#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench

Episode #39 - Formerly of New Hamburg now living at The Village at University Gates in Waterloo.  Doug & Erin welcome to the green bench, Joyce Stankiewicz, as they chat about the buddy system, caring for a loved one with dementia, and the importance of forgiveness, humour, and memories. Sharing marriage stories from 70 years with her husband Bill and the tough conversation when required to take a...

Episode #38 - Erin Davis & Doug Robinson sit on the virtual green bench with Anna Piccoli and daughter Franca Smith to continue the conversation on our theme of connection, family, and service. Anna lives with her husband of 62 years, Aldo, and her sister Josephine at The Village of Glendale Crossing in London, Ontario. "I love everybody, especially my children and my grandchildren ...  and nobody...

Episode #37 - Reta Baechler is the first centenarian guest to join Erin Davis and Doug Robinson on the green bench-as she shares her many years of wisdom and wit with us.  Aunt Reta as we know her is the Aunt to Ron Schlegel who you heard from in episode 7. A Prestigious Club: The number of centenarians in Canada rose to 12, 822 as of July 1st, 2021. Aunt Reta is the sister to Wilfred Schlegel who...

Episode #36 - A conversation that is raw in its emotions, very honest and open with Jack Paleczny of The Village at University Gates in Waterloo. A beautiful example of the connection among us all as he shares his story from the Green Bench. Jack lives at The Village with and cares for his wife Diana Lynn who lives with both dementia and Parkinson's disease. He lives a life of service first as a l...

Episode #35 - An enjoyable conversation about family connectivity, stories from his role as Governor-General, being a grandparent, hockey, and growing up in Northern Ontario. Erin Davis & Doug Robinson are honoured to be joined by The Right Honourable David Johnston, 28th Governor-General of Canada and Chair of the Rideau Hall Foundation on the green bench.  "Who are you anyway?" In a story from R...

Episode #34 - The seeds for Pam Wiebe's work in nursing and quality improvement in long-term care were planted at her grandfather's feet.  She shares her story of changing careers, the joy of being a great-grandparent, and the feeling of family as a team member at Schlegel Villages.  "There's nothing like being a grandparent" - Doug Robinson "I try not to think about getting old and I certainly do...

Episode #33 - Corrine Richard shares her stories from the green bench with Erin Davis & co-host Doug Robinson from her home at Coleman Care Centre in Barrie.  We hear of growing up in Callandar, Ontario, meeting the Dionne Quintuplets at the age of nine, and stories of family relations and working the summer carnival in Wasaga Beach. "It was a crazy proposal, and it was right up my alley." - Corri...

The Green Bench is a symbol of elder wisdom. Physically or virtually, the bench invites us all to sit alongside a senior, share a conversation, or give and offer advice. It challenges the stigma seniors face; the ageism still so prevalent in society. It reminds us of the wealth of wisdom our elders offer and in doing so, helps restore them to a place of reverence. "The greatest untapped resource i...

Episode #32 - Erin Davis brings us this very special season-ending edition of #ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench. "In more than 30 episodes, we have hit milestones, grown bigger, gone deeper than any one of us could have imagined back when Ron Schlegel gave his blessing to this idea of amplifying the voices and tapping the wisdom of those most cherished among us, our seniors." - Erin Davi...

Episode #31 - Rita Munro joins Erin Davis from The Village of Arbour Trails in Guelph, a place she makes more beautiful simply by being there, sharing her outdoor expertise, and bringing people together to grow gardens and friendships.   When Rita moved to the Village, she suggested a need for a garden outside the front of the Village.  Pitched the idea to Wendy, Director of Lifestyle Options, and...

Episode #30 - Felix Rommens is 97 years old.  If you are wondering what keeps him young and loving life at The Village of Winston Park in Kitchener, it has to be his art. Erin Davis and guest co-host Doug Reed welcome Felix to the green bench to share in a conversation about his art and about his hearing impairment, which has formed the life is living today. Nearly 50% of people 75+ have trouble w...

Episode #29 - Dr. Rea Brown shares his story from the green bench of a career nothing short of remarkable, from growing up with a critically ill brother to finding himself in the world of medicine surrounded by pro athletes and on December 6, 1989, in Montreal saving the lives of several women after the École Polytechnique Tragedy (Montreal Massacre). He joins us from his home at The Village of Hu...

Episode #28 - Erin Davis & Lloyd Hetherington welcome the CEO for the Ontario Long-Term Care Association , Donna Duncan to the green bench.  A passionate conversation about what aged care is, building community, combatting ageism, and reimagining what long-term care can be in the future. Donna first experienced long-term care in the 1980s with her grandmother and then again with her father living...

Episode #27 - A sudden stroke caused Sheri Noecker to move into The Village at University Gates long-term care in Waterloo. While not being able to move, she was inspired by her friends and the team at the village to build an exercise plan and work with the Program for Active Living team in her determination to move again as she use to.  Hear this inspiring and motivational story as Sheri sits on...

Episode #26 - Korleen Schmidt loves to talk about the weather and explain it to those who want to know about it.  She joins hosts Erin Davis & Lloyd Hetherington on the green bench from The Village at University Gates in Waterloo, a widow, mother of 4, grandmother of 11, talks about the full circle of her life, combining her loves of geography and theology.  "If not for the weather, we'd have noth...

Episode #25 - Taking you back through the 20th century thanks to Ross C. Morton, 96yo who resides at The Village of Arbour Trails in Guelph and is accompanied by his daughter, Mavis Morton.  Stories of a one-room school house education, the importance of sharing ones history with family, community and today, on this podcast. Ross has written 3 books and shares about his first book written in 1997:...

Bonus Episode - Erin Davis & Lloyd Hetherington are joined by Jamie Schlegel, President & CEO, on the green bench for a conversation about the Schlegel Villages organization, the differences between public, for-profit, charitable, and municipal long-term care, and the importance of community building. The Schlegel organization started back in the 1950s by Wilfred & Emma Schlegel, spending their li...

Episode #24 - Hosts Erin Davis & Lloyd Hetherington are joined on the green bench by the sparkling Betty Anne Millar from Burlington, Ontario.  Fashionable in her only pair of jeans, they chat about her fairytale career in the Shopping Mall industry, dressing to raise your spirits, continuous contributions to her community, and planning for her future including getting her name on the list for a s...

Episode #23 - Joining Erin Davis & Lloyd Hetherington on the green bench is Annie Whittle from The Village of Wentworth Heights in Hamilton. Her story includes a surprising connection with Harry Styles through her passion for Knitting, never allowing boredom to seep in, how to eat a pomegranate along with stories from her childhood. Erin & Lloyd get you hooked to this episode with some puns as the...

Episode #22 - Brendan Rossiter chose Canada to move to 52 years ago. He joins us from The Village of Erin Meadows long-term care in Mississauga to share a lifetime of wisdom about work, kicking habits, and being resourceful. Born in Ireland, Brendan is a natural storyteller, a perfect fit as Erin Davis & Lloyd Hetherington welcome him to the green bench. "Born in a great country, now living in a g...

Episode #21 - Steve Smith joins Erin Davis & Lloyd Hetherington to share his wisdom on the green bench, and today we're calling it the 'Red Green Bench'. He shares about his fascinating career as Red Green, stories from beyond the show, laughter, retirement, and a goose control project. With 15 seasons aired on CBC & PBS and reruns continuing to play today, what are your thoughts about a Red Green...

Episode #20 - Beth Goodwin opens her heart and perhaps your eyes as she discusses being a caregiver to a loved one living with dementia.  Beth's husband Ed lives at The Village at University Gates in Waterloo Offering safety, security, & love; as a primary caregiver, it is a journey you go through with your spouse and it changes every day, you never know what the next day will bring. Beth always i...

Episode #19 - A conversation on the green bench with Kathe Kleinau about her recent collection of interviews among neighbours at The Village of Wentworth Heights in Hamilton. The first book called, 'The Founder's Circle', sold out, includes 36 stories, 2 poems, photos, and artwork by a fellow resident, Ann Wingfield.  Book #2 is in the works and will be called, 'The Legacy Continues'. "One day I g...

Episode #18 - Patricia & Dennis Bayley live and laugh at The Village of Taunton Mills in Whitby while sharing about their passions of poetry, chemistry, and traveling.  Erin Davis & Lloyd Hetherington are joined on the green bench for some laughter and storytelling.   What are you passionate about? What are your hobbies? Lloyd's hobby is words: a good pun, a game of scrabble, writing ... words, wo...

Episode #17 - Erin Davis & Lloyd Hetherington welcome Deborah Bakti, author of Now What? Managing the Emotional Journey of Long Term Care for Families. Designed to be a valuable resource for the families of new residents, while also supporting seniors’ care providers who want to develop healthy, productive relationships with their families. Erin: Do you ever read a book and go, wow, where were you...