London, ON – Sept. 13, 2024
In the fall of 2023, the Village of Glendale Crossing welcomed its first retirement residents, adding a new depth of connection to the London Community the Village has had since opening the Long-term Care home on Singleton Avenue in 2013. In the months that followed, a continuous flow of new residents joined the retirement community each week and a year later, the Village is more than 95 per cent filled.
The residents, team members, loved ones and Schlegel Villages leadership officially celebrate this achievement with a Grand Opening event Sept. 13.
For Glendale Crossing and the family that founded Schlegel Villages, this is a special celebration, marking roots in the London area that go back more than 70 years.
“I’ve been connected to Glendale Crossing since we opened long-term care more than a decade ago,” says general manager Cindy Awde, who began working with in the Village in Food Services. “It’s amazing today to reflect on what a wonderful community we have where residents and team members from all walks of life and parts of the world come together living lives of filled with, friendship, meaning and purpose.”
London mayor Josh Morgan says the city is proud to be part of the journey Schlegel Villages has been on in the city over the years.
“The Schlegel family’s deep-rooted legacy in our city continues to flourish through this expansion. Glendale Crossing not only offers a welcoming home for aging Londoners but is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Schlegel family to enriching the lives of others,” says Morgan.
Karen Vecchio, Member of Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London, also speak highly of the connections Glendale Crossing represent in the community.
“The Schlegel Family’s deep roots in the London Region is evidence in their vision and contributions to our local community and their desire to provide seniors’ independence and compassionate living,” Vecchio says. “On behalf of the constituents of Elgin-Middlesex-London, I want to thank the Schlegel family and staff for their hard work in making this vision a reality.”
London-Fanshawe MP Lindsay Mathyssen speaks of the importance of creating a true home for older adults within the wider community.
“Politicians often talk about housing and the increasing need across Canada, this is true for everyone, but for seniors as well,” Mathyssen says. “What we need to mainly focus on is the quality of care and the importance of a home. Congratulations to The Village of Glendale Crossing on their Grand opening and for focusing on the need to create a vibrant retirement community where people can thrive and feel valued.”
Lastly, Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Rob Flack also speaks of the vibrancy of the Glendale Crossing community.
“More than just a long-term care and retirement home, the Village of Glendale Crossing provides residents with a community environment that offers an incredible quality of life,” Flack says. “This grand opening is a success not only for Schlegel Villages, but for the many residents who will benefit from the services provided and their loving family members.”
Media Contact:
Carole Metron: 519-668-5600 ext 8230
Kristian Partington: 705-313-0472
More about the Schlegel Family’s roots in London:
The Schlegel Family’s connections to healthcare in London go back to 1953 when Wilfred Schlegel purchased the Egerton Private Hospital in London, which operated as a 30-bed nursing home.
Wilfred’s heart was always open to helping others in need and the nursing home where his son Ron would help support residents was an extension of that mission. Wilfred had a soft spot for young and old alike, and while he was venturing into the service of seniors with the Egerton home, he also helped spearhead what was first known as the Ailsa Craig Boy’s Farm for at-risk youth, which eventually became Craigwood Children, Youth and Family Services. To this day, Craigwood still supports families in the region and beyond as they strive towards a more hopeful future.
Wilfred served people on the margins of society in other ways as well; in 1951 after noticing the growing number of people experiencing homelessness, he co-founded the Goodwill Rescue Mission at the corner of Kent and Talbot Streets in downtown London. Now operating as Mission Services of London, countless numbers of people are still helped through difficult times thanks to the foundations Wilfred laid there.
Wilfred’s sense of community and spirit of generosity was passed to his son and grandsons, who now own and operate 18 Villages across Ontario, with several more set to open in the near future. From captaining the London Knights hockey team in the late 1980s, to running Shady Pines Campground near Ailsa Craig, The Schlegel Family has always kept their ties to the London Area close.
