When we speak of long-serving team members at Schlegel Villages, there is really nobody to rival Ron Schlegel, who was just a boy when his father Wilfred bought the family’s first ‘Nursing Home’ in London, Ontario in 1953. Ron often speaks of his time in that home, helping serve meals and doing his homework at the feet of the people the family served, always eager to soak up whatever influence he could gain from their wisdom and life experience.
Well into his 80s now, Ron continues to influence the growth path of the organization, which stands at 18 LTC and Retirement Villages in early 2025, with more under construction to spread the Schlegel Family’s mission to more communities across Ontario.
While there is none who could rival Ron’s longevity in the service of community at Schlegel Villages, there are countless team members who’ve been part of the fabric for many years. We caught up with four of them at The Village of Sandalwood Park to ask what bring them joy, why they continue to serve with dedication, and what makes them proud to be part of the Schlegel family.
In their words, we hear our values come to life and we feel the genuine pride they share in connecting with the people they serve every day. The emotional connections they have with the residents is clear; it is not merely a job for them, but a source of personal fulfillment.
“I love my job,” says Maria-Grace Garcia, who works in housekeeping and has been at Sandalwood Park since 2003. “I care what I do and I like to interact with the residents every moment I can. They make my day so happy.”
This deep-rooted passion is a significant factor that encourages them to remain with the organization for many years.
That love for the residents comes through in conversation with so many team members, but there are other factors that contribute to the longevity we see. Jen Gould, who has been with Schlegel Villages for two decades and is the recreation director at Sandalwood Park, speaks of her passion for recreation and the opportunities for growth she has experienced.
Veronica Genus, who also has more than 23 years of service and works in food services, speaks not only of her love of the residents, but also the stability she feels in her personal life because of her job, highlighting how her place at Sandalwood Park has enriched her patience and understanding both in the Village and at home.
The opportunity for growth and the freedom to be creative and innovative as they strive to enhance the lives of residents is also a common theme we hear from long-serving team members.
As a nurse, Amy Grubb, who has close to 20 years of service with Schlegel Villages, says she values the faith the organization has in her to grow into new opportunities.
“This company has given me the opportunity to grow, to enhance my knowledge, to respect individuals, and I enjoy working with the team that I have,” she says. “That's why I'm proud to work at Schlegel Villages.”
To be part of a team at the front of the evolution of elder care in Ontario is a point of pride, to be sure, but there is also something to be said for the level of trust placed in the individual power of each team member to be their best self in the service of others.
“The thing that makes me proud to work at Schlegel Villages is that I can always be myself and I can always be creative and do the best for my residents,” says Jen.
That spirit of creativity and the passion to serve is what emerges when we hear from our long-serving team members, and what inspires pride whenever we see them enhancing Village Life.
