Trish Exton-Parder

Trish Exton-Parder retired from the Calgary Zoo in 2019 after 35 years as the Media Specialist. She was passionate about her work, well known in the community, and after retiring found herself asking “Who Am I Now?”

Taking the pause to ask the question was the first step in the “re-wirement” journey.

Out of this exploration came the desire to write a book about successfully transitioning into retirement. She found a kindred seeker in friend and colleague Corrine Wilkinson, and together they created “It’s Just a Hiccup: Reclaiming Your Identity”. The book explores the struggles many people deal with after leaving their careers including “What’s next?” and how to find purpose and meaning later in life. The secret, says Trish, is nurturing connection and community and not caring what other people think.

Trish now parachutes into a variety of projects and volunteer initiatives. She still believes in the importance of consciously connecting through the fostering of relationships.