Calgary Seniors Unite to Support "Their" Athlete in Olympic Ski Jumping Debut
On Saturday morning, as Canadian ski jumper Nicole Maurer made her highly anticipated Olympic debut at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games, a special viewing party was underway thousands of kilometers away in Calgary. Dozens of residents from five local seniors' homes operated by United Active Living gathered together, their eyes fixed on screens, cheering with collective pride and excitement for an athlete they consider one of their own.
A Personal Connection Fuels Community Pride
The connection between Maurer and the United Active Living communities runs deep. For several years, the young athlete has worked part-time at the facilities, and her mother, Kelly Johansson, serves as the company's vice-president of operations. This personal relationship transformed what might have been just another Olympic broadcast into a profoundly meaningful community event.
Jim Dolph, a resident at the Garrison Green community for the past decade, expressed particular excitement for Johansson. "I've been here for the last 10 years, while her mother has been looking after all of us here," he said before the event. Although he hasn't met Maurer personally, Dolph emphasized the communal joy of gathering to support her. "The whole point is the joy of everybody," he reflected. "No matter what level she gets in at, it's a success. To win, well, that's great. But winners come and go, while continued support continues on."
Celebrating Achievement Beyond Medals
For the seniors watching, Maurer's accomplishment extended far beyond potential podium finishes. Dolph noted that simply qualifying for the Olympics represents "half the battle" in itself. His primary hope was that Maurer would achieve a personal standard of excellence. "I hope Nicole is pleased with herself—that she reaches a high enough level to be pleased with herself," he said.
Arlene Ponting, another Garrison Green resident who doesn't personally know Maurer or her mother, nevertheless recognized the occasion as something worthy of celebration. "We have to be proud of some of the things that people around us do," she stated. Ponting expressed particular admiration for athletes' dedication, noting "it takes so much physical ability and so much mental focus. It just really is a full package."
The Significance of Local Representation
Knowing she was watching someone from her own community made the experience especially significant for Ponting. "This is a great thing to be doing, to be proud of one of our people who actually worked here," she remarked. "That's phenomenal. I mean, how many times would that actually happen?"
As she awaited the competition to begin, Ponting shared her hope that Maurer would find her competitive zone despite the immense pressure of the global stage. "With all the practice that they do, they almost go into a zone when they do it, so I'm hopeful that she will do that," she said. "Something like the sport she's doing needs focus. So we don't want any more thoughts that are unrelated to what she's going to be doing when she's flying down that hill."
A Canadian Perspective on Success
Regardless of the final results, Ponting maintained a characteristically Canadian perspective on achievement. "We Canadians are not always at the top, but what I hope is that she has a jump that she's proud of," she said. "You can't control what the other jumpers are doing."
The gathering at United Active Living communities exemplified how Olympic moments can transcend sports, creating bonds and fostering pride within local neighborhoods. For these Calgary seniors, Nicole Maurer wasn't just another athlete representing Canada—she was a familiar face, a former coworker, and a source of genuine community inspiration during the 2026 Winter Games.
