Meet 79-year-old Clyde Leighton

Clyde’s life has been defined by resilience, sacrifice, and service. Born in Moncton, New Brunswick, he grew up in a family shaped by hardship. His father, wounded on D-Day, and his mother, an English war bride, raised Clyde and his siblings with strength and determination.

Clyde served as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam, enduring the hardships of war with quiet courage. Later, he built a life with his wife Carole, raising two sons and sharing a passion for ballroom dancing, even as he faced chronic pain, surgeries, and vision loss.

His greatest wish was to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor the friends he lost in battle. With Carole by his side, Clyde placed a photograph of his platoon at the wall, a profoundly emotional moment of remembrance, closure, and connection. This experience reminded everyone that the stories of our veterans matter, and that even decades later, honoring their service can bring healing and peace.

Meet 79-year-old Leslie Bartha

Les grew up on a tobacco farm in Rodney, Ontario, the youngest of five children, learning hard work, family, and resilience. His love of flying began with the London Flight Club, where he completed 12 of 13 lessons toward his pilot’s license before life got in the way.

After a stroke in 2021, Les faced new challenges, but he regained independence and adapted to a new way of life.

Recently, he returned to the skies in a Cessna, taking the controls once more. With steady hands and a grateful heart, Leslie finally got his wings, fulfilling a dream that had waited decades.

Meet 88-year-old Norma Cox

Norma has spent her life in Bramber, Nova Scotia, surrounded by the beauty of the New Minas Basin and the close-knit community she loves. She has faced profound loss, including her parents, husband, daughter, and sister, as well as health challenges that have limited her mobility. Yet she has always found strength in her memories, her faith, and her connection to the land.

Her wish was simple but deeply meaningful: to see the New Minas Basin from the sky. For Norma, it was a homecoming, a new perspective on a lifetime of cherished memories. Since that flight, she has shared her experience with friends, family, and her community, inspiring everyone with her joy and resilience.

Norma’s story reminds us that every life is full of stories worth celebrating, and that moments of wonder can lift the heart at any age.

Meet 89-year-old Jack White

Jack has been a Toronto Maple Leafs fan for as long as he can remember. Growing up in Monastery, Nova Scotia, as one of ten children, life was tough and money was scarce. Sports became his joy, and later in Ontario, he passed that love on to his children while building a career and even opening his own sporting goods shop.

Life brought deep hardships. Jack suffered a serious injury, lost his son and grandson, and said goodbye to his wife of 50 years. He has fought multiple cancers, yet he remains the steady rock of his family, always putting others first.

Now, with his world quieter and his days spent watching hockey from his chair, Jack dreams of seeing the Leafs play live for the very first time. For him, it would mean more than a game. It would be a reminder that he is not forgotten and that joy and dreams have no age limit.

Meet 73-year-old Marge Debodt

Marge’s life has been defined by resilience, love, and music. A devoted single mom of three and later the leader of Nova Scotia’s Restorative Justice Program, she faced her greatest challenge in 2020 when a brain tumor left her in hospice, where doctors doubted she’d survive. With her husband Barry by her side, she fought back, finding comfort and connection through song when her speech began to fade.

After years of hospitals, rehab, and long days in care, Marge longed for something simple but profound: the joy of live music. On March 20th, her wish came true at a Neil Diamond tribute concert. With Barry at her side, she soaked in every note, every light, every moment. For Marge, it wasn’t just a concert—it was freedom, joy, and proof that she’s not just surviving, but still truly living.

Meet 73-year-old Elwood MacDonald

A lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs superfan, Elwood likes to joke he was “born in a Leafs jersey.” Despite never playing organized hockey, his devotion to the team never wavered even if family tradition insisted he never watch overtime, certain he brought bad luck.

Life in Trenton, Pictou County, was modest, but Elwood’s grit carried him through decades of hard work at Trenton Works, painting houses, and lobster fishing to provide for his family. In later years, vision loss and limited mobility left him increasingly housebound, isolated in his seniors’ apartment.

That all changed when his dream of seeing the Leafs live finally came true. From boarding his first commercial flight to cheering in the arena, Elwood embraced every moment. When the game went into overtime, his daughter braced for his old superstition, but this time, he stayed. The Leafs won.

For Elwood, the trip was about more than hockey. It reminded him that life isn’t over, that he still matters, and that joy is always worth chasing. Now, he’s setting his sights on living to 100, with more adventures along the way.