One tile at a time, CLSA participant Lilla S. has turned her passion for Scrabble into a lifetime of learning, knowledge, and connection.
During her working career, Lilla supported the field of adult literacy, holding roles with Literacy Volunteers of America, an International Literacy Movement. Here, she took part in developing curriculum, sat on a national committee run by the federal government and even represented Canada on an international committee.
In her personal life, Lilla has become an avid (and competitive) Scrabble player. Since playing her first social game in Ottawa at age 57, Scrabble has inspired travel, connection—even meeting her spouse! Immediately before being interviewed, Lilla returned from an invitational tournament in Montreal, joining competitors from all over North America. At age 82, she is truly at the top of her game, holding a personal score of 1452 and being seeded in the first division of the invitational.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I started playing social scrabble in Ottawa, to clear my head and improve concentration after an illness. I got hooked on it and joined the competitive club. After six years, I moved to Stoney Creek with my common-law spouse, whom I met at the club. We continued to travel throughout North America, combining scrabble tournaments, hiking and sightseeing. He passed away in 2024 in Stoney Creek. In spring of 2025, I moved back to Nova Scotia where I had lived and raised my family. I have a son, grandson and great-granddaughter, as well as a sister and nephew in this area.
There is a negligible amount of scrabble in Atlantic Canada, no competitive activity. Because of this, I started the club at the local Cole Harbour Community Library—there are a lot of different and interesting people involved. Some are retired, some are in the workforce, one person is epileptic and one person is living with a dementia diagnosis who is joined by her care partner. The library generously offered us their program room (if we do not charge) and supplied us with three Scrabble boards for the club to play on a weekly basis.
How long have you been a participant with the CLSA?
To my knowledge, it’s been at least 10 years. I started in Hamilton and shifted to sessions here in Halifax.
Why did you decide to participate in the CLSA?
Really it was because I found it interesting. As I get older, I wanted to know what was happening in my own aging process compared to others. For one thing, I found out I have excellent bones and fall low on the scale for osteoporosis! I also thought the experience would be compelling, and I thought I could help. If I could do something to help, I sure wanted to!
What motivates you to keep participating in the CLSA?
Once I start something I hate to quit! And I’m fairly certain there is a disadvantage to having folks quit in the middle of the study, I wanted to maintain the longitudinal aspect. Ultimately, I am retired now and have the time, as well as the capacity to take part. I’ve also been lucky enough to have met some folks around me who are also involved, which is nice.
What do you hope the CLSA will achieve?
Very generally, if they can do anything in the research to help older people within the health field or from a medical aspect that would be enough.
What does healthy aging mean to you? What’s your current approach to healthy aging?
I’m actually starting to understand now what unhealthy aging is. I have been fortunate enough to have been relatively healthy in my senior years, taking part in hiking Mount Tremblant and things like that. Now being in my 80s, I feel some aches and pains. Healthy aging to me means managing that. I strive to stay healthy physically and socially by taking part in yoga and scrabble groups.
Why do you believe that it is important to study aging and health?
The population is aging – I don’t think we want to have very sick people! We need to keep healthy people in the community as much as we can, not in hospitals or long-term care. Living in the community and being as independent as possible is important, and I hope the CLSA can help this to happen.
How do you stay motivated?
I simply do the things that I want to do, when I want to do them. I try to find people that I like being with and that I have things in common with. Interacting with people helps to keep me motivated. I have a son, grandson, and great-granddaughter who also keep me active, and they also help to keep me positive and motivated. I also love container gardening, I mostly do herbs, but I do have a few annuals and perennials as well. Orchids are my favourite; I have 14 of them in my home!
How important is staying active to you as you age?
To me, it’s everything. All three, mentally, socially, physically, If I couldn’t have one I’d feel helpless, and I hate that. I don’t want people to have to look after me, I have been able to look after myself my whole life and I don’t like the thought of giving that up.
If you are interested in learning more about competitive scrabble, or Lilla’s Scrabble journey, you can visit https://www.scrabbleplayers.org/w/Lilla_Sinanan. If you are interested in being profiled for the CLSA’s Spotlight on Participants series, please contact info@clsa.elcv.
