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What is Linking Generations?

Created in 2004 as a charitable organization, Linking Generations provides mentored and structured visits aimed at building relationships between seniors and youth in our community. The program brings the generations together so they can share their knowledge and life experiences, and encourages volunteering and social responsibility in youth.

Linking Generations creates connections between seniors and youth by nurturing friendships built through volunteering and structured mentorship – Mission Statement

Happy 20 Year Aniversary Linking Generations

As we approach the end of May 2024, Linking Generations is excited to be celebrating our 20th Aniversary. It’s hard to believe that Linking Generations Society of Alberta has been offering intergenerational programming within the County of Strathcona for 20 years and Fort Saskatchewan for the last three years.

Looking back over the years, we have touched the lives of 4725 program participants – seniors and students alike. We also know that we have impacted the family members of those who have been involved in our programs over the years. We see many students continue in our programs through grade 7 to 12, and we hear many stories of younger siblings waiting to join our program. Seniors continually remark that we ease the loneliness that many face on a daily basis and we bring laughter, joy and hope back into their days.

All of us at Linking Generations acknowledge that our program growth and success is only possible because of our dedicated funding partners . We are truly blessed for each specail partnership that we have and we do Thank You from the bottom of our hearts. Your continued financial support has enabled us to grow our programs from 1 program to 14 in the last 20 years.

On behalf of the Linking Generations Board of Directors, Program Coordinators, and myself, Thank You so very much.

Sincerely,

Debbie Sinclair
Executive Director
Linking Generations

Awards and Acknowledgments

  • Linking Generations Executive Director, Debbie Sinclair, awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal 2023
  • Duncan and Craig Laurel Award 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
  • Received Rogers Hometown Hockey Award 2018
  • Received Pride of Strathcona 2019 Award – Outstanding Community Organization
  • Nominated for the Ministers Seniors Service Award in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
  • Field Law Community Awards 2016, 2020
  • Received the 2021 County of Strathcona Award of Excellence, Service to Seniors
  • Received the 2021 Ministers Seniors Service Award

Donate Now & Support our Program!

Linking Generations is a Canadian Registered Charity in good standing. We are currently looking for donations to expand our program. If you are interested in making a donation directly to us, or would like to learn more about how you can help, please contact us for more information.

We appreciate the amazing support of our community! Donations can be made through Canada Helps:

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Volunteer Grandparent Program

Created in 2018, Linking Generations is pleased to offer the Volunteer Grandparent Program, this initiative which offers seniors more opportunities to help bridge the multi-generational gap. The Volunteer Grandparent Program was created in response to a lack of opportunities for young and older generations to relate in an increasingly age-segregated society.   Schools currently include:In… Continue reading Volunteer Grandparent Program

Donate

Donate Now & Support our Program! Linking Generations is a Canadian Registered Charity in good standing. We are currently looking for donations to expand our program. If you are interested in making a donation directly to us, or would like to learn more about how you can help, please contact us for more information. We… Continue reading Donate

Community Partners

Linking Generations Society of Alberta relies on community partnerships to create positive intergenerational impact. Each partner is critical to the success of our programs, helping with identifying and supporting students and seniors, supporting programs, and developing innovative solutions together. To all of our valuable community partners, We can only do what we do because of… Continue reading Community Partners

The experience of Linking Generations helped me to really value older people and their experiences. I am incredibly thankful to all the people who make this program possible.

A Participating Student

I have been with the linking generations program for 5 years now. Five years is just about a third of the time I’ve lived. Through this program, I can recognize now that five years is not that long of a time.

Some seniors in this program are over 100 years old! Despite being in the program from grade seven to grade 12, I really only feel I’ve experienced a fraction of what any of these seniors could impart on me. I could spend every day just talking with any senior in the room and I would never hear all of their stories.

I also feel that I’ve gained a greater depth about how they live. Sometimes, when I’m in class at school, I find myself thinking “I can’t wait until Thursday!” and just a couple weeks ago it struck me: Some of our seniors feel like this all week, every week. Once I realized this, I finally fully realized this program’s impact on both us as students and our seniors: —- for us, it has increased our compassion and has also given us a greater understanding of other ways of life. For the seniors, it has given them someone they see often, someone they can talk to and share experiences with.

I could never give enough thanks to this program for helping me develop these skills that I will have for the rest of my life, and I think I speak for the seniors when I say they’d thank us for giving being a friend.

A Participating Student