Paul Atterton and Bev White - Comox Valley Honourees
2023 IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's

From sailing to the silver screen, Bev White and Paul Atterton have led exciting lives. Bev grew up on Vancouver’s North Shore, where she met Paul, who emigrated to Canada from England as a child. Somewhere along the way, their paths crossed, and they’ve been keeping each other smiling ever since. Ask how they met, and you might not get a straight answer from the playful couple who love to joke as they tell their story.

Paul worked as a courier while attending university, then moved into finance and eventually became director of finance for a municipal government. Bev worked in the film industry, first as a location manager, then production manager, for notable films like Look Who’s Talking Too and Romeo Must Die. Film, they agree with a round of laughter, is an industry that you work hard to get into, then work hard to get out of. They’re avid boaters, involved in the community since they met in the 1988, having both joined the Auxiliary Coast Guard. This made Comox the perfect place for the pair to relocate in 2007.

In March 2020, just as pandemic restrictions began, Bev had knee surgery. Recovery, paired with arthritis, made walking difficult – changes they initially attributed to the surgery. Soon, however, Bev noticed unintentional weight loss, accompanied by hair loss and low energy levels. Despite her business acumen, paperwork suddenly became a struggle.

In early 2021, when Bev and Paul saw their doctor, Paul asked their physician to examine the change in Bev’s gait. Recognizing potential signs of Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s, the doctor referred Bev to a geriatric specialist who confirmed the diagnosis.

Relieved to have answers, the couple emailed friends and family about Bev’s diagnosis, eager to share their story. A friend directed them to the Alzheimer Society of B.C. in Courtenay, where they joined a local Minds in Motion® program.

Only six weeks into attending, Bev and Paul learned about the upcoming IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s in the Comox Valley. Wanting to get involved, the two once again emailed their loved ones in hopes of generating some last-minute fundraising.

For Bev and Paul, the response was “magnificent.” In only three days, the pair and their community raised more than any other group involved in the Comox Valley event in 2022. The couple’s bravery in seeking answers for themselves and their willingness to share their story continues to help others affected by dementia. Bev and Paul are fundraising again this year with their team, “Just a Walkin and Talkin,” with hopes for even bigger and better results.

“Don’t be afraid to find out,” Bev says. “Learn what you're dealing with. The worst that could happen is you'll find out that, yes, you have dementia. It’s just a new chapter in life.”

Join Paul and Bev on Sunday, May 28 for the Comox Valley IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's. Together, we make memories matter.