Jane Woodcock, a 68-year-old Ontario senior, thought retirement would be her time to relax—but life had other plans. After her husband passed away in 2018, she struggled to make ends meet, especially when the pandemic hit. Now, she’s unretired and back at work, not by choice but out of necessity, to cover the rising cost of living and care for her five pets. Her story highlights how even careful planners can get blindsided by financial pressures in today’s economy.

Editor’s Note: Jane’s situation isn’t just a personal struggle—it’s a snapshot of a bigger problem. More seniors are being forced back into work as inflation, housing costs, and unexpected life events eat away at their savings. It’s a wake-up call about how fragile retirement security has become for many Canadians, even those who thought they’d prepared. Stories like this make the abstract "cost of living crisis" feel painfully real.