Seniors and students come together in celebration of year-long partnership

The Legacy Tea, and the partnership itself, is an opportunity the students have really enjoyed.

“I think it’s fun and it’s community building for everyone in the school and at Simon Fraser Lodge,” said grade 5 student Zoey Coban.

“It’s been really nice, I’ve gotten to get to know some other people that I wouldn’t normally talk to. The food is also really good, and I find this whole set up very nice and calming,” said grade 5 student Calla Corrigal.

For the seniors, they say they really enjoy spending time with the children, as it’s a special type of partnership bringing some of our oldest and youngest community members together to share their unique perspectives, but also commonalities they can bond over.

“It’s beautiful, kids are kids, you know? They got a whole life ahead of them, and just to watch them get interested… like that one kid that was just talking to me, he was into sports, and I’m into sports,” said Ernie Canuel, one of the seniors at the Lodge.

Canuel adds he enjoys seeing how the children dream and what their goals are, and if there was some advice he’d like to give to the students he says he stresses the importance of hard work and striving to be the best you can be.

“I told a kid, you just gotta be better than your teachers. No matter how they teach you, you gotta know more,” he said.

“The seniors always have a good story to tell, either about their own childhood or what it was like for them to grow up. You know, how times have changed,” Osmond added.

The students say they have learned from speaking with the seniors, but have also just enjoyed the time spent together. Many highlighted the crafts they do together, while others like Corrigal said they really enjoyed caroling at Christmas.

“Over the past year, I’ve learned to be much more respectful, especially around your elders,” Coban said.

This partnership is one that has been going for more than 30 years, and given how much both sides enjoy it, is one that will likely continue.

by Tommy Osborne

Seniors and students come together in celebration of year-long partnership

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