Seniors helping seniors: retirement home residents share wisdom with graduating class

WINDSOR, ONT. — Local senior citizens are offering their wisdom and life advice to high school seniors as they move into the next chapter.

As many high school graduates have missed out on major milestones like prom and graduation due to COVID-19, the residents of Chartwell Oak Park LaSalle Retirement Residence are offering up some perspective.

“This is a student's moment to shine, to show off all their hard work to their parents,” 80-year-old resident Joseph Tomc and winner of the Prime Minister’s Award for teaching excellence said in a Chartwell news release. He taught for 28 years, most of it at Sandwich Secondary School.

“It's disappointing to hear that this year's graduating class will miss out on all these important milestones.”

The inspiration for seniors-to-seniors advice came from Sylvia Flanagan, Retirement Living Consultant at the residence, with a 17-year-old daughter in grade 12 at St. Joseph's Catholic High School.

“It was a real sad time to realize I won’t see her cross the stage and be recognized as an honours student,” Flanagan said. “She’s worked so hard. So my goal was how can I make it memorable for her, how can I keep this graduation alive.”

Some of the advice residents have offered her and fellow members of the Class of 2020 include:

The advice from the seniors at Chartwell will be shared among the students and staff within the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board.