Ruth Timms

Office Administrator

As I am the newest addition to Bells Corners United Church, let me introduce myself.

I am recently retired and was looking for something to keep me busy and something fun to do and I found this wonderful church that has welcomed me with open arms.

I am not originally from Ottawa. I am a military brat, my father being in the service. I have moved to a few places in my youth. I settled in Ottawa in 1980 and have enjoyed living here ever since. It is my home now, and I think it is a beautiful city and the best place to meet people from all over the world.

In my early years, from 1971 to 1985, I worked for the federal government in various departments and then I decided I wanted to do some traveling and changed careers.

I spent 30 years in the travel industry – 27 of those in corporate travel. I have also had the pleasure of doing a bit of travel, some would say a lot, but not if you talked to many in the industry. I have traveled to 5 continents and have enjoyed them all.

I keep busy in my spare time with dragon boating. I paddle with a wonderful group of women here in Ottawa. We travel to as many festivals as we can. The ages of the women range from 50 to 88. They are a great bunch of strong-willed women who don’t take no for an answer. We also do some volunteer work for the community. I belong to a walking group that also snowshoes in the winter.

I try my best to keep busy because I believe there is so much in this world to see and do and so many people to meet and I don’t want to have regrets. I believe every person is an interesting person and has a story to tell. They don’t always know it till you get them talking about themselves.

I once worked for Canada’s first official spy in World War II, and you would not have known it looking at him. He was quiet and reserved but if you got him talking it was interesting! So my motto is always believe in yourself and believe that you are leaving a wonderful history behind!