9:30 a.m.
It’s grey and overcast with threatening rain clouds above the City of London as athletes from across the Western Schlegel Villages arrive at The Village of Glendale Crossing to kick off the first live, interactive Schlegel Olympic games to be held since 2018.
There's a competitive edge in all of us, no matter our age, and the Schlegel Olympics taps into that for residents. Each Village holds a series of events for residents, which eventually culminates in a gathering of all Villages to find to best from east and west. The events are part of the organization’s larger Wisdom of the Elder signature program, which recognizes that a person’s will to compete or share their passions, knowledge and wisdom doesn’t fade simply because they’ve moved into a long-term care or retirement setting.
To raucous applause on the morning of July 30, resident athletes from eight western Villages and their support teams are welcomed into Glendale Crossing. They’ll compete in five separate events: Olympic Shooting; Sprint; Slalom; Parallel Bars and Soccer. While there is fun and excitement nestled within the spirit of competition, the energy sparking through the Village as the athletes arrive is really what the games are all about. It represents the epitome of Schlegel Villages culture in action, where residents, team members and friends thrive together under the true social model of living.
10:35 a.m.
Before the official opening of the games is complete, Glendale Crossing resident Bob Nickerson recites the Athlete’s Oath, committing on behalf of all who have gathered to enjoy the day in the spirit of togetherness and friendly competition.
Bob later reflects on his days playing hockey, baseball and golf in his younger days, and though he is now in his later years, he says he “can still compete with the best of them.”
“I think this is great,” Bob says, considering the excitement in the Village air. “Where else do you get an opportunity to bring these eight homes all together to really enjoy themselves and compete against each other for medals? It’s excellent fun.”
11:15 a.m.
Main Street in both Long-term Care and Retirement are packed with shouting fans and supporters from the Villages as the athletes compete in the Sprint and Slalom events respectively. In Slalom, athletes self-propel through a series of 8 cones, vying for the quickest time, advancing through two rounds. During the sprint, athletes square off in braces, each set upon a nu-step machine. In the course of 90 seconds, athletes must record the highest number of steps, with the top four moving onto the finals.
During Olympic shooting, the athletes are set up at distance vying to sharpshoot the greatest number of cups off a table, advancing through three rounds at greater distance until the winner is decided.
Through all three events, the smiles upon the faces and the fierce cheering of their supporters underscores the excitement that has built through weeks of preparation.
11:35 a.m.
Jack Klassen kisses his wife Carolyn after he wins gold in the Slalom event, then he raises his arms in triumph; the cheers for all the competitors ring loudly along Main Street. “I’m going be 90 years old shortly,” he says. “I compete and have fun every day,” he adds with a broad smile.
Not far away, team members from The Village of Wentworth Heights have gathered around silver medalist, Kathe Kleinau, offering hugs and congratulations.
“This is wonderful,” Kathe says. “It’s like coming home; everything is familiar and the welcome when we walked in was tremendous. I had tears in my eyes with all the people cheering.”
11:50 a.m.
As organizers prepare for the finals in the Olympic shooting event, University Gates Program for Active Living Coordinator Karen Belfall nervously watches as Don Steinman, the resident she supports, prepares for his final shots. “I’m passionate,” she says, echoing much of the sentiments offered by her fellow team members from across the organization. “I felt the joy from the minute we walked in and everyone cheering everyone on; it’s just been a delight.”
12:15 p.m.
Leanne Hagarty walks down Main Street as her father Bruce is congratulated by friends and strangers alike for his gold medal win in the Sprint event – a sweep of golds for University Gates this morning. Leanne looks around, soaking up the jovial atmosphere, where long-term care residents and those from retirement compete together.
“It’s absolutely amazing to see him (her father) so engaged and so supported by the team and pushing himself physically, but that’s also a part of your mental and social health.”
She said she recalls touring The Village of Winston Park in 2016 as the team was preparing for that year’s Olympic event, so she wasn’t surprised the opportunity arose again in 2024. Yet the scale of the excitement and the feeling in the air still outstripped what she had imagined, especially considering her father is competing eight years later.
“We know Schlegel Villages,” she says; “they prioritize engagement of residents and living and having fun.”
She adds that it has been a special treat to see team members her father knows from the time he lived at Winston Park before moving to University Gates.
“There’s a community here, even across all the homes,” she says.
2:00 p.m.
“I say never die,” says 95-year-old Babe Scott with a big smile upon her face after she finishes the final performance of the parallel bars. Her daughter, Susan, sits beside her and smiles – she’s used to her mother wowing audiences, mostly her six children. “I’d do just about anything,” Babe says. “If you’re going to do it, do it!”
Babe says she was a little disappointed she wasn’t able to participate in Winston Park’s upcoming Skydiving adventure, but the Olympics is an opportunity she wouldn’t have missed.
Sitting just behind her is Freda Smoulter from the Village of Wentworth Heights who competed in the same event. Freda is sitting with her daughter, granddaughters and great grandchildren, who came to Glendale to cheer her on.
“I was kind of nervous,” Freda admits, but her team members who watched with emotion welling in their eyes says her hard work paid off, regardless of where she places.
“She just did so well and she worked so hard,” says recreation supervisor Sherri Young. “It’s amazing.”
2:30 p.m.
Eileen Cook has just finished receiving her silver medal in the soccer competition, but as a resident of host Village, Glendale Crossing, she says she doesn’t ever want to talk about herself.
“I always talk about my Village,” Eileen says, and her final words sum up the day of camaraderie and competition.
“Everyone did a marvelous job planning this event; I’m really very proud.”
More to come from The Village of Taunton Mills Aug. 1 . . .
