For 10 years, the #ElderWisdom Green Bench has stood as a powerful symbol in the movement to combat ageism—inviting people of all ages to sit down, slow down, and engage in meaningful conversation.
What began as a simple green bench has grown into a national initiative celebrating the voices of older adults. It’s a place where wisdom is shared, stories are honoured, and intergenerational connections are sparked. From public parks and libraries to schools, city halls, and art galleries, the Green Bench has travelled across communities—bridging generations and challenging the stereotypes too often placed on aging.
As we mark this milestone year, we invite you to be part of the conversation.
Take a seat. Listen. Share. And help us build a more age-inclusive society.
10th Anniversary Green Bench Tour Schedule
Pop by, take a seat, and join the conversation.
The Green Bench is visiting these locations to celebrate the wisdom of our elders. During each stop, seniors will be ready to welcome you to the Green Bench for a meaningful chat about life, legacy, and community. Everyone is welcome and you can stay for as little or as long as you like.
Note: Click the arrow on the left of the location to see more details
MISSISSAUGA John Fraser School – Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Location: John Fraser Secondary School
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from The Village of Erin Meadows, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
Note: This particular program is not open to the general public and meant for the students. If you wish to participate in this program, please contact ted.hudson@schlegelvillages.com to make arrangements.
WHITBY Farmer’s Market – Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Celebration Square at the Whitby Library
405 Dundas Street West, Whitby (map)
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from The Village of Taunton Mills, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
CITY OF LONDON – Thursday, June 5, 2025, 10:00 am
Location: Kiwanis Seniors’ Community Centre
78 Riverside Drive, London (map)
The Green Bench conversations will be hosted by the City of London with special guest, Treva Murray, Beck Hearing. For information about this program, contact Janice Hamilton, jhamilto@London.ca, 519.661.2489 x 5734
KITCHENER City Hall – Saturday, June 7, 2025, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Carl Zehr Square outside City Hall
200 King Street W, Kitchener (map)
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from The Village of Winston Park, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
HAMILTON Myrtle Park- Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Myrtle Park
13 Delaware Avenue, Hamilton (map)
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from Hamilton Continuing Care, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
CITY OF LONDON – Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 9:30 am
Location: Kiwanis Seniors’ Community Centre
78 Riverside Drive, London (map)
The Green Bench conversations will be hosted by the City of London with special guest, Mayor Josh Morgan. For information about this program, contact Janice Hamilton, jhamilto@London.ca, 519.661.2489 x 5734
LONDON Springbank Park- Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Springbank Park close to Storybook Gardens
1958 Storybook Lane, London (map)
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from The Village of Glendale Crossing, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
CITY OF LONDON – Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 12:00 pm
Location: Kiwanis Seniors’ Community Centre
78 Riverside Drive, London (map)
The Green Bench conversations will be hosted by the City of London with special guest, Jim Chapman, Musician. For information about this program, contact Janice Hamilton, jhamilto@London.ca, 519.661.2489 x 5734
MISSISSAUGA Erindale School- Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Erindale Secondary School
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from Erin Mills Lodge, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
Note: This particular program is not open to the general public and meant for the students. If you wish to participate in this program, please contact ted.hudson@schlegelvillages.com to make arrangements.
GEORGIAN COLLEGE – Monday, June 16, 2025, 12:00 pm – 1:45 pm
Location: Part of a class
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from Coleman Care Centre, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
Note: This particular program is not open to the general public and meant for the students. If you wish to participate in this program, please contact ted.hudson@schlegelvillages.com to make arrangements.
CITY OF LONDON – Monday, June 16, 2025, 11:00 am
Location: Kiwanis Seniors’ Community Centre
78 Riverside Drive, London (map)
The Green Bench conversations will be hosted by the City of London with special guest, Julie Atchison, CTV News. For information about this program, contact Janice Hamilton, jhamilto@London.ca, 519.661.2489 x 5734
GEORGIAN COLLEGE – Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Part of a class
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from Coleman Care Centre, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
Note: This particular program is not open to the general public and meant for the students. If you wish to participate in this program, please contact ted.hudson@schlegelvillages.com to make arrangements.
BRAMPTON Garden Square- Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Garden Square
12 Main Street North, Brampton (map)
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from The Village of Sandalwood Park, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
CITY OF LONDON – Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 1:00 pm
Location: Kiwanis Seniors’ Community Centre
78 Riverside Drive, London (map)
The Green Bench conversations will be hosted by the City of London with special guests, Chief and Deputy Chief from the London Police Services. For information about this program, contact Janice Hamilton, jhamilto@London.ca, 519.661.2489 x 5734
ST. JACOBS FARMERS’ MARKET – Thursday, June 19, 2025, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market – Market Building
878 Weber St N, Woolwich (map)
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from The Village at University Gates, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
HAMILTON Waterfront – Thursday, June 19, 2025, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Hamilton Waterfront, Pier 8 (along the pathway outside Williams Fresh Cafe)
47 Discovery Drive, Hamilton (map)
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from The Village of Wentworth Heights, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
BARRIE – Thursday, June 19, 2025, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Andrew Hunter Elementary School Cultural Night
59 Lampman Lane, Barrie (map)
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from Coleman Care Centre, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation. Note* This is a private event.
TECUMSEH Library- Saturday, June 21, 2025, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: Essex County Library, Tecumseh -Cada Branch
13675 St. Gregory’s Road (map)
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from The Village of Aspen Lake, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
CITY OF LONDON – Monday, June 23, 2025, 11:00 am
Location: Kiwanis Seniors’ Community Centre
78 Riverside Drive, London (map)
The Green Bench conversations will be hosted by the City of London with special guest, Heather Walton. For information about this program, contact Janice Hamilton, jhamilto@London.ca, 519.661.2489 x 5734
WINDSOR Reaume Park- Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Cancelled Due To Weather
GUELPH Public Library- Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Guelph Public Library, Downtown
100 Norfolk Street, Guelph (map)
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from The Village of Riverside Glen and Arbour Trails, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
CITY OF LONDON – Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 10:30 am
Location: Kiwanis Seniors’ Community Centre
78 Riverside Drive, London (map)
The Green Bench conversations will be hosted by the City of London with special guest, Treva Murray, Beck Hearing. For information about this program, contact Janice Hamilton, jhamilto@London.ca, 519.661.2489 x 5734
TORONTO Trinity Bellwoods Park – Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Trinity Bellwoods Park at the corner of Shaw & Dundas
155 Crawford Street, Toronto (map)
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from The Village of Humber Heights, Fairview Nursing Home, and Maynard Nursing Home, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
BURLINGTON – Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: The Village of Tansley Woods – Courtyard
4100 Upper Middle Road, Burlington
Music in the Courtyard from 7-8pm
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from The Village of Tansley Woods, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
WINDSOR – Thursday, June 26, 2025, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: St. Clair College, Seniors Month Open House
Main Building, 2000 Talbot Rd, Windsor, ON N9A 6S4
The Green Bench will be hosted by residents from The Village at St. Clair, eager to share stories from their lives and invite meaningful conversation.
ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND – Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Downtown Pedestrian Mall
Water Street from Adelaide Street to Prescott Street (Location TBD)
Wisdom and stories will be shared by Joan & Anneke (Schlegel Villages residents) as they return to the places that shaped them—hometowns filled with memories or dream destinations they’ve always longed to visit.
ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND – Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Bowring Park
Party in the Park on the lawn by Bowring Park Bungalow
305 Waterford Bridge Rd, St. John’s, NL
Celebrating with the Seniors of Newfoundland and gifting the #ElderWisdom Green Bench to the City of St. John’s
ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM – Week of July 28, 2025
Location:
Wisdom and stories will be shared by Schlegel Villages residents as they return to the places that shaped them—hometowns filled with memories or dream destinations they’ve always longed to visit.
ELMIRA, ONTARIO – Thursday, August 14, 2025
Location:
Wisdom and stories will be shared by Schlegel Villages residents as they return to the places that shaped them—hometowns filled with memories or dream destinations they’ve always longed to visit.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Week of August 25, 2025
Location:
Wisdom and stories will be shared by Schlegel Villages residents as they return to the places that shaped them—hometowns filled with memories or dream destinations they’ve always longed to visit.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – September 9-12, 2025
Location: IFA’s 17th Annual Global Conference on Ageing
Christy Parsons and Hannah Renaud will proudly represent Schlegel Villages at the Global Conference on Ageing, where they will present on the impact and evolution of the #ElderWisdom Green Bench initiative—highlighting its role in fostering intergenerational connection, combating ageism, and honouring the voices of seniors in long-term care and retirement.
TORONTO This Is LTC Conference – October 27/28, 2025
Location: Beanfield Centre, 105 Princes’ Blvd, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3
Residents from The Village of Erin Meadows in Mississauga will share their wisdom through artwork displayed in the Art Park exhibit at the This Is LTC Conference, where delegates can engage in an interactive art activity and take a seat on the iconic Green Bench for meaningful conversation with the seniors themselves.
Learn more about the conference.
Additional details and dates will be added as information becomes available
Moments of Connection on the Green Bench
Have a press question or want to feature a story about #ElderWisdom?
Contact our Team
Ted Hudson, Director of Digital Marketing
Alma Dunnett, #ElderWisdom Project Coordinator
Kristian Partington, Director of Communications
Thank you to the communities who welcomed us, the dedicated team members at Schlegel Villages who brought this vision to life, and the individuals who paused, sat down, and shared in a conversation on the Green Bench. Most of all, we honour the seniors who continue to share their stories, their laughter, and their wisdom so generously. Your voices remind us of the power of connection and the importance of listening across generations. Together, we are building a more age-inclusive world—one conversation at a time.
