Jennifer Bruzual has fond childhood memories of accompanying her mother, who worked at Father Dowd Residential Centre, on field trips with residents. Those memories have inspired her to pay the gift forward.
Ms. Bruzual is now an Administrative Agent at Father Dowd, where she’s helping bring generations together at the long-term care centre.
The initiative has led to a newly implemented program that brings children from a local daycare in Côte-des-Neiges to visit residents at Father Dowd—delivering joy to residents and planting fresh memories in the hearts of a younger generation.
“Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to care for our elderly,” says Ms. Bruzual, who notes that community spirit has always been part of the culture at the home.
The visits from the children at the Cocon du bonheur 2 took shape in October 2025, when two educators from the daycare centre stopped by Father Dowd to ask about the possibility of having children visit. They spoke to Ms. Bruzual, a resource person for volunteers, who discussed the idea with Recreation Educator Teresa Cerone.
Ms. Cerone was supportive, since she witnessed the benefits of intergenerational visits at Donald Berman Jewish Eldercare prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Intergenerational visits allow residents to tap into their own memories as parents or grandparents.”
Recreation Educator Teresa Cerone
“This encourages them to come out of their shells and share their own experiences with children—which, in turn, allows them to feel a valuable connection to the community,” Ms. Cerone says.
Over the course of several exchanges at Father Dowd, children and residents have made holiday cards and completed puzzles together. Residents have read stories to the children and played games with them.
“Our residents come alive when they have youngsters interacting with them,” says Ms. Bruzual.
Ouafa Talaoui, an Educator at Cocon du bonheur 2, says the visits benefit the children, as well.
“Many children are from immigrant families, so they don’t have grandparents here,” she says.
“These intergenerational visits teach the children empathy and self-confidence, as well as how to communicate and interact with older adults.”
Ouafa Talaoui, Daycare Educator
Ms. Cerone says the visits will continue for as long as the daycare centre wants to participate. “I would encourage any long-term care facility to connect with a community daycare that’s open to intergenerational visits because children bring the residents such joy.”
They also provide residents with a sense of belonging, Ms. Cerone adds. “They feel seen and not forgotten.”
Resident Harvey Casella says he enjoys spending time with the children. “They bring a lot of energy to me, they’re fun, and we’ve sort of become friends because I’ve seen them many times.”
He adds: “The visits are a chance to see the younger generation and be motivated by them. They’re energetic; they make you want to jump around and just have fun.”
