Seated in a cozy armchair at centre stage in front of a large crowd last Wednesday afternoon (April 27), Sharon Birnie listened and laughed as politicians, a seniors housing developer and 91原创 Seniors Centre staff and clients heaped tributes upon her.

From her tenacity and inventiveness in securing funding for the centre, to her caring approach to the people who gather there, Birnie had what it took to lead the centre effectively for three decades, the speakers agreed.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine, in today鈥檚 world, one person in one job and doing so much for 30 years. (Sharon) improved the quality of life for 91原创鈥檚 seniors,鈥� said Township Mayor Rick Green.

91原创 City Mayor Peter Fassbender complimented Birnie鈥檚 perseverance and inventiveness.

鈥淪he鈥檚 worked tirelessly for seniors and done it through all kinds of challenging times 鈥� specifically the fire. To watch Sharon and her team continue to find ways to meet the needs of the seniors was inspiring,鈥� he said.

鈥淪he鈥檚 been tenacious, to say the least, and that鈥檚 a good thing,鈥� Fassbender said, before handing her a large gift bag, which he joked 鈥渃ontains every e-mail you ever sent me.鈥�

As Birnie and her husband settle into a new life in Edgewood, in B.C.鈥檚 Interior, Fassbender quipped that the City wouldn鈥檛 be sending a snowblower to clear her sidewalk this winter.

Janice McTaggert, a 15-year employee, thanked Birnie on behalf of the staff, for being a fair boss and fostering an atmosphere where creativity and out-of-the-box thinking were encouraged.

Marvyn Shore, a senior who has been involved with the centre for the past 20 years, called Birnie, 鈥渕y idol and a tremendous inspiration.

鈥淪he had this marvelous dream and it became a refuge for so many people, and we are so thankful.鈥�

Barb Stack, who worked with Birnie for 20 years and has now taken over as executive director, recalled her predecessor as a boss who wasn鈥檛 afraid to roll up her sleeves and pitch in 鈥� whether washing dishes or scrubbing floors 鈥� when the need presented itself.

Birnie built strong relationships in the community and had a gift for articulating the needs of the society, Stack continued.

鈥淪haron鈥檚 passion and vision will always be with me as I lead the society into the future.鈥�

Following her remarks,  Stack announced the auditorium, rebuilt after fire ripped through the centre in 2008, has been renamed in Birnie鈥檚 honour 鈥� a tribute which left Birnie 鈥済obsmacked.鈥�

During the 30 years she spent at the centre, Birnie confessed, she was always more comfortable taking a low-key approach.

鈥淐hairs on a stage are not my thing, believe me,鈥� she laughed.

鈥淚鈥檓 proud of my role in (the centre鈥檚) development, but I鈥檝e always known it鈥檚 a team effort,鈥� she said.

After acknowledging the support of her family (including her husband and grandchildren seated in the front row) Birnie paid special tribute to Tom Douglas and Lyle Brock 鈥� both men were board members and pioneers in the Seniors Resource Centre鈥檚 history.

It was through the men鈥檚 faith in her that Birnie developed the qualities she needed to be an advocate for 91原创鈥檚 seniors, she told the crowd.

鈥淔rom those two men I learned the most important skills 鈥� respect, kindness, genuine caring and hard-nosed courage.鈥�