Two of the Grand Forks Aquatic Centre’s most cheerful characters retired recently, and the community gathered in grand fashion to wish them well on Thursday morning.
Cora Ludwar and Nanci Gillmor were celebrated at a retirement party in the aquatic centre lobby on Thursday morning. Dozens of people turned up with gifts, treats and hugs and well-wishes for the pair, both of whom have now retired.
Gillmor actually retired last fall, while Ludwar retired May 1.
However, the community proved on Thursday it’s never too late to wish them well and reminisce – displays of photos taken over the years, often featuring the pair, were on display.
Gillmor worked with the aquatic centre for 23 years, in what she said was her “perfect job” doing aquatic centre decorations for all occasions.
“I got paid to decorate, and it is so fun to talk to people,” Gillmor said. “People come here to be healthy and that’s a wonderful thing.”
Ludwar started with the aquatic centre when it was just opening, nearly 31 years ago. She said what started out as a job opportunity just “grew, grew, grew” into a passion that kept her loving her job for all those years.
As for her best on-the-job memory? That’d be the day of her retirement party on Thursday, she said after. Seeing everyone come together, all the patrons and the staff, made her incredibly happy and thankful.
