Bethany Manor Saskatoon

Bethany Manor Saskatoon Bethany Manor is a community of seniors, aged 55+, living in a loving, Christian environment. Bethan

01/20/2026

A message from Jerry Letkeman, Executive Director

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour
Isaiah 61:1-2

As we enter 2026 I want to extend deep gratitude for all the volunteers that we have at Bethany. They work in various departments; they enrich our community and help keep costs down!

Volunteering is a win-win situation, it offers residents a healthy blend of social, emotional, and physical benefits. When you volunteer you make new friends and expand your social networks. This is a great recipe for keeping loneliness away and strengthening your sense of belonging.

Volunteering stimulates the brain, as new tasks, problem-solving and fresh interactions keep you mentally active and may reduce cognitive decline.

Physically, many volunteer roles - such as helping to serve a meal, putting books on shelves in the library, distributing mail for the office, ushering for the church service, nurturing plants—encourage movement that supports mobility and overall health.

At the same time, giving your time, energy and experience provides a renewed sense of identity and self-worth.

It also reinforces the knowledge that your lifelong skills remain valuable.
Together, these advantages contribute to higher life satisfaction, improved mood, and a more vibrant, connected retirement. This understanding fits well with our Eden approach, creating vibrant communities to address loneliness, helplessness and boredom.

A quote from Topher Kearby... for our volunteers in particular.

“Once love is shared it doesn’t disappear. It becomes part of the fabric of life. It’s carried forward through moments, memories, and connections we can’t always see. When love is felt and exchanged it adds something real to the world. Something lasting. And each time we choose understanding, patience, or kindness, we add more of that energy into the mix - shaping life in ways that reach far beyond the moment itself. Nothing meaningful is ever wasted. That’s why even the smallest acts of love can last much longer than we do.”

As we enter 2026, please consider the many ways to volunteer at Bethany. Some are very unofficial, like helping with your floor’s activities. Bethany Manor is one large community made up of many smaller communities. Each floor is a community unto itself or has the potential to be so. Almost all floors intentionally celebrate their community in various ways.

Besides that, volunteers are deeply appreciated in helping to serve meals in the Dining Room, assist with ushering and other tasks for the worship service, delivering internal mail for the office, and many more. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact me and I’ll direct you.

Have a Happy New Year!

Bethany Manor hosted our annual Christmas banquets for residents, family & friends the last 2 nights. Our entertainment ...
12/12/2025

Bethany Manor hosted our annual Christmas banquets for residents, family & friends the last 2 nights. Our entertainment for both nights was the incredibly talented singer Kathi Lewis accompanied by the equally talented Kim Salkeld on piano. A delicious Christmas meal was prepared by our very own talented cooks here at Bethany and served by volunteer staff, resident & board members. THANK YOU to all who made both these events a memorable evening.

12/08/2025

A message from Jerry Letkeman, Executive Director:

This past weekend the Bethany Chorus, conducted by Andrea Johnson, PhD (c), had two performances of their Christmas Concert. The performances were a huge success, and the Fellowship Centre was packed for both the Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening concerts.

It was a joy to see Bethany Manor residents and friends of Bethany, singing enthusiastically and with precision. There is a rich choral tradition in Mennonite circles. Many residents were members of their church choir and enjoyed the musical training, purposeful team dynamic, social interaction and a deep expression of their faith because of this participation. Church Christmas concerts were particularly exciting and an integral event of the local church and community calendar.

We’re very grateful to have the Bethany Chorus as part of our program offering at Bethany Manor. They have a Christmas and an Easter concert each year which involves weekly rehearsals. These rehearsals provide a source of purpose, identity, camaraderie, musical instruction, and a delightful social outlet. Having a professional conductor with qualified musicians makes the experience truly special. If you love the choral music experience, consider joining. Please also consider donating to the Bethany Chorale program. We are blessed to have several significant donors, but we value the support of smaller donors as well.

I wish you joy and peace during this Christmas season. For those who find this season anything but joyful or peaceful, I wish you strength, courage, and grace to handle whatever is on your pathway.

God bless you and keep you!

Our annual trip to Wilson’s Greenhouse before Christmas to see all the beautiful trees, decorations & enjoy a coffee out...
12/05/2025

Our annual trip to Wilson’s Greenhouse before Christmas to see all the beautiful trees, decorations & enjoy a coffee outing.

Bethany residents & guests have been enjoying a variety of seasonal music & activities, including a band performance by ...
12/04/2025

Bethany residents & guests have been enjoying a variety of seasonal music & activities, including a band performance by The Brave Guinea Pigs lead by conductor BJ Harris.

11/07/2025

A message from Jerry Letkeman, Executive Director

As has been pointed out in recent communications, loneliness, helplessness, and boredom are real enemies for seniors. These feelings aren’t just unpleasant - they can actually harm our health and happiness. Studies show that chronic loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking. Helplessness can make us feel like life is happening to us rather than with us. And boredom can drain our energy, leaving us stuck in a rut.

However, these challenges aren’t the end of the story. At Bethany, we believe that loneliness, helplessness, and boredom are not inevitable parts of aging - they are signals that we need connection, purpose, and a little spark of joy. When we take steps together to address these feelings, we open the door to a life that is healthier, happier, and more meaningful.

The heart of the solution is community. A caring, inclusive, and vibrant community helps each one of us, regardless of age or ability, to experience well-being. This kind of community doesn’t just “happen.” It’s built every day through small acts of kindness, shared laughter, and mutual respect.
Fall is a great season to think about this. The trees remind us that change is part of life, but they also put on a beautiful show before the winter. It’s a good reminder that there’s beauty and purpose in every stage of life - including right now. Whether you’re taking part in activities, volunteering, or simply sitting with a neighbour who needs company, you are helping to create the kind of community where everyone can thrive.

After all, well-being isn’t just about avoiding what hurts. It’s about leaning into what heals - friendship, purpose, and the gift of belonging. And that is something worth celebrating, in every season of life.

10/10/2025

A message from Jerry Letkeman, Executive Director:

This is the season of change – and not just in the trees. Across Canada, October 1 is National Seniors Day, a time to celebrate the wisdom and steady presence of those who’ve shaped our communities. It’s also a good reminder to care for our health and stay socially connected.

October can feel a bit lonely with shorter days and cooler weather, but here at Bethany Manor, there’s no shortage of ways to lift our spirits – coffee times, ping pong, concerts, exercise classes, university lectures, puzzling parties, and music nights that make the halls ring with joy. Join in as much as you wish or enjoy some quiet reflection – both are good for the soul.

Health-wise, this is a great time to check in on vaccinations. Saskatoon Public Health and Medicine Shoppe have been wonderful partners in offering flu and COVID clinics. A quick jab beats getting the flu any day!

Fall also invites us to remember where we’ve come from. Many of us trace our roots to the German Russian Mennonites who settled the prairies in the late 1800s. Those pioneers knew how to prepare for winter – canning, pickling, and stocking the root cellar. Their faith and resourcefulness laid the foundation we stand on today. When we smell Summa Borscht or fresh bread, we’re tasting a piece of that history.

And as we ready our homes and gardens for winter, let’s also prepare our hearts. We serve a God of grace and love – perhaps this is a good season for kindness, forgiveness, or healing.

So, breathe in that crisp fall air, enjoy the rustle of leaves and the comfort of good food and good company. October reminds us that change can be beautiful, and community is the warmest blanket of all.

Happy Thanksgiving.

09/16/2025

A message from Jerry Letkeman, Executive Director.

It’s September - when cozy sweaters, pumpkin-spiced everything, and brisk walks become part of daily life (and the thermostat discussions get serious) ... and we start thinking about hockey!

My thoughtful wife Ruth occasionally passes along items for me to consider for my monthly newsletters and the Facebook post. The poem below is one such item and I thought it would be suitable for September. It’s written by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, a Japanese novelist and playwright.

Don’t leave anything for later. Later, the coffee gets cold. Later, you lose interest. Later, the day turns into night. Later, people grow up. Later, people grow old. Later, life goes by. Later, you regret not doing something… when you had the chance.

So, here’s your friendly fall reminder: Step outside and feel that crisp breeze—maybe even admire the trees before they dump their leaves. Call that friend you’ve been meaning to hear a story from. Do it right now, before your coffee gets cold.

On September 30th, let’s join in a moment of quiet respect and connection on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It’s a journey, but let’s not veer off the trail. May God grant healing and awareness.

Life doesn’t hand out replays—but it does serve up some pretty sweet “right now” moments. So, let’s lean into them.

Enjoy September!

THANK YOU to Rob & Emily & the Mean Green Ice Cream Machine who came to Bethany several times this summer to treat us to...
08/27/2025

THANK YOU to Rob & Emily & the Mean Green Ice Cream Machine who came to Bethany several times this summer to treat us to ice cream on all those hot days! Today was their last day for this year at Bethany. We look forward to seeing the Mean Green Ice Cream Machine next year 🍦🍦🍦

08/12/2025

A message from Jerry Letkeman, Executive Director

August is a month that invites us to embrace life’s transitions, celebrate abundance, and cherish the fleeting beauty of the season. August is a reminder to live fully and intentionally.

"She picked up her first paintbrush at 76… and ended up with her art on the walls of the MoMA.

My name is Anna Mary Robertson Moses — but you probably know me as Grandma Moses.

I was born in 1860, on a humble farm in New York State. As a little girl, I used to dream of painting beautiful things, but life had other plans. By the age of twelve, I was scrubbing floors in other people’s houses. By twenty-seven, I was a wife and mother.

I had ten children, though heartbreak spared me only five to raise. I spent decades cooking, washing, tending crops, and caring for my family. My world was dirt roads, hard winters, and quiet endurance.

Then, at seventy-six, I found myself widowed and my children grown and scattered. Alone at my kitchen table, my hands stiff from arthritis, I picked up a brush for the first time since childhood.
With a few coins leftover from my grocery money, I bought my first paints. I painted what I knew — snowy fields, rustic barns, wagons, Sunday picnics, the simple warmth of country life. I didn’t paint for recognition. I painted to remember, and to remind others of a world that was slipping away.

One day, a collector noticed my little paintings displayed in the corner of a local shop. He bought every one. Before long, my work was hanging in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

At eighty, I appeared in Life magazine. Between seventy-six and one hundred and one, I created over 2,000 paintings.

I always stayed a farm woman in spirit. But I learned this much: sometimes, dreams wait for us. They blossom the moment we find the courage — or the loneliness — to set them free.
It’s never too late. Not if your heart still carries a bit of color."

…from a Sunny Rosanbalm online post.

Remember, you’re never too old to learn or relearn new things. Allow August to coax you into living more intentionally and without regret.

Yesterday Bethany residents stepped back in time when we visited Saskatchewan River Valley Museum in Hague. We had a gre...
07/31/2025

Yesterday Bethany residents stepped back in time when we visited Saskatchewan River Valley Museum in Hague. We had a great afternoon here and volunteers from the museum even treated us to homemade pie & ice cream! If you haven’t been to this top notch museum, you REALLY should go! One of the BEST pioneer museums ever!

07/14/2025

A message from Jerry Letkeman, Executive Director

On July 1, we marked Canada Day, a time to celebrate the founding of this great nation. Canada’s history is one of diversity and resilience, shaped by the many people who have come here seeking a better life. From the Indigenous peoples who cared for this land for generations, to the waves of immigrants who brought their cultures and traditions, we are part of a rich tapestry.

For many of us, the story of Mennonites and other European immigrants is deeply personal. Mennonites came to Canada in search of peace, freedom of worship, and opportunities to build a better future. Like the Hebrews in the Bible, who journeyed into exile and later returned to rebuild their homeland, our ancestors undertook incredible journeys of faith and courage. They left their homes behind, often under great duress, to seek safety and a new beginning.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Mennonites and other European settlers came to the prairies with little more than faith and hope. They worked the land, built communities, and contributed to the Canada we know today. Their stories echo the experiences recorded in the Hebrew Bible of faithful people relying on God’s promises as they moved through times of trial and triumph.

As we celebrate the summer season, let us give thanks for the life we enjoy here. We are blessed with freedom, peace, and a land of incredible beauty. Let us also remember the challenges our ancestors faced to provide us with these opportunities. Their sacrifices and determination paved the way for the life we now live.

Faithful God, we thank You for the gift of this land we call home. We are grateful for the freedom and peace we enjoy, and for the many blessings You have provided. As we remember the journeys of our ancestors, may we also be inspired to walk in faith and gratitude. Bless Canada, its people, and its leaders, that this land may continue to be a place of refuge, hope, and opportunity for all. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Address

110 La Ronge Road
Saskatoon, SK
S7K7H8

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

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