{"id":96602,"date":"2024-10-18T17:18:16","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T21:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/?p=96602"},"modified":"2024-10-18T17:57:40","modified_gmt":"2024-10-18T21:57:40","slug":"were-a-family-busload-of-seniors-surprises-brock-grad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brocku.ca\/brock-news\/2024\/10\/were-a-family-busload-of-seniors-surprises-brock-grad\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We\u2019re a family\u2019: Busload of seniors surprises Brock grad"},"content":{"rendered":"

If Sierra Witte (BRLS \u201924) was ever unsure of the impact she was having at a local retirement home, those doubts flew right out the window \u2014 of a small bus \u2014 on Friday, Oct. 18.<\/p>\n

After crossing the stage at Brock University\u2019s Fall Convocation with her Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Witte walked outside to find a crowd of residents from Elgin Falls Retirement Community ready to celebrate her significant achievement.<\/p>\n

Shuttled to campus by bus with banners in hand and smiles on their faces, the residents were eager to surprise their favourite Brock Badger, who interned with the organization this summer before being hired on full time as a recreation assistant.<\/p>\n

Witte is responsible for facilitating many of the activities focused on engaging residents, such as exercise classes, arts and crafts workshops, and themed events like murder mystery nights and Cinco de Mayo. She also assists with paperwork and performs personal assessments.<\/p>\n

“Sierra is such a wonderful person, she\u2019s so helpful and always so happy,\u201d says Joanne Mitchell, one of the nine Elgin Falls residents who travelled to Brock to celebrate Witte\u2019s graduation. \u201cShe exercises us like you wouldn’t believe. We just love her!\u201d<\/p>\n

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A group of seniors from Elgin Falls Retirement Community surprised recent Brock University graduate Sierra Witte (BRLS \u201924) at Convocation Friday, Oct. 18.<\/p><\/div>\n

Resident Kathleen Mason says Witte is \u201calways enthusiastic about whatever we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe love her because she is part of us,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019re a family.\u201d<\/p>\n

The surprise was organized by Witte\u2019s supervisor, Taylor Heezen (BRLS \u201917), who completed the same Brock program seven years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cSierra worked really hard these past four years to make it to this day,\u201d says Heezen, Lifestyle Manager for the new Niagara Falls retirement community. \u201cShe\u2019s so special to the residents and staff, we had to make a big deal out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Witte did not expect to see the group of seniors waiting for her outside once the Convocation ceremony was complete.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a lot to me that they all came out today; I can\u2019t believe they actually did,\u201d she says. “They\u2019re very supportive of me, all of the time. They\u2019ve been talking about my graduation for months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heezen says she knew from her first interaction with Witte that she was \u201cgoing to be an amazing recreation therapist.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHer demeanour is so warm and welcoming. Her bubbly personality draws you in and makes residents feel comfortable and excited to participate in activities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Witte first began working with senior citizens six years ago as a personal support worker. Having recently lost her grandparents at the time, she was passionate about finding ways to enhance the quality of life and well-being of older adults.<\/p>\n

While working as a personal support worker, she saw the potential positive impact she could make as a recreational therapist and decided to return to school at the age of 23.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was really close with my grandparents, and it was hard when I lost them, so it\u2019s nice to care for other people\u2019s parents, grandparents and loved ones,\u201d she says. \u201cI try to make every day special and enjoyable.\u201d<\/p>\n

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