October 23, 2024
Essex County, ON – The Essex County Library has taken another step forward in its effort to highlight the wealth of wisdom found in the lived experience of the oldest generations in the region. In partnership with Long-Term Care and Retirement Living provider Schlegel Villages, the library has installed an #ElderWisdom Green Bench at the LaSalle Branch – a symbol to remind visitors that seniors deserve a place of reverence in our communities.
The #ElderWisdom campaign began in 2015 with Green Benches popping up in prominent locations across Ontario during Seniors Month. The idea was to encourage passersby to take a moment to sit and share conversation with an elder, often a resident from a Schlegel Village. The focus in June, 2024, was library settings, and the Essex County Library was fully committed as soon as the invitation to participate came along.
Manuela Denes, Manager of Community Relations with Essex County Library, says expanding outreach programs and opportunities to engage with older adults has been a priority for the organization. The Green Bench and what it represents tied in perfectly, and she says events in June hosted at the Tecumseh and LaSalle Branches were so successful that making the concept permanent was a logical extension.
“Libraries are filled with stories and information, either on the printed or digital page,” Denes says. “How wonderful that they can also be a safe space for people of all ages and backgrounds to come and sit for a while to listen to someone share their stories in person.”
Schlegel Villages founder Ron Schlegel is humbled to know that an idea he had more than a decade ago has grown and planted its roots in communities across the country, such as Fredericton, New Brunswick, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and now Essex County, where the bench will be featured at branches throughout the seven municipalities that make up the county.
“Through all my life, I’ve always learned from the older generations I grew up with, and I still learn from them today,” Schlegel says, noting that now in his early 80s, he’s among the seniors he once looked up to. “Every older person has a unique perspective on the world to share, and our communities grow stronger and more connected when we honour the perspectives of others.”
For more information, visit www.elderwisdom.ca and take a moment to commit to the #ElderWisdom pledge: I pledge to restore to a place of reverence the elders of our society, honouring the wisdom our oldest citizens have gained through lifetimes of trials, tribulations, joys and successes. I further vow to end ageism, once and for all counting this unjust form of prejudice unacceptable.
