The unstoppable spark behind village events
If you’ve ever wondered who keeps Arvida Peninsula Club retirement community buzzing with excitement, look no further than Jackie Coomber - she’s practically a one-woman party-planning powerhouse!
From fashion shows to Island theme nights to St Patrick’s Day best dressed leprechaun competition, Jackie is the mastermind behind it all. She hosts mid-winter dinners, is one of the Peninsula Club singing group, and even helps to organize the legendary Peninsula Club Race Night, complete with wooden horses and prizes.
“There’s already a busy activity calendar so I focus on the true entertainment and events. I’m constantly looking at who I can get into the village and will they suit the residents,” she explains As if that’s not enough, Jackie moonlights as the bartender at the resident-led bar and the ‘meet and greeter’ when people are visiting the village.
For eleven years, Jackie has been a resident and has sprinkled her magic across Arvida Peninsula Club, leading the social committee and ensuring there’s always something fabulous on the calendar. Happy Hour? She finds the perfect entertainment. Valentine’s Day? Expect festivities that make residents blush. Nobody pays a cent to participate - because Jackie believes fun should always be free.
“I think when our events involve singing and entertainment with dancing, that’s when we get residents really showing up and enjoying themselves,” Jackie explains. With a background in nursing, Jackie knows exactly how to care for her community with laughter, fun and music. Since her husband passed away, Jackie has thrown herself into creating happiness for everyone around her. The dedication to event planning and managing is a perfect reflection of Arvida’s Attitude of Living Well approach in all 34 Living Well Communities.
“I really love organizing events and seeing everyone smiling. It keeps me going,” she says. Her energy is unstoppable, her creativity boundless, and her ability to bring people together is the stuff of Peninsula Club legend. Residents of the Stanmore Bay community are spolit for choice when it comes to amenities - with an impressive bowling green, workshop, swimming pool, cafe, library and gym area.
Thanks to Jackie, the village isn’t just a place to live… it’s a place to celebrate, connect, and dance through life.
