When my Uncle Roger was building his first cabin at Delaronde Lake, Tim and I would arrive ready to “get things done.” The outside was to be finished in cedar shakes… a job that felt endless to us, though somehow never to him.
I remember one visit in particular:
Tim had just finished a whole row of shakes and was lining up the next when Roger stopped him and declared,
“Let’s each sign the back of a shake, nail it down, and we are done for today. Let’s go fishing.”
That was classic Uncle Roger.
Set the course… and let the day unfold.
The destination mattered, of course, but the people, the day, the moments in between mattered more.
Last winter, his beloved small fishing boat (the only boat he never named) ended up stored right side up instead of upside down. The beautifully varnished seats didn’t enjoy the Saskatchewan winter.
Anyone else would’ve been annoyed.
Roger wasn’t.
A text from Uncle Roger in early Spring said:
“Today I spent a few hours sanding them down in anticipation of fresh varnish. It was an excellent afternoon, albeit in a flannel shirt, hoody, vest, toque and gloves… with a light and steady breeze in off the ice cube.” (aka Delaronde Lake)
And when he took us fishing?
He never fished.
He always drove the boat, content in the silence, the water, and in our excitement whenever we caught something. His joy came from being together, not from another catch.
When he was diagnosed with terminal cancer last year, he didn’t dwell on what he wouldn’t get done. He handled what needed to be handled – the planning, the conversations, the details my cousin and I would need as co‑executors.
And once that was done, he went right back to living…
noticing, sharing, 
appreciating, enjoying.
During one of our early morning coffee visits, he told me what he wanted more of in the time he had left. Not a bucket list. Not an endless to‑do list. Just three things:
- fish more
- teach the kids to sail
- learn about outdoor cooking
His goal was simple: live fully, share what he loved, and stay curious.
And the plan?
Flexible. Always.
That’s the Uncle Roger Way.
Why This Matters to the Work We Do Together
What my Uncle Roger modeled is how I strive to support the successful, caring employers we get to work with, like you.
Set the direction clearly,
where you want to be positioned, what matters most to your employees, and what your priorities are as an employer.
And then?
Stay flexible as the world unfolds around you.
Budgets shift.
Labour markets change.
Workforce demographics evolve.
New products and services emerge.
Your business grows and transforms.
A strong benefits and pension strategy doesn’t resist change – it adapts to it.
It keeps you anchored to what matters while giving you room to respond with confidence and clarity.
Clarity in direction.
Flexibility in execution.
That’s the Uncle Roger Way.
If you are lucky enough to live at the lake, you are lucky enough.” —Roger Green
