Friends and family gathered on a Tuesday afternoon inside the Centre In The Square theatre in Downtown Kitchener for something that felt less like a film screening and more like a beautiful collective reflection on the power of connectivity and the strength found in the experiences of our elders.
Residents from across Schlegel Villages, loved ones, team members, community partners and friends filled the theatre to witness the first public screening of The Green Bench, a documentary that in many ways was years in the making, inspired by a simple idea: that the wisdom of older adults deserves to be heard, shared and celebrated.
Among those in attendance was Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care, who told the audience that moments like this help reconnect leaders with the deeper purpose behind their work. Amid the constant pace of government meetings and policy briefings, she said, it is important to step back and remember why the work of long-term care matters — and the lives it touches.
The Green Bench story began long before cameras started rolling, however.
More than 15 years ago, leaders across Schlegel Villages began imagining what the future of long-term care could look like if we harnessed the collective vision of our teams, residents and families. The idea known as the Wisdom of the Elder — a belief inspired by Ron Schlegel that older adults carry invaluable perspective, insight and lived experience – was a part of the evolution of that idea.
Out of those conversations came a simple but powerful symbol: a green bench placed in public spaces where people are invited to sit with an older adult, share conversation and listen.
Over time, the benches became quiet invitations to slow down and connect.
Nearly two years ago, as leaders considered how to mark the initiative’s 10th anniversary, a new idea emerged: what if the spirit of the Green Bench could take people somewhere meaningful? Could we help make a resident's great ambitions come to life?
Residents from across Schlegel Villages were invited to share a dream destination or revisit places from their past that held special significance. A handful were chosen, and with the help of a documentary crew led by director Sarah Fodey of Sandbay Entertainment, their journeys began.
Some travelled far — to London and Brighton, England, or St. John's, Newfoundland. Others returned to places closer to home, like Ottawa or Elmira — destinations filled with memories, meaning and unfinished stories.
What unfolded became the heart of the film and a truly touching homage to the power of the individual stories that define each and every life.
There were moments of laughter and tear-filled reunion. Quiet reflections on lives lived fully. The ache of loss. The resilience that follows and the unmistakable truth that dreams, even long-held ones, never truly disappear.
For the filmmakers, the experience became something more than a project. It was a reminder that stories like these — stories of courage, humour, faith and perseverance — challenge the way society often sees aging.
They ask us to slow down, listen more closely and recognize the immense value older adults continue to bring to our communities. Following the screening, Jan Nash, one of the individuals featured in the documentary, described the entire journey as deeply worthwhile.
For those gathered in the theatre, it was clear why.
In welcoming the audience, Jamie Schlegel, President and CEO of Schlegel Villages, reflected on what the Green Bench represents.
“A simple act of sitting together and engaging in conversation can spark friendship,” he said. “It can uncover shared experiences. It can create moments of joy and laughter. Most importantly, it allows two people to connect.”
In a world that often moves too quickly, those connections — even if for only a moment — may harness the most powerful stories of all.
Click Here to learn more and see the trailer for The Green Bench.
