After 26 years of welcoming newcomers, celebrating the birth of first babies, and newlyweds, Joyce Bergen, the hostess of the Winkler Welcomes You program has made the decision to retire.

Since 1993, Bergen visited 5,785 households, welcoming 4,484 newcomers, and celebrated 407 newlywed couples, and 894 first born babies.

"When I go to someone's home I'm being community," Bergen says, adding "a stranger is a friend she hasn't met yet."

Although she knows the time is right, leaving the position will leave a hole. "That first impression is the only opportunity to make a first impression... and I hear many positive comments from newcomers about how friendly Winkler is, which is always encouraging to hear."

Tanya Chateauneuf, the Executive Director of the Winkler and District Chamber of Commerce, says they're so grateful to have had Bergen serve in the role as long as she did, noting she made the program into what it is today.

Chateauneuf adds they don't plan to lose any momentum with the program and have begun looking for a new hostess.

As for what she plans to do with extra free time, Bergen says she is looking forward to spending more time in the garden.