Lori Zutz describes her parents, Doris and Cliff, as joyful, generous people—the kind of couple who loved swing dancing in the living room, sitting around campfires by the river and welcoming international students into their home for Christmas dinner. Their warmth, generosity and deep commitment to helping others shaped the values their family holds today.
In Doris’ final days, Lori, her husband Ted, and their daughter Jessica, witnessed the health care team do everything they could to provide comfort and dignity. As the family gathered to say goodbye, they were deeply moved by the compassion shown not only to Doris, but to them as well.
Several of the nurses involved in Doris’ care were Bow Valley College students. Their kindness left a lasting impact on the Zutz family—one that would later inspire their support for future health-care workers.
Jessica remembers the day her grandmother passed away. The family stayed together, while the care team checked in regularly, offering support and taking time to listen.
“They ensured my grandmother was comfortable,” Jessica says. “Even when they were busy, the team took the time to care for her and our family. Their compassion made all the difference.”
Looking back, she reflects: “While we were just one shift in their lives—their care left a lasting impact on our lives.”
Lori supported both of her parents through aging and illness and saw firsthand how meaningful these moments of care can be. Those experiences, grounded in the values her parents lived by, inspired the family’s decision to establish the Compassionate Care Nursing and Health Care Aide Bursary at Bow Valley College in 2023.
“It is a gift to support students who are choosing to pursue careers in memory care and senior care,” says Lori. “The impact of the kindness and dedication we experienced continues to inspire our commitment to giving.”
For more than 15 years, the family has invested in post-secondary education in Calgary and area, guided by their belief in the power of learning to transform lives. Funded through the LTJ Zutz Family Fund, the bursary supports students in the Practical Nurse Diploma and Health Care Aide Certificate in the School of Health and Wellness who demonstrate financial need and intend to work in memory or senior care.
“When we discussed where we would support the next generation of health-care workers, we thought, there’s no other place,” Lori says. “Bow Valley College is so dedicated to preparing the next generation of professionals for the workforce.”
On March 25, 2026, the Zutz family visited the College to tour the School of Health and Wellness, where students learn in spaces that replicate real-world clinical environments with hospital beds, functioning medical equipment and interactive, AI-driven mannequins. The hands-on training the family witnessed reinforced their belief in supporting the next generation of health-care workers.
“Having the opportunity to be here today and see the spaces where students learn… it has transformed the way we look at the future of health care,” Lori says.
“The students here are so prepared,” Ted adds. “They are using technology to drive their abilities forward.”
The family was also excited to learn about the College’s Health Care Centre of Excellence, a campus expansion that will increase training capacity and introduce new state-of-the art classrooms, specialized labs and innovative learning spaces for future students.
In her June 19, 2025, convocation address to graduates of the College’s School of Health and Wellness, Lori spoke about how deeply compassionate support can shape a family’s experience: “The impact you will have on those you care for is profound. You are the ones who help others rebuild their strength, bring new life, find comfort in moments of pain and navigate the complexities of their health with knowledge and empathy… It is not your skills alone that will make you great health and wellness professionals. It is your heart.”
The Compassionate Care Nursing and Health Care Aide Bursary honours the everyday dedication of nurses and health-care aides and helps ensure future health-care workers enter the field with the same empathy and compassion that meant so much to the Zutz family.
Juliet Ihewuokw, who graduated in 2025 with a Practical Nurse Diploma, was the first recipient of the bursary. She says the bursary eased financial pressure and allowed her to focus more fully on her studies and clinical training.
“My goal is to work in a health-care setting where I can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, especially by offering comfort, dignity and support during vulnerable moments,” she says.
The family left their campus visit inspired and hopeful.
“We can all help open doors for students,” Lori says. “It just takes one spark to begin.”