Cochrane’s senior of the year just celebrated his 80th birthday last Tuesday and he is not ready to slow down.
Stu Bradley was named Cochrane’s Senior of the Year at the Cochrane Community Awards.
Nominated by his next-door neighbours, the Roth family, where his two “surrogate grandchildren” live, the family said they nominated the cowboy-hat-wearing senior because “he has done everything from raising money for good causes, organizing events, auctioneering and announcer – he has set the bar very high in the art of volunteerism,” his nomination read.
And being named Cochrane’s Senior of the Year is just one of many titles Bradley has been awarded over the years. Volunteering with numerous organizations in Cochrane and the surrounding area, including celebrity auctioneer at community events, master of ceremonies for festivals, Bradley has also promoted Springbank events for the last 40 years. He also recently received his 35 years of service acknowledgement for volunteering with the Calgary Stampede.
It is fair to say, Bradley loves to keep busy.
“I like helping people be successful. This isn’t about me, it is about what I can do to help,” Bradley said.
Bradley previously lived in the Springbank community for 40 years with his family before moving to Cochrane in 2003, where he quickly became a regular around town, volunteering at the Kimmett Foundation Tournament of Ace’s, the Pond Hockey tournament, the Big Hills Seniors Lodge, and the Bethany Care Centre.
Bradley’s claim to volunteer fame is his booming voice, which he regularly uses as an emcee or celebrity auctioneer.
“I once sold a banana cream pie for $450,” Bradley said with a laugh.
And while the Senior Of The Year helps organizations hustle for funds, he also has an impressive track record of also volunteering behind the scenes. As one of the founders of the Cowboy Trail Tourism Association and serving 12 years as a Chairman of the Rocky View Association, Bradley also helped found the Wheel Chair Square Dance at the Bethany Care Centre, where his mother stayed.
“Everything you do ties into some group or somebody you want to help,” Bradley explained.
The 80-year-old said he celebrated his birthday at a unique Calgary restaurant set in a former 1900s hotel where he promised his grandkids it would be “grandpa’s treat.”
“He is truly a model for us all because he makes a difference in this crazy world of ours,” his nomination read.
Bradley can now reflect on his glass statue as he continually refuses to “grow old and grouchy.”
“I like being upbeat, I feed off the negativity and turn it into positivity and allow it to push me,” Bradley said with a laugh.
“Plus my grandkids keep my young.”
The Senior Of The Year said he has some plans for the future to help boost tourism in the area, but did not want to reveal “too much” right now, but joked about still having another “good 10 years” left in him, before he starts to slow down.
Bradley was selected as Senior of the Year after being nominated by Cochrane residents and chosen by a selection committee.
