When people decide to retire, there is usually a reason in addition to hitting a milestone age. Maybe a partner has stopped working. There may be a health issue, or an aging parent who requires more support.

For restaurant owner Patrick Saurette, turning 60 coincided with another key factor: the upcoming renewal of the lease on his restaurant, The Marc, one of the most beloved eateries in Edmonton. The decision to exit an industry that had long consumed him is instructive for other 60-somethings embroiled in the often-agonizing choice to leave their working lives behind.