People of Perley - Gail LaLonde

Gail Lalonde has been part of the Perley Health community for more than two decades, volunteering her time and energy in many ways but most notably as a familiar and welcoming presence in Deborah's Gift Boutique. 

Gail's connection to Perley began long before she became a volunteer. She watched Perley being built in 1996, as she was living nearby. Some years later, when her mother's health declined and she needed more care, that connection became deeply personal.

Gail remembers the day she and her sister attended their orientation, the day they were introduced to the space, the staff, and the routines that would shape their mother's life. “Immediately, we noticed how warm and welcoming the atmosphere was and how engaged the staff were with the residents.” 

When her mother settled in, she noticed she was socializing and beginning to participate in the activities. “It was a relief,” she recalls. “We knew that we had made the right decision.”

That experience stayed with Gail. Years later, families share similar feelings with her at the boutique, often without knowing they're speaking to someone who's been through the same.

Gail's volunteer life at Perley originally began with helping to set up and maintain the libraries in the apartments and the Commissionaries Ottawa Place apartments. Over time her focus shifted to the boutique, a small but lively space located at a busy intersection in Perley Centre known as the Four Corners.

“We see everyone, staff, caregivers, volunteers, residents, and tenants. They all pass through,” she says. For Gail, that constant flow brings meaningful connections that grow into real friendships. “They know our names. We know theirs.” With it, come stories. Stories of wartime service, careers, families, and lives fully lived. “It's that trust and the bond that we share that's been very special,” says Gail.

“People often say they love the gift boutique,” she says. “They tell us it's just a nice place to be.”

One moment stands out very clearly for Gail. During the COVID-19 pandemic the boutique was forced to close. When it reopened months later under strict protocols, the response was immediate. “People kept coming in saying, ‘Welcome back. It's so nice to see the shop open again.'” One resident's words stayed with her. “He said, ‘You're the light at the end of the tunnel.' That was a very special day.”

The boutique itself reflects that same warmth and connection. Shelves are filled with thoughtful items such as fashion accessories, baby gifts, special

occasion gifts, delicious treats and some much appreciated hand made items.

That sense of shared responsibility became especially important when Deborah Bennett, the Boutique founder, and long-serving Perley Health volunteer, became ill and later passed away. “We didn't want the boutique to close,” reflects Gail. Four volunteers stepped up, divided responsibilities, and did everything they could to make sure the transition was transparent and seamless.

All of the profits from the gift boutique go to the Perley Health Foundation. Since 1996, the shop has donated over $700,000 in support of Perley Health. 

Deborah and husband Claude were passionate supporters of the boutique.  A photo of Deborah sits in the boutique window, illuminated by a battery-operated candle that is never turned off.

When asked what makes Perley special to her, Gail returns to what she has witnessed over the years. “I refer back to the stories and to the atmosphere and the people here. Everyone is so wonderful and so kind and so engaged,” she says. “It's special to me because I can give back in my small way for the excellent care my mother received and be thankful for what the Perley does for all its residents. That warmth and commitment is how Perley makes me feel.”

For more information about Deborah's Gift Boutique please go to PerleyHealth.ca/deborahs-gift-boutique.

“It's special to me because I can give back in my small way for the excellent care my mother received and be thankful for what the Perley does for all its residents. That warmth and commitment is how Perley makes me feel.” Gail Lalonde, Volunteer