I first connect with Julie Stratton Raposo as she slides through the Williamsburg neighbourhood at Wentworth Heights with measured purpose. She’s looking to meet up with Anne, a resident who hasn’t been feeling well the last couple of days and chose to sleep in late. Julie helps Anne get dressed and ready for the day, kind and soothing in all her actions.
The team is short a person today, so Julie has extra to do, yet she does not rush with Anne. She helps prepare a cup of tea and makes sure Anne has all she needs before she heads off to meet the next resident.
“I’ll be back in a short while to help you get to lunch,” Julie says, and for now a piece of cinnamon toast with her tea is enough to satisfy Anne.
Julie had never considered a job in healthcare, she says, but when the doors of National Sports closed during the pandemic, a new path lit up and she changed direction in a way she’d never imagined. Four and a half years later, she has become an integral part of life at Wentworth Heights, where her compassion and dedication earned her a 2024 “Walk in My Shoes” Schlegel Villages Success Award.
“I really love it here,” Julie says as she reflects on the role she plays in the lives of residents. “I truly enjoy my job. I think I just have that natural nurturing ability. I’ve always cared for people in different ways, and this feels like where I belong.”
The most meaningful part of the role is the personal connections she builds with residents. “What I love most is seeing the difference I can make,” she explains. “For some residents, I may be the one familiar face they see every day, and that means so much.”
Those connections often go beyond the ordinary. She remembers one resident who had lost her appetite and seemed to be fading. When asked what she truly wanted, the resident surprised her by saying she craved a big, juicy burger. “She had never had Wendy’s before, so I brought her one and she ate the whole thing,” Julie recalls. “Moments like that remind me why this work matters.”
Over time, Julie has also grown more comfortable with the difficult realities of aging and end-of-life care. “Instead of feeling only sadness when someone passes, I feel grateful knowing they’re no longer in pain or lonely,” she says. “Some residents don’t have family who visit often, so we become their family. That connection is everything.”
It is this spirit of compassion and commitment that her peers saw when they nominated her for the Success Award. “I was completely shocked when my name was called – I honestly wasn’t expecting it at all,” Julie admits. “It felt wonderful to be recognized, but I couldn’t help thinking of so many others who also deserve it. I’m very humbled by the award. To me, it’s less about me and more about the amazing people I work alongside every day.”
For Julie, the Schlegel Way is simple: it’s about culture, connection, and teamwork. “To me, the Schlegel Way means staying connected, creating a sense of culture, and making sure everyone feels part of something bigger,” she says. “It’s about knowing you can count on one another.”
Julie’s journey into care may have started by chance, but it has become a true calling. In every small gesture, whether it’s offering a smile, sharing a meal, or simply being there, she continues to prove why she is a Success Award winner.
