“Come in, come in!” says Mr. Bales with a broad smile, opening the door to his home. A Great Friend of Little Brothers for about ten years, his enthusiasm in welcoming us is matched only by the generosity with which he shares his story.
Behind his military past lies an immense sensitivity. Throughout our conversation, his voice moves between bursts of laughter and quiet tears. “You know, as we grow older, the porcelain of the heart becomes fragile, and memories grow sharper,” he confides with emotion.
He soothes this nostalgia with the caring team at Little Brothers in South Lanaudière, who accompany him with respect and tenderness. A resident of Mascouche for 35 years, he finds in each of them a second family — a daily anchor.
Still, one dream remains: to return to New Brunswick, where his Indigenous roots run deep. “I was happy there,” he says. “A box of herring, fresh lobster, a deck chair in the water, friends… I miss it all.”
In the meantime, he draws from the Little Brothers community a sense of belonging he treasures as a true gift.
Sharing Sacred Moments
“Talking with Lise is a real balm for the heart…”
Lise is the coordinator of Little Brothers in South Lanaudière — and, for Mr. Bales, a guardian angel. A devoted, attentive, and caring person with whom he loves to share life.
“Every two weeks, we sit together. A coffee, a glass of milk, a doughnut. It’s our ritual. We talk and look at each other, as if to say: you, I won’t let you slip away.”
Beyond her presence, Mr. Bales appreciates their shared love of culture.
“We lend each other piles of books, we talk about music, opera, tennis! It makes the conversations rich and precious.”
Their exchanges also cover life’s harder moments. Recently, after a painful loss, he could count on Lise’s support — something he cherishes deeply. “She cancelled her appointments to come with me to church. Then we went out for a meal. It touches me so much to know I came first in her life.”
He adds: “My bond with Lise is true and sincere — emotional, social, spiritual… Maybe we’re two old souls, deep down.”
Becoming Part of the Group
A lone wolf by nature, Mr. Bales admits that Lise often nudges him out of his comfort zone by inviting him to Little Brothers activities. And because he values her, he almost always accepts.
Community lunches, holiday meals, Valentine’s Day events: at his own pace and within his limits, he joins in and truly enjoys it.
“Here, I feel part of the gang. People are so welcoming and kind. You can tell they really care about us. There’s always a warm question, a personal word, a birthday card. These gestures are freely given and go straight to the heart. And on top of that, the meals are good!” (laughs)
These gatherings are also an opportunity to meet other meaningful faces — among them, an Acadian volunteer with whom he shares his love for New Brunswick.
“We know the same places. We talk about La Bolduc, Zachary Richard, the Salebarbes… and about fish, too! Talking with her is like going home, back there, to Petit-Rocher. We understand each other, and it feels good.”
As our meeting draws to a close, the hum of a lawnmower drifts through the window of Mr. Bales’ home. A neighbor is busy outside, cheerful and glad to help.
“My pleasure, Mr. Bales!” he calls back in response to his thanks.
We leave with warmed hearts. A true home is not limited to walls or the town that shelters us: it also lives in the bonds that surround us.
Aging at home — and peacefully — is, above all, aging in the warmth of others.
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