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2026-2027
The Wait is Over: Our Programs Resume This Month
We hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing summer! After a brief summer hiatus, Linking Generations is thrilled to announce that our full lineup of programs have officially started at our various senior facilities. This week our St Nicholas students brought smiles and laughter to Sherwood Care seniors.
We are also excited to welcome back all of our 90+ Volunteer Grandparents, both returning and new, who will spend time this year helping students read or complete school assignments while sharing their past stories and experiences.
We cannot wait to see your familiar faces and we welcome new members to our community.
2025-2026
Capital Care Strathcona had a great time meeting our Ecole Pere Kenneth Kearns Students
Our Linking Generations seniors from Capital Care Strathcona had a great time meeting our Ecole Pere Kenneth Kearns grade four class this week.
Students were excited to kick off the program year spending time reading to the seniors and playing our newly created “Let’s Get Acquainted” Linking Generations Game.
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Summerwood Seniors Residence had a great time meeting our Holy Spirit Students
Our Linking Generations seniors from Summerwood Seniors Residence had a great time meeting our Holy Spirit grade three class this week.
Students were excited to kick off the program year spending time reading to the seniors and playing our newly created “Let’s Get Acquainted” Linking Generations Game.
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2024-2025
County Clothes-Line Foundation Community Partnership
We are so fortunate to live in a community where doing for others just comes naturally. And of course, with funding dollars from the County Clothes-Line Foundation, it makes it much easier for all of us at Linking Generations to continue to offer our intergenerational programs to our community seniors and youth. We value our long time partnership and truly am grateful.
Thank you County Clothes-Line Foundation.
Chartwell Emerald Hills and Lakeland Ridge Junior High School Program Concludes for 2024-2025
We’re truly grateful for your commitment to our intergenerational program.
On behalf of Linking Generations, we sincerely appreciate your dedication to ensure our programs are a success, year after year.
Thank You.
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St. John XXIII Elementary School and Fort Community Care Seniors Residence
As we conclude a very successful “Share and Care “program year with our young students and their partnered seniors, we wish to say Thank You for the wonderful partnership we have in place with both the school and seniors’ facility.
This last visit of the school year was fantastic. The seniors and students made ice cream floats and played games to celebrate the year end.
Our students have enjoyed visiting this program year with the seniors, and we know from conversations with our seniors, how much they looked forward to the visits.
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Linking Generations elementary students visit seniors bi-weekly at Fort Community Care
Our Linking Generations programs can help boost mental health and well-being for both seniors and youth.
It is apparent each time we see the smiles and joy brought about during our visits.
Our elementary students visit seniors bi-weekly at Fort Community Care, and are welcomed and cherished by our seniors.
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Heartfelt Thank You to the Flaman Foundation
Each year we benefit from the generosity of our funding partners and with their support we strive to achieve our mutual goals of making positive, lasting impacts in the community where we live.
We are so grateful for the contributions of all our corporate, government and community partnerships!
A special Thank You to Flaman Foundation for our new community partnership!
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Special Volunteer Grandparent spent year teaching Junior High students to knit
Linking Generations would like to thank our special Volunteer Grandparent who has spent the school year teaching our Junior High students to knit.
Learning to knit offers numerous benefits, including improved mental health, reduced stress, enhanced fine motor skills, and opportunities for creativity and social connection. Knitting can also be a mindful activity and a fun, affordable hobby.
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A Testimonial from a Teacher – “It was beautiful, raw, and so sincere”
” When I took on the school role for Linking Generations, I was most excited to continue the deeply rooted tradition that our school started many years ago. What I didn’t fully understand at the time was the impact these relationships would have — not only on the seniors, but on our students as well.
It has been amazing to witness our students’ determination to be present, prepared, and attentive to their senior partners. I remember running into one student — someone I never would have expected — crying in the hallway because they weren’t feeling well and had to cancel their visit at the last minute. They were so concerned about how their absence would affect their senior grandparent. It was beautiful, raw, and so sincere.
The Senior Tea opened my eyes even more to how meaningful these relationships are — and how much they are reciprocated. I am so blessed to have said “yes” last year, and I’m truly honored to be given the opportunity again next year.
We’re already excited for next year. Thank you again, and wishing you a wonderful few months of rest before we do it all over again!
Linking Generations Grandparent Grandma Cy receives “A Book of Love”
As our Volunteer Grandparent concludes for another year, we have the privilege of hearing some of the success stories benign shared:
“This was my last day with the students. I have been truly privileged to have been offered this assignment at Davidson Creek. I thank you very much for giving me the opportunity
You always mention to the grandparents about how we make a difference in the children’s lives. I can attest to that personally. I’m sharing with you a picture of the front cover of a letter book from each student. It brought tears to my eyes and I will always cherish it.”
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St Nicholas Elementary School and Sherwood Care
As we conclude a very successful “Share and Care “program year with our young students and their partnered seniors, we wish to say Thank You for the wonderful partnership we have in place with both the school and seniors’ facility.
This visit was fantastic as the students were celebrating a Ukraine holiday and came dressed up to Sherwood Care in their traditional shirts. The name of the event is Vyshyvanka Day and it is celebrated every year on the same day. The seniors loved seeing the students all dressed up.
The students read to the seniors and played “Getting to Know you Bingo”. As a year end treat, Sherwood Care provided all the students with a bag of chips and a drink box to take back to the school.
Our students have enjoyed visiting this program year with the seniors, and we know from conversations with our seniors, how much they looked forward to the visits.
Thank you Sherwood Care for 18 yrs of programming history and success !!!!
And Thank you to our invaluable funders and community supporters !
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Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) School and Heartland Housing Cloverbar Lodge
As we conclude a very successful program year with OLPH Junior High School and Heartland Housing Cloverbar Lodge , we wish to say Thank You for the wonderful partnership we have in place with both the school and seniors’ facility.
Our students have enjoyed visiting this program year with the seniors, and we know from conversations with our seniors, how much they looked forward to the visits.
Thank you for the 20 yrs of programming history and success !!!!
And Thank you to our invaluable funders and community supporters !
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St Theresa Middle School and Bedford Village Seniors Residence
Our students have enjoyed visiting this program year with the seniors, and we know from conversations with our seniors, how much they looked forward to the visits.
This special visit saw the students planting spring flowering pots along with doing a craft together.
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Another successful program year with Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) School and Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven
As we prepare to end a very successful program year with OLPH Junior High School and Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven, we wish to say Thank You for the wonderful partnership we have in place with both the school and seniors’ facility.
Our students have enjoyed visiting this program year with the seniors, and we know from conversations with our seniors, how much they looked forward to the visits.
Thank you to our invaluable funders and community supporters !
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Very successful program year with John Paul Junior High School and Dr Turner Lodge
As we prepare to end a very successful program year with John Paul Junior High School and Dr Turner Lodge, we wish to say Thank You for the wonderful partnership we have in place with both the school and seniors’ facility.
Our students have enjoyed visiting this program year with the seniors, and we know from conversations with our seniors, how much they looked forward to the visits.
To close off the program year, students and seniors planted spring flowering pots along with doing a craft together.
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Very successful program year with Holy Spirit Elementary School and Summerwood Seniors Residences
Linking Generations is proud to offer “Intergenerational Programming,” involving activities that increase cooperation, interaction or exchange between any two generations.
As we prepare to end a very successful program year with Holy Spirit Elementary School and Summerwood Seniors Residences, we wish to say Thank You for the wonderful partnership we have in place with both the school and seniors facility.
Our young students loved visiting this program year with the seniors, and we know from conversations with our seniors, how much they looked forward to the visits.
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Volunteer Gramma Beth received this wonderful THANK YOU card
Being a volunteer grandparent means dedicating time and energy to enrich the lives of children by fostering intergenerational relationships and providing support. This can involve various activities, such as mentoring, tutoring, and offering companionship.
Linking Generations Volunteer Grandparent Program’s goal is to create a positive and meaningful connection between generations, benefiting both the children and the senior volunteers.
Our Volunteer Gramma Beth received this wonderful THANK YOU card from her grade six student !!!
Thank you Beth for your dedication to this program.
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Seniors from Clover Bar Lodge and students from École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) enjoy making Photo Books
Our Photo Making Visit is always requested by our Heartland Housing CloverBar seniors. The seniors enjoy making these photo books because they offer a tangible, immersive way to preserve and share memories that have been captured over this Linking Generations program year.
The books provide a tactile experience, and allow for creative storytelling, and can be a powerful way to stay connected with past moments and strengthen relationships of our linked student/senior teams.
Thank you CloverBar seniors and Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH students) for a very successful and rewarding program year !
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Seniors from Clover Bar Lodge and students from École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) enjoy time together
Our students created Fun Pens with their linked seniors from Clover Bar Lodge.
So that each time a senior looks for a pen, they are reminded of their special relationships made this year with our students from OLPH School.
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Linking Generations volunteer Marianne at St. Nicholas Catholic Elementary School
We are so fortunate to have such a caring and dedicated Volunteer Grandparent, who has taught a grade 1 class how to grow tomatoes.
After weeks of nurturing and checking on the classroom tomatoes, it was time for transplanting day with the Gr 1 class.
Each student had two tomatoes — one for themselves and one to give as a gift to someone special.
Thank you, Marianne.
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Seniors from Country Cottage Retirement Residence and students from Archbishop Jordan Catholic High School enjoy time together
Our students created Fun Pens with their linked seniors from Country Cottage so that each time a senior looks for a pen, they are reminded of their special relationships made this year with our high school students from ABJ High School.
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Linking Generations Thanks Fort Saskatchewan Rotary Club
Each year we benefit from the generosity of our funding partners with whom we work collaboratively to achieve a lasting impact on the lives of youth, seniors, and society as a whole.
Linking Generations is very grateful for our wonderful community partnership in Fort Saskatchewan with The Fort Saskatchewan Rotary Club for their continued financial support for our Fort Saskatchewan Intergenerational Programs.
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Our Special “Littles” visited with Capital Care Seniors
18 Grade one students visited with their Capital Care Seniors, celebrating Easter festivities early. Teams created Paper Plate Easter Bunnies and played “I Spy” Easter game.
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Spring Tea for the Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences seniors hosted by the OLPH students
Each year, our partnership school, Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH), invites our seniors from Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences to attend a Spring Tea in their honor.
Our seniors are excited and thrilled about this annual event as they not only get to visit with their link students outside the senior facility, they experience what it feels like to be back in a school.
This year was extra special as Linking Generations ensured that the seniors had proper transportation to and from school ! Our seniors came off the bus elated about the bus ride.
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Arriving in Style
Welcome Video
Enjoying the Tea
Seniors Heading Home
Family Meet and Greet for Dr Turner Lodge and St. John Paul Middle School
Linking Generations held their Annual Family Meet and Greet Evening at Dr Turner Lodge recently. This annual event is held to recognize the intergenerational connections made between seniors and youth in our community.
Our mentoring Linking Generations Seniors are an integral part of our Linking Generations program, and we each year we encourage our senior and youth participants to each share our program success with their families. Each senior and student is asked to invite ‘ONE’ family member to attend our special evening.
The Family Meet and Greet is like a regular Linking Generations visit, as there is a structured activity planned to do together.
A few of our comments received at our event were:
- Thanks so much for the great evening experiencing the Linking Generations events. The seniors and the students are both blessed to be able to experience the bonds that bind their lives – sharing ideas and learning from each other.
- Simply put – this is a lovely program. The connection between the youth and the seniors is just what the world needs, not the regression of generations we normally see.
Student thanking Linking Generations – Video
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Spring Tea for the Clover Bar Lodge seniors hosted by the OLPH students
Each year, our partnership school, Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH), invites our seniors from Cloverbar Lodge to attend a Spring Tea in their honor.
Our seniors are excited and thrilled about this annual event as they not only get to visit with their link students outside the senior facility, they experience what it feels like to be back in a school.
This year was extra special as Linking Generations ensured that the seniors had proper transportation to and from school ! Our seniors came off the bus elated about the bus ride !
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Arriving in Style
Enjoying the Tea
Blind Senior gets Card with Braille Writing
Seniors Heading Home
Family Meet and Greet for Chartwell Emerald Hills and Lakeland Ridge Junior High
Our Linking Generations students and seniors are an integral part of our success. So, it’s only fitting that we share this success with family members. This week, our Family Meet and Greet for Chartwell Emerald Hills and Lakeland Ridge Junior High was an overwhelming success !
Each participating student and senior was encouraged to invite one family member (over 18 yrs. of age) to attend our special evening Linking Generations visit. The Meet and Greet is planned like a regular Linking Generations visit, as we have a structured activity planned to do together. It does prove to be an enjoyable evening for all involved.
We have received so many wonderful comments from our attending participants:
- Simply put – this is a lovely program. The connection between the youth and the seniors is just what the world needs, not the regression of generations we normally see.
- After each Linking Generations visit, my daughter comes home so excited and with stories to share. This program has given her self confidence and an understanding of seniors.
- This program exemplifies that no matter what age the generations are from, relationships can be built and fostered.
- Linking Generations has benefited my parents at Chartwell Emerald Hills. Thank you!
- I see maturity in my son with his approach to his partnered seniors. I was very impressed.
- It is surprising to hear the amount of knowledge young people have today.
- I loved to hear that we can visit our seniors over the summer months.
- I really enjoyed meeting my daughters ‘honorary; grandmother who can share different lived experiences with her.
- It was an established friendship that was strengthened tonight, because of this special visit.
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Heritage visit with St. Theresa Catholic School students and Christenson Developments Bedford Village seniors
When “looking at heritage items,” we share the stories the items tell about the past, the people who created them, and the societies they came from. Our St Theresa students and Bedford Seniors loved this special visit !
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Grandpa Bernie at Madonna School
The message below is on a post from the Madonna Catholic School Facebook page.
Today was a special day! Grandpa Bernie shared some amazing items from the past with our grade 4 students. It was a trip down memory lane as they got to see and touch things that tell the story of the past. From an old phone to an 8 track cassette, it was a wonderful way for our students to learn about history. Thank you, Grandpa Bernie, for making the past come alive!
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OLPH students and Clover Bar Lodge seniors puzzle over Museum pieces
Linking Generations is grateful for our wonderful community partnership with Strathcona Museum.
Our OLPH students and Clover Bar Lodge seniors puzzle over some of the items from a long time ago, trying to guess what they are and what their use was.
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Share N Care Visit with Sherwood Care Seniors
Our Share and Care students brought smiles and laughter to our Sherwood Care seniors this morning, with an array of board games followed by reading to the seniors.
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Heritage items with OLPH Students with their Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences Seniors
Our OLPH students had a great time with their “linked” seniors from Heartland Housing- SilverBirch, today, while sharing conversations about Heritage items.
Students were stumped on many items. We had added some 8-tracks to the items, and none of the students had even seen these before. The antique telephone and encyclopedia were big hits.
Thank you County of Strathcona Museum.
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St. John Paul Middle school visited with their linked seniors at Dr Turner Lodge
While students from St. John Paul Middle school visited with their linked seniors at Dr Turner Lodge , various items were passed from table to table for our Heritage Visit today with Fort Community Care seniors.
Seniors saw items from their earlier years while our students puzzled over what that item could be.
The highlight was seeing an old typewriter !!!
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Share N Care Visit with Fort Community Care Seniors
Our Share and Care students participated in our Heritage Visit today with Fort Community Care seniors. Seniors saw items from their earlier years while our students puzzled over what that item could be.
The highlight was seeing an old typewriter !!!
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Share N Care Visit with Summerwood Seniors
Thank you to our Share and Care program students who visited Summerwood seniors, and created paper stained glass windows to display and brighten the senior facility.
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Teaching our Young Generation to Grow Tomatoes !
Each year, our long time Volunteer Grandparent Marianne, teaches a class of young students at St Nicholas Elementary School how to grow their own tomatoes from seed.
They don’t need much work. After dividing the class into five groups, the students named their team. Now the students wait anxiously for that small little tomato sprout to pop up!
Thank you Marianne for your commitment to our invaluable program, and for the love of children that you have !
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Congratulations to Debbie Sinclair – Receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal
Linking Generations Executive Director Debbie Sinclair was chosen to receive the prestigious honor of being presented the King Charles III Coronation Medal today, recognizing her for her community involvement and commitment to the County of Strathcona and The City of Fort Saskatchewan.
The King Charles III Coronation Medal was created to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, which took place on May 6, 2023. It is the first Canadian commemorative medal to mark a coronation.
Debbie has an incredible passion for seniors and an uncanny ability to connect with youth. When adding these two together, it is easy to understand why Linking Generations continues to thrive, grow, and expand. Since assuming the role of Executive Director for Linking Generations, she has expanded the organization to now offer 14 various senior/student intergenerational programs in the County of Strathcona and most recently The City of Fort Saskatchewan. Debbie dedicates herself to Linking Generations, which the whole community benefits from. She is a strong advocate of community senior and student connectivity and non-profit organizations. She is a past member of Big Sisters, and The Kinettes as well as The Edmonton Progress Club. Debbie has sat in the role of Public Board Member for the Primary Care Network in Strathcona County, Past Board Member of The County of Strathcona Seniors Advisory Committee and she currently is a member of the County of Strathcona Social Framework Steering Committee. She is the proud recipient of the Alberta Capital Region Integrity award, presented by the Sherwood Park Rotary Club.
Congratulations to Debbie Sinclair.
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BRINGING SMILES TO OUR SENIOR FACES!
Our elementary students created paper stained glass windows with our Sherwood Care seniors.
The paper stained glass windows were then hung in the activity room and dining room for all seniors to enjoy.
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“What does that mean?”
Like fashion, slang changes with the times.
Our seniors and students explored the different slang expressions used by youth, young and middle-aged adults, and seniors to describe the same items or ideas over the past 70 years.
This activity heightened the awareness of how our written and spoken language has changed over the past 10 to 70 years.
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Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Chartwell Emerald Hills
Linking Generations Thanks Fort Saskatchewan “Twice But Nice”
Each year we benefit from the generosity of our funding partners with whom we work collaboratively to achieve a lasting impact on the lives of youth, seniors, and society as a whole.
Linking Generations thanks Fort Saskatchewan “Twice But Nice” for their continued financial support for our Fort Saskatchewan Intergenerational Programs.
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Summerwood Seniors Residences Seniors with Holy Spirit Elementary School Students
Our students and seniors were excited about today’s visit. With a large grade three class of 30 students and 17 seniors, everyone created colouring sheets that were given out to seniors at their lunch.
Students also brought their reading books to the visit as well.
Thank you Summerwood Seniors Residences and Holy Spirit Elementary School.
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3 Robins with students from Strathcona Christian Academy Secondary
Our newest supportive school program links seniors from 3 Robins with students from Strathcona Christian Academy Secondary. Welcome students and seniors.
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St. Patrick’s Day with John Paul Middle School Students and Dr Turner Lodge Seniors
On March 17th, which is St. Patrick’s Day, leprechauns are a prominent symbol of Irish folklore, often depicted as mischievous, tiny, green-clad creatures who guard pots of gold at the end of rainbows.
It’s St. Patrick’s Day. Time to play a St. Patrick’s Day Family Feud game !
Both students (John Paul Middle School) and seniors from Dr Turner Lodge had a great afternoon being green !
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Our Young Elementary Students Drank Green Leprechaun Juice
St. Patrick’s Day observes of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green.
Our young elementary students drank green leprechaun juice freshly squeezed from leprechauns !!! Thank you Fort Community Care !
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Linking Generations Grandparent Grandpa Bernie
Kids are born scientists, curious about the world around them and how it all fits together. And science experiments are great ways for children to explore the world, learn about the scientific method and just have fun. Our Volunteer Grandpa, Grandpa Bernie, had a special experiment planned for this day.
Grandpa Bernie gave each student a plastic plate, he then added a milk into plate until the bottom was completely covered. He then added drops of 4 types of food coloring into the milk. The students then dipped their Q-Tip into soap and then dipped the Q-Tip into the milk. The fun began then. The food coloring began to swirl around the milk.
One of the students figured out how to ‘paint’ pictures!
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Bridging the Age Gap, Together
There’s an old saying that ‘age is just a number’ yet, all too often, it needlessly drives a wedge between generations due to ageist pre-conceptions.
The truth is that, when younger and older people come together, everybody wins.
(Heartland Housing Foundation – Clover Bar Lodge and OLPH Junior High Students)
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Preparing for St. Patrick’s Day
This was a large class of 30 students that visited Capital Care Strathcona today.
Together, our seniors and students made shamrock paper plate decorations, and coloured Happy St Patrick’s Day sheets.
All will now go on display for our seniors to enjoy with their St. Paddy’s day celebration next week.
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Our Bedford Village Seniors Enjoyed an Afternoon with Our St. Theresa Students
It is always amazing to witness the connections between our Linking Generations seniors and junior high students.
Our Bedford Village seniors enjoyed an afternoon with our St. Theresa students, sharing laughter and some genuine smiles.
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Our Special “Littles” visited with Sherwood Care Seniors
Our special “Littles” visited with Sherwood Care seniors this morning, coloring spring themed pictures which the seniors got to keep !
The added highlight of our visit was playing “Race To The Top” dice game with our seniors.
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Linking Generations Family Meet and Greet Event
Our Linking Generations Students and our Seniors become extremely excited about this evening visit. It gives both participants an opportunity to introduce their ”linked” student or senior to their family.
Each program student and senior can invite one parent or family member over the age of 18 years to attend this visit with them. This visit also allows all of us at Linking Generations to recognize how much each senior and student is an integral part of Linking Generation’s success.
The Family Meet and Greet is similar to a regular Linking Generations visit, as we always have a structured activity to do together plus, we have some fun planned for everyone!
See pictures below.
Family Meet and Greets where held with (click link to go to their pictures):
- Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge, together with Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help Junior High Students
- Heartland Housing Foundation Silver Birch Lodge and Haven, together with Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help Junior High Students
See pictures below.
Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge, together with Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help Junior High Students
Heartland Housing Foundation Silver Birch Lodge and Haven, together with Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help Junior High Students
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Our École Père Kenneth Kearns Catholic Elementary School students love reading to their matched seniors at Capital Care Strathcona !
Seniors often enjoy having children read to them because it provides a sense of connection with younger generations, stimulates their minds through cognitive engagement with stories, offers a joyful activity that can reduce stress, and can even help maintain memory and language skills by revisiting familiar narratives.
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Sharing Travel Stories – Clover Bar Lodge Seniors and OLPH Students
People travel for many reasons, including to learn, explore, and experience new cultures.
This visit, our OLPH students heard about travels our seniors have taken and our students shared their dreams of where they would love to go.
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Another Grandpa Bernie visit at Madonna Catholic Elementary School
Madonna Catholic Elementary School Grade 4 Cogito class was thrilled to have Grandpa Bernie join them today.
Today Grandpa Bernie did two experiments:
- The power of a vacuum (the ole egg into the bottle experiment) and about carbon dioxide.
- Making and flying 2 different types of paper airplanes.
The power of a vacuum (the ole egg into the bottle experiment). The first attempt at the experiment worked perfectly. A burning piece of paper was dropped into the bottle, the egg was quickly place on top of the bottle, the flame slowly went out, and the egg was sucked into the bottle. The students wanted to see the experiment again, but it did not work. The flame went out nearly immediately. The students tried to figure out why. And they figured it out. There was very little air left in the bottle, being replaced with a higher concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2)! We just turned the bottle on its side, waited about 1 hour, and retried the experiment. SUCCESS !! These students are very clever to figure that out!
Making and flying two different types of paper planes. The first paper airplane was the traditional folded airplane. All the students folded their paper airplanes and flew them in the class. Then … Grandpa Bernie showed them how to build a different paper airplane – A Hoop Glider. Using a straw and 2 hoops, all the students created their Hoop Glider. And to test how they flew each student tossed their hoop glider toward their teacher!
Lots of cheering and laughing !!
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St. Nicholas Catholic Elementary School students visit the seniors at Sherwood Care
Brightening our Sherwood Care Seniors days ! Our Share and Care students spent the morning reading to our seniors and made scratch bookmarks .
When the reading was done, it was time to play the “Race To The Top” dice game.
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École Père Kenneth Kearns Catholic Elementary School students visit the CapitalCare Strathcona seniors
Our Capital Care seniors and Ecole Pere Kenneth Kerns students had an action-packed visit with their linked seniors. From making scratch bookmarks, reading to their seniors, and playing Connect 4.
Our seniors enjoyed the students reading to them as some seniors are nonverbal and this brightens their day immensely. Our grade 3 students did a fantastic job.
Thank you students for Sharing and Caring.
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Linking Generations – Valentines at Sherwood Care
Students made valentines for there seniors from Sherwood Care.
They also left valentines to be handed out tomorrow.
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Linking Generations – Valentines at Clover Bar Lodge
Students from École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School and seniors from Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge visited and discussed valentine questions.
The lodge prepared special Valentine cookies for this visit.
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Linking Generations – Valentines at CapitalCare Strathcona
We created valentines for the seniors and left them to be distributed on Valentines Day,
And, a scratch valentine that was taken home by the students.
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Heartland Housing Dr Turner Lodge Senior and John Paul Middle School Student Visit
Intergenerational relationships are connections between people of different ages. They can be familial, friendly, or mentorship relationships.
Our linked seniors from Heartland Housing Dr Turner Lodge and John Paul Middle School students share laughter and stories with each other.
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Volunteer Gramma Green Visiting Madonna Catholic Elementary School
Thank you to Volunteer Gramma Green, visiting Madonna Catholic Elementary School. Children often love to be read to because it provides a stimulating and engaging experience that helps develop their imagination, language skills, and emotional awareness, while also creating a special bonding time with a caregiver, allowing them to explore new worlds and characters through stories, and often providing comfort and a sense of escape.
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Linking Generations – Valentines at Fort Community Care
Will you be my Valentine?
Our seniors from Fort Community Care look forward to the students visiting on Monday afternoons. On this visit, the teams created foam animal hearts and shared Valentine questions.
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Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School students visit with their matched Summerwood Village Retirement Residence seniors
The Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School students and their Summerwood Village Retirement Residence seniors played a game called “I Spy Valentine”. After this, they played Connect Four.
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Grandpa Bernie visit at Madonna Catholic Elementary School
Madonna Catholic Elementary School Grade 4 Cogito class was thrilled to welcome Grandpa Bernie today, who introduced them to a new math game!
The school has shared that they absolutely love having our Grandpas and Grandmas from Linking Generations visit—it’s always such an exciting experience for the students!
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Sports Day with Lakeland Ridge Junior High School students and Chartwell Emerald Hills seniors
Our Lakeland Ridge students and Chartwell Emerald Hills seniors participated in our sports day activities by guessing national teams, and proudly wearing their favorite jerseys.
This is always a favorite visit with both seniors and students – just more exciting when our visit day is on an Oilers hockey game evening as well.
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Linking Generations – Sports can Happen To Anyone at Any Time
Sports can happen to anyone at any time.
Kick a rock while you’re walking to school? Pretty much the same as soccer!
While sports may not be everyone’s cup of tea, they are an inescapable part of life.
You never know when sports will happen to you, so it’s best to be prepared.
That’s why we’ve created a quiz about sports for the students of École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) and the seniors of Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences.
We’d say it’s not about winning and losing, but seeing as this is a quiz, it kind of is.
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St. John Paul Middle School and Heartland Housing Dr. Turner Lodge have a Wonderful Visit
Since its inception in 2004, Linking Generations has fostered meaningful relationships through mentored and structured visits, allowing for an exchange of stories, lessons, and laughter that transcends age.
Our students embark on a journey of learning and sharing, where every interaction is a thread in the fabric of our community’s history and future.
Thank you St. John Paul Junior High students and Dr Turner Lodge seniors for sharing and caring.
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2024-2025 Linking Generations 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 on board currently include:
In Sherwood Park:
- Brentwood Elementary
- Davidson Creek Elementary
- Ecole Pere Kenneth Kearns Elementary
- Heritage Hills Elementary
- Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary
- Lakeland Ridge School
- Madonna Catholic Elementary
- New Horizons School
- OLPH
- St. Nicholas Catholic School
- Westboro Elementary
In Fort Saskatchewan:
- Fort Saskatchewan Elementary School
- Our Lady of Angels Catholic School
- St. John XXIII School
- Win Ferguson Elementary School
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 generations together so they can share their knowledge and life experiences, and encourages volunteering and social responsibility in youth.
Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School and Summerwood Village Retirement Residence have another Wonderful Visit
We coloured and “Our Father” Booklet and then the students read them to the seniors. Our other activity was connect four dice game wit the seniors and students really enjoyed.
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Welcome back École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) and Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge students !
Our École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) students and Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge seniors reconnect after the holiday break ………. Board Game Visit !!!!
board game
/ˈbôrd ˌɡām/
noun
plural noun: board games
any game played on a board, especially one that involves the movement of pieces on the board, such as chess or checkers.
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Welcome back St. Theresa Catholic School and Christenson Developments Bedford Village students !
OUR St. Theresa Catholic School and Christenson Developments Bedford Village students reconnect after the holiday break ………. Board Game Visit !!!!
board game
/ˈbôrd ˌɡām/
noun
plural noun: board games
any game played on a board, especially one that involves the movement of pieces on the board, such as chess or checkers.
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Welcome back Chartwell Emerald Hill Seniors and Lakeland Ridge Junior High students !
OUR Chartwell Emerald Hill Seniors and Lakeland Ridge Junior High students reconnect after the holiday break ………. Board Game Visit !!!!
board game
/ˈbôrd ˌɡām/
noun
plural noun: board games
any game played on a board, especially one that involves the movement of pieces on the board, such as chess or checkers.
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Welcome back OLPH Junior High School students !
Nostalgia:
Many adults who grew up playing classic board games are revisiting them or introducing them to their children, creating a cycle of nostalgia and new experiences.
Our OLPH Junior High School students paired with their Silver Birch seniors spent an afternoon playing such board games over laughter and sharing.
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Welcome back St. Nicholas students!
Our students returned to visiting our Sherwood Park seniors after their holidays break, and borough smiles and laughter to all !!
Students read to the seniors and created scratch book marks along with a colouring sheet “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” that were left at Sherwood Care to decorate the halls.
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New Year with Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School students at Summerwood Village Retirement Residence
Our Summerwood seniors were so excited to welcome back our elementary students !
After weeks of no visits, due to holidays, it was so rewarding to see the connections come alive once again.
Students created scratch bookmarks with their seniors and then read to them, after a game of animal dice..
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Linking Generations Grandparent getting More Students to Decorate a Gingerbread man
The Linking Generations Volunteer Grandparent Program was created in 2019 in response to a lack of opportunities for young and old to relate in an increasingly age-segregated society. Under this program, Senior volunteers can volunteer within a school environment – grade 1-8 in different schools in the county of Sherwood Park. Senior volunteers Grandparents share skills, knowledge & experience, all while providing a valuable community service.
To bring in the Christmas break Grandpa Bernie had the students at Davidson Creek Elementary School decorate gingerbread men.
Lots of different ‘styles’ of gingerbread men were created. Some with a little icing, and some with a lot of icing. Some with a few decorations and some with a lot !!
Thank you to the grade 4 class at Davidson Creek Elementary School
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Students from St. Nicholas Catholic Elementary School and Seniors from Sherwood Care had Their Christmas visit
The visit with St. Nicholas Catholic Elementary School at Sherwood Care was a hit with seniors and students alike !
The students created 100 faith based cards to be delivered to every senior by the Recreation team at Capital Care.
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our Sherwood Care seniors.
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Students from École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School and Seniors from Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge had Their Christmas visit
The visit with École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) at Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge was a hit with seniors and students alike !
We had a great time talking, building a candy cane reindeer and singing Christmas Carols.
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge seniors.
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Students from École Père Kenneth Kearns Catholic Elementary School and Seniors from CapitalCare Strathcona had Their Christmas visit
The visit with École Père Kenneth Kearns Catholic Elementary School at CapitalCare Strathcona was a hit with seniors and students alike !
The music teacher came with the students from École Père Kenneth Kearns Catholic Elementary School and they did a mini christmas concert in French. They also made Christmas decorations
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our CapitalCare Strathcona.
Check out the videos and pictures below.
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Students from Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Seniors from Chartwell Emerald Hills had Their Christmas visit
Students from Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Seniors from Chartwell Emerald Hills had Their Christmas visit
The visit with Lakeland Ridge Junior High School at Chartwell Emerald Hills was a hit with seniors and students alike !
We had a great time talking, building a candy cane reindeer and singing Christmas Carols.
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our Chartwell Emerald Hills seniors.
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Students from St. Theresa Catholic School and Seniors from Christenson Developments Bedford Village had Their Christmas visit
The visit with St. Theresa Catholic School at Christenson Developments Bedford Village was a hit with seniors and students alike !
We had a great time talking and we sang Christmas Carols.
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our Christenson Developments Bedford Village.
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One of Linking Generations Grandparents getting Students to Decorate a Gingerbread man
The Linking Generations Volunteer Grandparent Program was created in 2019 in response to a lack of opportunities for young and old to relate in an increasingly age-segregated society. Under this program, Senior volunteers can volunteer within a school environment – grade 1-8 in different schools in the county of Sherwood Park. Senior volunteers Grandparents share skills, knowledge & experience, all while providing a valuable community service.
To bring in the Christmas break Grandpa Bernie had the students at Madonna Elementary Catholic School decorate gingerbread men.
Lots of different ‘styles’ of gingerbread men were created. Some with a little icing, and some with a lot of icing. Some with a few decorations and some with a lot !!
After, the students and Grandpa Bernie played a game called “11”. And game involving strategic counting.
The class gave a wonderful gift to Grandpa Bernie. They each read a note saying why they were glad Grandpa Bernie is in their class, and these notes were inserted in a clear ornament so it can be hung on the tree.
Thank you to the grade 4 class at Madonna Elementary Catholic School
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Students from École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School and Seniors from Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences had a Christmas visit
The visit with École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School at Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences was a hit with seniors and students alike !
We had a great time talking and we sang Christmas Carols.
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences.
Check out these videos of the students and seniors singing Christmas songs!
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Students from Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School and Seniors from Summerwood Village Retirement Residence had a Christmas visit.
The visit with Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School at Summerwood Village Retirement Residence was a hit with seniors and students alike !
We learnt how to draw snowmen, colored them, and sang Christmas Carols.
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our Summerwood Village Retirement Residence .
Check out these videos of the students singing and one senior dancing:
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Students from École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School and Seniors from Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge had a Christmas visit
The visit with École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School at Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge was a hit with seniors and students alike !
What a better way to converse, than making holiday cards together and sharing traditions of Christmas past and present.
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge.
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Students from Archbishop Jordan Catholic High School and Seniors from Country Cottage Retirement Residence had a fun visit
The visit with Archbishop Jordan Catholic High School at Country Cottage Retirement Residence was a hit with seniors and students alike !
What a better way to converse, than making holiday cards together and sharing traditions of Christmas past and present.
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our Country Cottage Retirement Residence.
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Students from École Père Kenneth Kearns Catholic Elementary School and Seniors from CapitalCare Strathcona had a fun visit
What a great visit this afternoon at Capital Care Strathcona!
Capital Care Strathcona seniors with our École Père Kenneth Kearns Catholic Elementary School grade two classroom coloured Gingerbread men and Christmas trees.
The students also read to their seniors and we played a tic tac toe dice game
The art was then left with the seniors and lodge so as to decorate around the facility.
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Students from St. Theresa Catholic School and Seniors from Christenson Developments Bedford Village have a fun visit
The visit with St. Theresa Catholic School at Christenson Developments Bedford Village was a hit with seniors and students alike !
What a better way to converse, than making holiday cards together and sharing traditions of Christmas past and present.
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our Christenson Developments Bedford Village.
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Students from Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Seniors from Chartwell Emerald Hills have a fun visit
Today’s visit with Lakeland Ridge Junior High School was a hit with seniors and students alike !
What a better way to converse, than making holiday cards together and sharing traditions of Christmas past and present.
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our Chartwell Emerald Hills seniors.
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Students from Strathcona Christian Academy Secondary Junior High and Seniors from 3 Robins Emerald Hills have a fun visit
Today’s visit with Strathcona Christian Academy Secondary Junior High students was a hit with seniors and students alike !
What a better way to converse, than making holiday cards together and sharing traditions of Christmas past and present.
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our 3 Robins Emerald Hills seniors
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Students from École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) and Seniors from Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences have a fun visit
Today’s visit with École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) students and Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences seniors was a hit!
What a better way to converse. Making holiday cards together and sharing traditions of Christmas past and present.
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences seniors !!
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Students from St. Theresa Catholic School and the seniors from Christenson Developments Bedford Village have a fun visit
With the holidays just around the corner, what better time to get into the festive spirit. Our St. Theresa Catholic School students shared holiday cheer with our Christenson Developments Bedford Village seniors by making wooden Christmas Ornaments that were then left with the lodge for their use.
Students from St. John Paul Middle School and seniors from Dr. Turner Lodge have a fun visit
Today’s visit with St John Paul Middle School students was a hit with seniors and students alike !
What a better way to converse, that making holiday cards together and sharing traditions of Christmas past and present.
Thank you students for bringing the holiday spirit to our Heartland Housing – Dr Turner Lodge seniors !!!
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Students from Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School and the seniors Summerwood Village Retirement Residence have a fun visit
With the holidays just around the corner, what better time to get into the festive spirit. Our Holy Spirit Elementary students shared holiday cheer with our Summerwood seniors by making wooden Christmas Ornaments that were then left with the lodge for their use.
The teams colored Merry Christmas pictures and played a snowman dice game.
Students from École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) and the seniors from Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge Capital Care Strathcona wooden Christmas Ornaments
What a great visit at Clover Bar Lodge !
Students from École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) coloured wooden Christmas Ornaments with their linked seniors and then left the ornaments with the seniors so as to decorate around the facility.
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Capital Care Strathcona with our Share and Care grade two classroom from EPK Elementary School coloured wooden Christmas Ornaments
What a great visit this afternoon at Capital Care Strathcona! Our Share and Care grade two classroom of 30 students from EPK Elementary School coloured wooden Christmas Ornaments with their linked seniors and then left the ornaments with the seniors and lodge so as to decorate around the facility.
After the craft was completed, seniors and students gathered together to sing some Christmas carols .
Linking Generations was thrilled to include a U of A student at our visit.
Linking Generations – Fort Christian Elementary with Rivercrest Lodge
Our grade two students from Fort Christian Elementary spent the morning making these nativity window pictures for the seniors at Rivercrest Lodge, Fort Saskatchewan. These were left at the lodge as decorations, with a focus to brighten the senior days
New Program for Linking Generations – 3 Robins with Strathcona Christian Academy
Linking Generations is very excited to announce a new program start up in Sherwood Park, linking grade nine students from Strathcona Christian Academy Secondary with seniors who have moved into the new seniors residence at Three Robins. The focus is on fun at the new Three Robins is a 55-plus community in Sherwood Park, and Linking Generations is thrilled to be part of this new program partnership.
Our first Get Acquainted visit was a huge success with seniors and students sharing information about themselves with each other.
St. Nicholas Catholic Elementary School and Sherwood Care Visit
As the cold winter days approach, we bring together our students and seniors to share some conversations and laughter.
Our seniors from Sherwood Care helped our elementary students create foam ocean animals and afterwards our students read interesting facts to their seniors.
Linking Generations Christmas Crafts
It’s holiday craft time.
Did you know that crafting promotes natural conversation and curiosity.
Crafting can also promote many other things, including:
- Mental health: Crafting can improve mood, self-confidence, and reduce stress. It can also help with symptoms of anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic pain, and PTSD.
- Physical health: Crafting can improve hand-eye coordination, spatial coordination, gross and fine motor movements.
- Cognitive skills: Crafting can help develop cognitive skills and learn new skills.
- Social skills: Crafting can help people connect with others and build positive relationships.
- Math skills: Crafting can help learn math skills like recognizing shapes, counting, and measuring.
- Risk-taking: Crafting can help people take risks and embrace failure.
- Vocational skills: Crafting can demonstrate that you are passionate and enthusiastic.
Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Chartwell Emerald Hills
École Père Kenneth Kearns Catholic Elementary School and CapitalCare Strathcona
École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) and Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences
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St. John Paul Middle School and Heartland Housing Dr. Turner Lodge
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Sometimes, just a simple visit is all it takes
Sometimes, just a simple visit is all it takes to make a day brighter.
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One of Linking Generations Grandparents is teaching students at OLPH how to knit
The Linking Generations Volunteer Grandparent Program was created in 2019 in response to a lack of opportunities for young and old to relate in an increasingly age-segregated society. Under this program, Senior volunteers can volunteer within a school environment – grade 1-8 in different schools in the county of Sherwood Park. Senior volunteers Grandparents share skills, knowledge & experience, all while providing a valuable community service.
One of Linking Generations Grandparents is teaching students at École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) how to knit.
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St. Nicholas Catholic Elementary School and Sherwood Care Residence Visit
The students read to the seniors. And, together they coloured remember colouring sheets to display for the Remembrance Day ceremony.
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Linking Generations Volunteer Grandparent Program – Nana
The Linking Generations Volunteer Grandparent Program was created in 2019 in response to a lack of opportunities for young and old to relate in an increasingly age-segregated society. Under this program, Senior volunteers can volunteer within a school environment – grade 1-8 in different schools in the county of Sherwood Park. Senior volunteers Grandparents share skills, knowledge & experience, all while providing a valuable community service.
Pictured here is one of our Volunteer Grandparents as she received a hoodie from Win Ferguson Elementary School with her treasured name that the students call her! “Nana”‘.
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St. Theresa Catholic School and Christenson Developments Bedford Village have another visit
Our students from St. Theresa Catholic School and their linked seniors from Christenson Developments Bedford Village, share trivia questions and facts while sharing laughter and conversations.
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Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School and Summerwood Village Retirement Residence Visit
The students read to the seniors. And, together they coloured remember colouring sheets to display for the Remembrance Day ceremony.
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Board Games with the Linking Generations Seniors and Students
Sometimes all it takes is a board game to connect.
What is a board game?
Well, according to the dictionary it is:
plural noun: board games
any game played on a board, especially one that involves the movement of pieces on the board, such as chess or checkers.
Did you know:
Playing board games triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals.
“Happy hormones” have the power to improve conscious and unconscious mind functions, leaving a person feeling cheerful, compassionate, and ultimately content.
École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) and Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge
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Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Chartwell Emerald Hills
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École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) and Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences
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St. John Paul Middle School and Heartland Housing Dr. Turner Lodge
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Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Chartwell Emerald Hills have another visit
Our students from Lakeland Ridge Junior High and their linked seniors from Chartwell Emerald Hills, share trivia questions and facts while sharing laughter and conversations.
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Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary Students Bring A Smile to our Summerwood Seniors !
The benefits of children visiting elderly seniors are immense. Both can have fun participating in an activity together.
While visiting today, students discussed and shared with our seniors the various types of animals that there are, and asked if the seniors had pets when younger. Many shared their memories of younger years with a pet or farm animals.
Linking Generations is so honored and grateful to know that our Share and Care Programs are proving to be such a success for both youth and seniors alike.
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Linking Generations is thrilled to kick off our 2024-2025 Junior/Senior High School Program year
Intergenerational programs have become more important than they have ever been in our 19-year history. Linking Generations continues to be dedicated to maintaining intergenerational programming and connections wherever possible. We know from experience that intergenerational programs build lasting friendships, keep youth and seniors connected, reduce isolation and depression, break down stereotypes, ageism, and racism, and help both youth and seniors to feel more optimistic about their futures.
Linking Generations provides intergenerational programs which can in some years involve more than 400 students and seniors connecting together biweekly for one hour. The relationships which develop over 10 months of visits create social and emotional development and leadership skills. Through these visits, there is a mutual transfer of knowledge as students and seniors connect, social isolation is reduced, and self-esteem increases as participants report a deeper sense of fulfillment in their lives.
Welcome back students and seniors!
École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) and Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge
École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) and Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences
St. Theresa Catholic School & Christenson Developments Bedford Village
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Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Chartwell Emerald Hills
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Capital Care seniors and École Père Kenneth Kearns Catholic Elementary School Students Visit!
This afternoon, our EPK students painted assorted pictures with our Capital Care seniors.
Seniors helped our young students with a Math Dice Game “Make That Number” — whereas you add or subtract the number on the dice and colour the squares. The player with the most colours after squares all filled in wins.
This game was enjoyed and the seniors that were able enjoyed helping the students decide which square to colour.
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Students Visit with their New Senior Friends at Sherwood Care, Sherwood Park
Our Share and Care Programs are proving to not only be beneficial, they are proving that the demand for programs such as ours is very much needed.
Linking Generations believes that young people need the experience and wisdom of their elders and the elders need the innocence and exuberance of the children.
Children need to learn from the older people and the older people need to teach what they know to the children.
Wisdom can be shared by the elderly, lessons learned can be taught by those of experience.
Children keep us young and display innocence. Two of the highest qualities in life.
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Autumn Leaves Activity
In autumn fewer hours of sunlight and colder temperatures trigger a chemical change in tree leaves. That’s why they can turn different colors such as red, orange, yellow, and brown. In some areas leaves become so bright they’re visible from outer space.
Our elementary students teamed up with their linked seniors and created Autumn Leaves masterpieces. The fall thankful autumn trees that were left at Capital Care Strathcona for the seniors to enjoy
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Students Visit with their New Senior Friends at Fort Saskatchewan Community Care
Our Share and Care Programs are proving to not only be beneficial, they are proving that the demand for programs such as ours is very much needed.
Linking Generations believes that young people need the experience and wisdom of their elders and the elders need the innocence and exuberance of the children.
Children need to learn from the older people and the older people need to teach what they know to the children.
Wisdom can be shared by the elderly, lessons learned can be taught by those of experience.
Children keep us young and display innocence. Two of the highest qualities in life.
Students Visit with their New Senior Friends at Summerwood Seniors Residence
Our Share and Care Programs are proving to not only be beneficial, they are proving that the demand for programs such as ours is very much needed.
Linking Generations believes that young people need the experience and wisdom of their elders and the elders need the innocence and exuberance of the children.
Children need to learn from the older people and the older people need to teach what they know to the children.
Wisdom can be shared by the elderly, lessons learned can be taught by those of experience.
Children keep us young and display innocence. Two of the highest qualities in life.
Capital Care seniors and Ecole Kenneth Pere Catholic Elementary School Visit!
Visiting with our older adults can help children become comfortable with our aging population and bring cheer to those who are isolated and lonely.
Our Capital Care seniors are excited about this year’s program and look forward to meeting students from Ecole Kenneth Pere Catholic Elementary School.
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Our Volunteer Grandparent Program Returns September 2024 !
This program was created in response to a lack of opportunities for young & old to relate in an increasingly age-segregated society. Senior volunteers enjoyed the chance to share skills, knowledge & experience, while providing a valuable community service.
The overall success of this program was amazing – teachers shared how our program allowed youth to see seniors in a different light and our seniors have shared how much they loved the experience of sharing their own stories with the younger generations.
Our volunteer grandparents attended a afternoon orientation and are excited to get started !
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Fort Saskatchewan Embraces New Share and Care Program !
Intergenerational programs have become more important than they have ever been in our 20-year history. Linking Generations continues to be dedicated to maintaining intergenerational programming and connections wherever possible.
We know from experience that intergenerational programs build lasting friendships, keep youth and seniors connected, reduce isolation and depression, break down stereotypes, ageism, and racism, and help both youth and seniors to feel more optimistic about their futures.
This September, we are thrilled to expand program operations and kick off a new Share and Care program with seniors residing in Fort Saskatchewan Community Care Centre.
Elementary students from St. John XX11 Catholic School will visit bi-weekly with reading books, coloring, or simply playing a game of snakes and ladders with our seniors.
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Welcome back Seniors and Students !!!!!
Linking Generations has once again expanded operations in September 2024, offering our first ever weekly Share and Care Program program to seniors living in long term care at Capital Care Strathcona (Sherwood Park).
Many of our seniors in our regular school/senior facility programs are aging out of the junior high/high school programs and need to interact with youth in a different manner.
Elementary school students visit bi-weekly reading books, coloring, or simply playing a game of snakes and ladders with our seniors who are taking their final footsteps in life.
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2023-2024
Linking Generations Volunteer Grandparent Program slowly closes our 2023-2024 program year
Nonna Teresa says goodbye to her class as our program closes out.
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Linking Generations is very proud of all of our Volunteer Grandparents
We cannot begin to Thank You enough for the hours and the unrelenting dedication you have shown to Linking Generations this program year.
You may not feel it, or recognize it, but you have shaped many young students’ lives.
For those, I know they will remember you always.
THANK YOU.
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Linking Generations program year coming to an end – Salisbury Composite High School & Sherwood Care
Our students from Salisbury Composite High School have been visiting their “linked” seniors from Sherwood Care for 10 months, twice monthly. The special friendships and connections that are made are so special to both the seniors and the youth. Until we see you again in September.
As our programs close the books on another successful year, saying goodbye to new and old friends is bittersweet.
Salisbury Composite High School & Sherwood Care
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Linking Generations Volunteer Grandparent Program slowly closes our 2023-2024 program year
Gramma Allie says goodbye to her little kindergarten class as our program closes out.
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Painting Birdhouses for Wild Birds
Homemade birdhouses can provide wild birds with a safe place to build nests and raise their young, and building birdhouses can be an enjoyable craft.
Our seniors from Dr. Turner Lodge and our students from St. John Paul II Junior High School had a great afternoon as they prepared for the spring birds to arrive and have new houses to fly into.
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Linking Generations Volunteer Grandparent Program – A sharing from a Volunteer
“I’m a volunteer with the Linking Generations group and for the past few years I’ve had the kids grow tomatoes to share with their community. It teaches kids where food comes from too – it’s not just the supermarket.
We started these seeds in early April and today we transplanted them into paper cups so the kids could take 2 or 3 plants home and share them. Each student needed to decide who they were going to give their extra plant to. Some students were giving it to their bus driver, some to their grandparents and others were giving it to a neighbor. So not only do they learn where food comes from but they also learn about sharing and doing something kind for someone else.
The kids had a ball getting their hands in the dirt today!! Great kids and awesome teacher!!!”
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Linking Generations program year coming to an end
As our programs close the books on another successful year, saying goodbye to new and old friends is bittersweet.
Our students from St. Theresa Middle School have been visiting their “linked” seniors for 10 months, twice monthly. The special friendships and connections that are made are so special to both the seniors and the youth. Until we see you again in September…
What our Seniors and Youth have to say . . .
Seniors’ Comment
These young people are growing up to be a credit to our community, but we can still teach them more.
They help us to feel healthier and happier. We forget about our aches and pains and just delight in their enthusiasm for life!
Student’s Comments:
Seniors are an important part of our society and have something to share – may we cherish their wisdom!
We learned life lessons – it’s amazing to spend time with a person who has lived on this earth so much longer than we have – they are so wise.
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Smiling faces all around with Our “Littles”
Smiling faces all around! Our ‘Littles’ made this Tuesday afternoon very special, as they coloured a cross picture and played card and board games with their seniors.
The Linking Generations Share and Care Programs allows our younger generations of students to visit regularly with seniors who are now in their latter stages of life and living in a long term care facilities. Students read their “easy readers” to our seniors or sit at a table playing snakes and ladders. Both activities bring the seniors so much joy, and a sense of belonging once again.
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Linking Generations Students and Seniors make Photo Albums
Students from St. Theresa Catholic School and seniors from Christenson Developments Bedford Village make photo albums.
They decorated their albums with pictures, decorations, and stories to remember the activities they had with each other.
One senior brought in a very unique flute to play for the students.
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Linking Generations Grandparent gets BIG Thank You from Students
With the Tim Hortons annual Smile Cookie campaign back, our Volunteer Grampa/Opa treated his assigned classroom to a HUGE surprise. As students ate their lunch, Grandpa/Opa Bernie showed up with Smile Cookies for everyone. The cheers from the students was so loud that staff in the school hallways came to see what happened — the kids were so excited!!!
The students gave Grampa/Opa Bernie a huge group hug to thank him.
Thank you for volunteering with our organization and giving these students a chance to have a wonderful friendship with a senior!
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St. John Paul II Junior High School students & Heartland Housing Dr. Turner Lodge seniors spend afternoon Painting and Planting
Each spring, Linking Generations partners with Greenland Garden Centre to bring a ray of sunshine into our seniors’ lives.
St. John Paul II Junior High School students & Heartland Housing Dr. Turner Lodge seniors spend an afternoon painting a special clay pot for their “linked’ senior and then planting a petunia. Seniors are given this special pot and can watch it bloom and grow over the summer months.
Thank you Greenland Garden Centre, Sherwood Park, Alberta.
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Thank you to Fort Saskatchewan Twice But Nice for your continued support
Thank You!
Each year we benefit from the generosity of our funding partners and with their support we strive to achieve our mutual goals of making positive, lasting impacts in the community where we live. We are so grateful for the contributions of all our corporate, government and community partnerships!
Thank you to Fort Saskatchewan Twice But Nice for your continued support !!!
Celebrating our Last Program Visit for 2023-2024 at Salisbury Composite High School & Sherwood Care
Linking Generations fills an essential need for emotional connections between seniors and youth. These connections result in an enhanced sense of purpose, overall well-being, and quality of life for seniors.
Linking Generations give seniors a sense of contributing to the future and pride in knowledge that they are helping educate the leaders of tomorrow.
Our high school students visit with seniors at Sherwood Care as we close another successful program year. To say it was a beautiful year would not begin to explain it.
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CELEBRATING OUR LAST PROGRAM VISIT FOR 2023-2024 AT HEARTLAND HOUSING SILVER BIRCH LODGE AND HAVEN
Senior Facility/School Partnership Programs provide the opportunity for students in junior and high schools to participate together in intergenerational programs at various senior facilities.
Programs are one hour in length, bi-weekly from September to May each year. The intention is to empower students and seniors to form connections where each generation benefits through shared experiences, skills and knowledge.
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Linking Generations Share and Care time: Just having Fun TOGETHER
Linking Generations Share and Care Programs allow our younger generations of students to visit regularly with seniors who are now in their latter stages of life and living in a long-term care facility. Students read their “easy readers” to our seniors or sit at a table playing snakes and ladders. Both activities bring the seniors so much joy, and a sense of belonging once again.
Intergenerational programming is a great way to connect individuals across generations. A fantastic opportunity to share, learn, and engage with each other. The Share and Care Program encourages the young and the old to share quality time through fun, hands-on activities.
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Linking Generations – Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) School brings Sunshine to Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors
École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) has done it again.
OLPH invited Linking Generations seniors from Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences to a tea in their honor at our partner school Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help School. As seniors entered the school, students quickly rose to greet them and usher them into the library, where tables were decorated and set with china from years past and cookies and cake.
Thank you OLPH teachers, and principal Stefan Johnson.
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Linking Generations – Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) School brings Sunshine to Cloverbar Lodge Seniors
Spring is here and what better way to celebrate it than inviting our Linking Generations seniors from Heartland Housing Cloverbar Lodge to a tea in their honor at our partner school Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help School. As seniors entered the school, students quickly rose to greet them and usher them into the library, where tables were decorated and set with china from years past and cookies and cake. “I used to have this china pattern”, remarked one senior. as she shared memories with the students on bringing her china out for’ special occasions’.
Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) has been involved with Linking Generations since 2004 and estimates that over 500 students have
their lunch hours with our community seniors from Heartland Housing Cloverbar Lodge.
Thank you OLPH teachers, and principal Stefan Johnson.
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St. John Paul II Junior High School & Heartland Housing Dr. Turner Lodge
Thank you to our Volunteer Seniors at Dr. Turner Lodge, Fort Saskatchewan.
Our St. John Paul II Students created the most beautiful gifts for our seniors at Dr. Turner Lodge.
Check out the pictures !
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Reminiscing About Our Heritage
We’ve all heard members of older generations start a story with an eye-roll-prompting, “Back in my day,” which is then followed by a seemingly endless list of ways things have changed in the intervening years .
However, while those tales of walking 10 miles in the snow may be a little stale, there’s no denying that life has changed in some seriously significant ways over the last half-century.
Linking Generations seniors and students shared and discussed various “Back to our Heritage ” items supplied by Strathcona Museum. Many students had never seen some of the items, and our seniors had stories to tell.
Salisbury Composite High School & Sherwood Care
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Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Chartwell Emerald Hills
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St. John Paul II Junior High School & Heartland Housing Dr. Turner Lodge
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St. Theresa Catholic School & Christenson Developments Bedford Village
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Strathcona Christian Secondary Academy & Summerwood Village Retirement Residence
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Linking Generations Share and Care time: Creating Easter Puzzles
Our Linking Generations Share and Care Programs allows our younger generations of students to visit regularly with seniors who are now in their latter stages of life and living in a long-term care facility.
Our young students spent the afternoon colouring easter basket puzzles with their seniors. The students and seniors had a lot of fun, laughed, and shared stories.
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Linking Generations Seniors and Students see how many Logos they recognize
How often have we seen a Logo? And how some of those logos are so common and recognizable that we know immediately what the company is, what they sell, and what their values are.
Our seniors and students spent time seeing how many logos they could recognize and what the name of the company was. Lots of talk about what memories a logo may have made.
École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH & Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences
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Linking Generations Volunteer Grandparent Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day all in Green
What is the real meaning of St. Patrick’s Day?
The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and, by extension, celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.
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École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge Annual Family Meet and Greet
Thank you to Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge for assisting us in our annual Family Meet and Greet visit !
This special visit allows all of us at Linking Generations to showcase the commitment our youth and seniors make to our community program.
Special thanks to our École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Junior High School (OLPH) students and their parents who attended and met their child “linked” senior!
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Linking Generations Share and Care time: Creating Easter Story booklets
Our Linking Generations Share and Care Programs allows our younger generations of students to visit regularly with seniors who are now in their latter stages of life and living in a long-term care facility.
Our young students spent the afternoon colouring with their seniors over laughter and shared stories. When all the books were completed, the books were stapled so that the students could read them to the seniors. And as an added treat, the students then left the books with the seniors to enjoy with their own family members.
This visit kept our participating seniors and students busy for the entire visit time and was within our EICS curriculum for the students.
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Linking Generations Saint Patrick’s Day
What is the real meaning of St. Patrick’s Day?
The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and, by extension, celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.
Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Chartwell Emerald Hills
To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (although earlier than the 18th) Chartwell Seniors dressed in their green finery and enjoyed an afternoon with Lakeland Ridge students.
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Linking Generations has been mentioned in the Fort Saskatchewan newspaper The Record.
The title of the article is “Linking Generations helps bridge relationships with family meet and greet”.
The article talks about Linking Generations recently held annual Family Meet and Greet, connecting their senior program participants from Dr. Turner Lodge and their linked students from St. John Paul Middle School.
Check out the article by clicking on this link !
Salisbury Culinary Students Learn from our Seniors
This year, Linking Generations was asked to collaborate with Salisbury Composite High School Culinary Arts, and invite our Volunteer Grandparents to attend a class, teaching an ethnic dish from their heritage to our young eager high school students.
On Monday March 4, Sal Culinary Students embarked on SAL’s first ever intergenerational cooking class. Our Volunteer Grandparent shared with the class one of her most treasured recipes passed down through the generations, a traditional Danish Rice Pudding dish. This delicious dessert engaged the students in conversations about culture and tradition, as well as encouraged them to reflect on the value of learning from our community elders. The culinary arts class looks forward to its next lesson that will advance their culinary knowledge and expand their world view on cultural global citizenship.
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Volunteer Grandparent Teaches Grade 9 Students to Knit
We have a special Grandparent who is teaching the grade 9 students at Lakeland Ridge Junior High how to knit.
Right now, the students are getting ready to start their next round of knitting. They are deciding what they want to make so we’re ready to go next week.
Check out the photos of the pictures of some of the finished projects from last semester.
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Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge & Haven and École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Junior High School (OLPH) Annual Family Meet and Greet
Thank you to Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge and Haven for assisting us in our annual Family Meet and Greet visit !
This special visit allows all of us at Linking Generations to showcase the commitment our youth and seniors make to our community program.
Special thanks to our École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Junior High School (OLPH) students and their parents who attended and met their child “linked” senior!
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Linking Generations Share and Care Programs
In September 2023, Linking Generations piloted a new program in Sherwood Park and in Fort Saskatchewan.
Our Linking Generations Share and Care Programs allows our younger generations of students to visit regularly with seniors who are now in their latter stages of life and living in a long-term care facility.
Students may read their “easy readers” to our seniors, sit at a table playing snakes and ladders, or simply color. All the activities bring the seniors so much joy, and a sense of belonging once again.
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Linking Generation Seniors and Students try becoming Origami Folders
Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. In modern usage, the word “origami” is often used as an inclusive term for all folding practices, regardless of their culture of origin. The goal is to transform a flat square sheet of paper into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques.
Our seniors and students spent time folding and laughing at their “special’ Origami creations.
St. Theresa Catholic School & Christenson Developments Bedford Village
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Salisbury Composite High School & Sherwood Care
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St. John Paul II Junior High School & Heartland Housing Dr. Turner Lodge
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École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences
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Strathcona Christian Secondary Academy & Summerwood Village Retirement Residence
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Bedford Village and St. Theresa Middle School Annual Family Meet and Greet
Thank you to Bedford Village for assisting us in our annual Family Meet and Greet visit !
This special visit allows all of us at Linking Generations to showcase the commitment our youth and seniors make to our community program.
Special thanks to the sponsors of the program including EICS School Board, County of Strathcona Family Community Services & any others I may have missed.
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Heartland Housing Foundation Dr. Turner Lodge and St. John Paul II Junior High School Family Meet and Greet
Thank you to Heartland Housing Foundation Dr. Turner Lodge for assisting us in our annual Family Meet and Greet visit !
This special visit allows all of us at Linking Generations to showcase the commitment our youth and seniors make to our community program.
Special thanks to the sponsors of the program including EICS School Board, Twice But Nice, Fort Saskatchewan Rotary Club and the City of Fort Saskatchewan & any others I may have missed.
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Thank you to 100+ Women Who Care – Sherwood Park !
Linking Generations is very fortunate to have been chosen to receive $6,700.00. from the recent crowdfunding evening hosted this week.
There are so many notable and worthy organizations within our communities, that this is equally more of an honor.
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Linking Generations Volunteer GrandParent Program
Our Linking Generations Volunteer Grandparents play an important role in creating and strengthening intergenerational relationships and lives of seniors, children, and families.
One of our volunteers, Opa Bernie, volunteers at 2 schools. A grade 3 class and a Kindergarten class.
Thank you Opa Bernie.
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Celebrating Valentines Day with our Share and Care program
Celebrating Valentines Day with our Share and Care program residents and our elementary students.
Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone !
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Valentines Day with Archbishop Jordan Catholic High School & Country Cottage Retirement Residence
Valentines Day!
It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine, and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world. Happy Valentines Day Country Cottage residents and ABJ Students !
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Linking Generations – Strathcona Christian Secondary Academy & Summerwood Village Retirement Residence Playing Games
There are lots of reasons that playing games is great for both seniors and students.
Short-term memory, especially games that require strategy and thinking ahead. Playing checkers and chess, putting together a puzzle, or playing card games regularly have been proven to improve short-term memory and cognitive skills.
Games also help critical reasoning skills necessary for both seniors and students.
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Linking Generations Share and Care Program – École Père Kenneth Kearns Catholic Elementary School & Capital Care Strathcona
Linking Generations Share and Care Programs allow our younger generations of students to visit regularly with seniors who are now in their latter stages of life and living in a long-term care facility.
Students read their “easy readers” to our seniors or sit at a table playing snakes and ladders. Both activities bring the seniors so much joy, and a sense of belonging once again.
Intergenerational programming is a wonderful way to connect individuals across generations. A fantastic opportunity to share, learn, and engage with each other.
The Share and Care Program encourages the young and the old to share quality time through fun, hands-on activities.
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Linking Generations and Ecole Pere Kenneth Kearns Elementary School (EPK) created 250 Valentines Cards for the Adopt A Senior Sherwood Park Program
Linking Generations and Ecole Pere Kenneth Kearns Elementary School (EPK) collaborated to assist Adopt A Senior Sherwood Park Program in the collection of Valentine Day Cards for Seniors in Care.
Students each created a Valentines Day Card with shared messages of kindness and love so as to cheer our seniors in care facilities.
Thank you students for the 250 cards !
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Linking Generations Students and Seniors play “Minute to Win It”
Simply put, it’s a 60-second game – Participants attempt to see who can finish a challenge first or who can complete a task the most times in under a minute.
How to play minute to win it?
Here are three basic ways you can play Minute to Win It Games.
Player vs. timer: In this style, a player races against the clock. They still have just one minute to complete the game and if they do win, you can move on to another game. If they don’t, you can choose to let them try until they do beat the clock or move on to another player.
Player vs. Player: In this version, which works great for small groups, have two people compete against each other (for a minute), and whoever completes the challenge first, wins! This way, you can rotate through your crew at a reasonable pace.
Group Minute to Win It Play: Here’s where you’ll split your group into two teams. Each team decides who goes first, and then those players compete against each other to win! This is fun for teammates too because they’ll be cheering on competitors in each round.
École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge
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École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences
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St. John Paul II Junior High School & Heartland Housing Dr. Turner Lodge
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École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge (OLPH & CBL)
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Fort Saskatchewan Rotary Club continued support for Linking Generations Fort Saskatchewan Programs
Thank you to the Fort Saskatchewan Rotary Club for your continued support for our Fort Saskatchewan Programs.
Linking Generations is about stories. The stories that we hear from seniors and the stories that our students tell. This is the passing on of our local oral history and the new insights that youth can provide to seniors. We gather and share stories as we go, because the interaction we facilitate is between real people with colorful lives. This is integral to building a strong, respectful community, serving some of the most vulnerable and precious of resources in our community – our seniors and our youth.
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New Year starting with Fun and Games
The holiday break is over. The students caught up with their seniors. Everyone is happy to be back.
Our seniors showed our students the skills needed to play the Dice Game, Word-Winks, and several other games.
How do you play the Dice Game?
Object of the game is to color in all the squares using the numbers that are rolled on the dice. For example if a 2 and 3 are rolled a 2×3 portion of the graph will get colored in (6 square will get colored)
Some strategy will be needed as it is similar to tetras – be careful not to leave gaps that will be more difficult to fill.
Directions:
- Person A– shake two dice- graph the area onto the paper
- Continue with Persons B and C
- Only graph the exact area. If it is too large, you must pass.
- Continue taking turns until your page is full.
- The first team who fills the grid is the winner.
École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences
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St. Theresa Catholic School & Christenson Developments Bedford Village
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The Art of Decorating Christmas Cookies
For some of our seniors the Christmas season may be a lonely time.
Linking Generations helps by brining back fond memories of decorating Christmas cookies for the festive season.
Our student and our linked seniors not only enjoyed decorating cookies but also sharing their holiday traditions and memories.
Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Chartwell Emerald Hills
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Salisbury Composite High School & Sherwood Care
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École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge
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St. Theresa Catholic School & Christenson Developments Bedford Village
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St. John Paul II Junior High School & Heartland Housing Dr. Turner Lodge
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École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences
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Archbishop Jordan Catholic High School & Country Cottage Retirement Residence
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Celebrating our Share and Care Program – Rivercrest Care Centre
Our young grade two students spent an afternoon with seniors from Rivercrest Care Centre coloring manger scenes and then each team acted out a scene of their choice.
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Celebrating our Share and Care Program – Capital Care Strathcona
Our young grade two students spent an afternoon with seniors from Capital Care Strathcona coloring manger scenes and then each team acted out a scene of their choice. The seniors were also treated to a mini concert which was well received and enjoyed.
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Past and Present Holiday Traditions and Memories
As the holidays approach and winter sets in, our students spent time visiting with their linked seniors sharing past and present holiday traditions and memories.
Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Chartwell Emerald Hills
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École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences
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Linking Generations version of “The Joy of Painting” and “The Magic of Oil Painting”
Do you remember the show called “The Joy of Painting” with the artist Bob Ross. Or the show called “The Magic of Oil Painting” with artist Bill Alexander.
Our senoirs may remember Bob Ross who projected a loveable hippie persona, sporting a permed afro and denim shirts and jeans and a soothing and intimate speaking voice that made the viewer feel as if it were a personal, one-on-one painting lesson.
Over the years, his folksy approach and references to “happy little” trees and clouds endeared him further to his fans.
Check out the following paintings to see if there is a new Bob Ross !!
École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge
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Archbishop Jordan Catholic High School & Country Cottage Retirement Residence
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St. John Paul II Junior High School & Heartland Housing Dr. Turner Lodge
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École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences
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Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Chartwell Emerald Hills
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Linking Generations Volunteer Grandparents
Our Linking Generations Volunteer Grandparents play an important role in creating and strengthening intergenerational relationships and lives of seniors, children, and families.
Each month our volunteers share their stories and life experiences in many of our local elementary schools. One teacher recently shared with us: As an elementary teacher it is wonderful to hear the excitement in our students’ voices when they hear that our Volunteer Grandpa is coming to class today. They listen to “his” stories with joyful hearts and have so many questions to ask of him. Thank you Linking Generations.”
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Game Days
What is a board game?
Well, according to the dictionary it is:
plural noun: board games
any game played on a board, especially one that involves the movement of pieces on the board, such as chess or checkers.
Did you know:
Playing board games triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals.
“Happy hormones” have the power to improve conscious and unconscious mind functions, leaving a person feeling cheerful, compassionate, and ultimately content.
Salisbury Composite High School & Sherwood Care
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Strathcona Christian Secondary Academy & Summerwood Village Retirement Residence
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St. John Paul II Junior High School & Heartland Housing Dr. Turner Lodge
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St. John Paul II Junior High School & Heartland Housing Dr. Turner Lodge
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St. Theresa Catholic School & Christenson Developments Bedford Village
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École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences
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Writers in Residence Program
Life stories can provide insight to how life has changed between generations, as well as providing an opportunity for our youth and seniors to become friends through storytelling and shared experiences.
Strathcona Christian Academy Secondary students have been paired with seniors, to learn about their lives and to hear their stories. By pairing students and seniors, our students will learn the skills of journalism as they scribe the seniors life stories !
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Volunteer Grandparent Program
This year our Senior Volunteer Grandparent Program has expanded, and we now have over 75 seniors sharing their stories and life experience with our younger generations.
Halloween is such a fun time, and it’s even better when our Volunteer Grandparent shows up dressed in custom for the school Halloween parties !
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Rivercrest Care Centre visit
We all enjoy visits from family and friends, however it is just as important to visit with our seniors living in designated senior facilities.
Our elementary students are enjoying their visits with our seniors in Rivercrest Lodge, as they spend an hour of precious time sharing laughter and stories.
Overheard ” How old are you?” asks one young student. The senior replies “How old do you think I am? ”
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Seniors Headed Back to School !
Our partnership school, Ecole Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) extended an invitation to our participating Linking Generations seniors from Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge and Haven to attend an afternoon back in the classroom. Our seniors witnessed what a classroom looks like now – no black boards- only white boards! And computers.
What a glorious and eventful afternoon.
Seniors took part in an afternoon of relearning five core subject assignments and then were all awarded their passing certificates !
A very very special Thank you to Mr. Stefan Johnson ( principal ) and Ms. Denise Gagnon ( teacher) for making this special outing a day of laughter, hugs and memories for our seniors. Plus, we send a Shout Out to say Thanks to Drive Happiness for ensuring our seniors got to school on time and got back home safely!
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Linking Generations Expanding to Rivercrest Lodge in Fort Saskatchewan
Linking Generations is so excited to expand program operations this year, in Fort Saskatchewan ! Our new program partnership will have elementary students visiting bi-weekly with seniors living in Rivercrest Lodge.
Linking Generations was established in 2004 as an intergenerational program that encourages “bridging the gap” between seniors and youth. We are registered as a Non-Profit Society with the Government of Alberta and as Registered Charity with the Government of Canada.
The purpose of our program is to bring the generations together so they can learn from each other, share their life experiences, and to bring some much needed laughter and smiles to our seniors in care.
Our young elementary students had their first visits with Rivercrest Lodge seniors this week, and both seniors and youth enjoyed the time together.
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Celebrating Autumn
FALL brings fond memories for our seniors — days on the farm harvesting, riding bikes up and down country roads, raking up piles of leaves only to jump into them, and maybe just sitting by the fire late into the evening. Our seniors and youth exchange memories and thoughts about the changing season of Autumn.
St. Theresa Catholic School & Christenson Developments Bedford Village
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École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Clover Bar Lodge
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École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School (OLPH) & Heartland Housing Silver Birch Lodge/Haven Seniors Residences
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Lakeland Ridge Junior High School and Chartwell Emerald Hills
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