A set of five core values are at the root of the Schlegel Villages family, and they come to life in every neighbourhood in countless interactions, often without intention or forethought. At other times, they are on full display as Village teams, residents, families and partners come together with shared purpose.
The first value is Genuine and Humble; the second is Hardworking and Hands-on; Caring Relationships is the third; the fourth is Persistence and Passion; the fifth is Positive Can-do Attitude; and the final value is Creative and Innovative. In a family business such as Schlegel Villages, these values come from within; they have been passed down through generations to become an intrinsic part of the culture of the organization, and they are something the Schlegel family is proud of.
As we look back and reflect on 2024 with our values in mind, there are countless examples where we see them come to life within the Villages.
The annual Innovation Summit held in Kitchener at the end of October was such an occasion, with the value of being Creative and Innovative taking centre stage. The 2024 event was the 9th Innovation Summit, bringing together team members, researchers from the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, residents and community partners, all with the shared purpose of exploring what the future of Village Life and caregiving in our communities can look like.
Our Positive Can-do Attitude was vibrant during our Schlegel Olympics events held in The Villages of Taunton Mills and Glendale Crossing. For many connected to our organization, these events, which began months ahead with residents from individual Villages competing and preparing for the larger convergence of Villages, were highlights from 2024. Creating such wonderful memories and watching the spirit of friendly competition come to life required effort and dedication on all fronts, and we’re grateful to all who helped make the events so special.
Perhaps the epitome of Genuine and Humble can been found in each of our Success Award Winners, who once again joined leaders, residents and partners from across Schlegel Villages for the annual Operational Planning Retreat. There they were able to share their perspective on how we can serve residents and their loved ones in ever more meaningful ways as we move into the future.
Earlier in 2024, our Village Voice writer, Kristian, has the opportunity to work alongside Jordan, who serves residents in the large retirement dining room just off the Town Square in The Village of Tansley Woods. In Jordan, the value of Hardworking and Hands-on can be seen on every shift; this is a young, autistic man who found a place where his unique abilities help brighten the days of others, and the team there is grateful to have him.
The value of Caring Relationships came up time and again as The Village at St. Clair celebrated its 10th anniversary this summer. The strong connection with St. Clair College was certainly a focal point, for many students find opportunities at the Village, while the neighbours who live there often take advantage of the close proximity to the campus amenities. Team member Jean Zouzou said it best when he commented on the value of Village relationships, however: “It has changed my lifestyle, my way of thinking,” Jean said, “and it just really showed me the value of different people and different cultures and that makes me want to do more to help others.”
The diversity of the people connected to our Villages is one of our greatest points of pride; people come to us from all over the world to serve others, and this is where we often see Persistence and Passion come to life. There are many stories we can tell of the path that led so many from across the world to us, and this year we were touched by two of them. Click here and here to read the full accounts.
To all of our friends, residents, team members and partners, we wish you all the best during this festive season and look forward to a wonderful New Year!
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