April 3rd, 2017

What was it like back in the day? This is what a group of Grade 5 and 6 students from W.T. Townshend Public School are finding out as they meet with their Westmount Nursing Home ‘grand-friends’ every other week. WTT Trailblazers come with their list of questions, and work on their best listening and writing skills as they chat and learn about the lives of their neighbours. Questions such as “What did you wear?” or “What did you do on a date?” are put to these community friends who range in age from 85-95.

A photo of grandfriends in which a Westmount Nursing Home resident and W. T. Townshend student share stories.

The sharing activity gives these engaged seniors the opportunity to positively re-live their experiences, and helps WTT students to learn more about our Canadian past. A scrapbook of materials from theses visits will be shared at the end of the project, which began in November. Teacher Karen McIntyre set up the program as an extension of a relationship she has fostered with the seniors’ residence for many years. The inter-generational choir “Glee at Heart” is comprised of singers from both the residence and the school, and performs yearly at WTT.