizabeth, used to participate in Folklorama, as well, mostly singing. She is still active, herself, in Gimli with handicrafts of Holland tradition, sewing, knitting, and more. She also is involved with the choir, line dancing and exercise programs at the New Horizon 55+ Centre in Gimli.

Hill and Elizabeth have two sons and it’s no wonder both are volunteers themselves. All told, they have five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who are a joy as well.

Hill, you are a super person with a super personality to match. Gimli is extremely lucky to have somebody of your calibre to call their very own!

Senior Spotlight