Across Dufferin County in Ontario, a growing group of older adult volunteers is preparing to step into classrooms and share life experiences with local students through the GrandPals intergenerational storytelling program.
Over the past several weeks, volunteers have gathered for a series of orientation sessions designed to prepare them for meaningful conversations with young people in their communities.
In total, 40 volunteer GrandPals have recently been oriented through three community cohorts in Orangeville, Mono, and Erin.
Each volunteer committed approximately 4.5 to 6 hours of orientation time, representing more than 180 hours of collective preparation before classroom visits even begin.
Preparing for Meaningful Conversations
GrandPals orientation sessions introduce volunteers to the structure of the program and help them prepare for the kinds of conversations they will have with students.
During these sessions, volunteers explore:
- What a typical classroom visit looks like
- How conversations with students unfold
- The types of guiding questions students may ask
- How storytelling helps bridge generations
For many volunteers, orientation is a meaningful moment. It is often the first time they realize just how valuable their life experiences can be for young people who are eager to listen and learn.
Six Classrooms Launching in Orangeville
In Orangeville, the recently completed orientation series wrapped up the third and final session for that cohort. These GrandPals will soon be stepping into six classrooms beginning in late March and early April.
Students and GrandPals will meet over a series of sessions where they explore important life themes together. Through guided conversations, students learn to ask thoughtful questions and reflect on the experiences of older adults in their community.
Those conversations often become the foundation for student storytelling projects, where young people turn these shared experiences into written narratives.
Community Leadership Makes It Possible
The GrandPals program in the Dufferin area is implemented locally by Headwaters Communities in Action, who play a key role in bringing together volunteers, schools, and community partners.
Organizations like Headwaters Communities in Action help coordinate the many pieces required to make intergenerational programming possible, ensuring that volunteers are recruited, prepared, and supported as they participate in the program.
Local Businesses Supporting Intergenerational Learning
Community Sponsors
Programs like GrandPals are made possible not only through volunteer participation, but also through the support of local community partners.
A special thank you goes to John Walkinshaw of John Walkinshaw Real Estate and Ed Kampen, owner of Watermaker Orangeville, for supporting the GrandPals program in the Dufferin area.
Their support helps ensure that older adults and students have the opportunity to come together for meaningful conversations and shared learning experiences.
Community sponsorship plays an important role in helping programs like this grow and thrive, allowing intergenerational learning to reach more classrooms and more communities.
Looking Ahead
With orientations now complete, GrandPals volunteers are preparing to begin classroom visits across the region in the coming weeks.
For students, these sessions offer a chance to connect with older adults in their community, hear stories from different generations, and gain new perspectives on life experiences.
For volunteers, the program offers a meaningful way to give back and share their wisdom with the next generation.
And for communities, programs like GrandPals demonstrate how powerful it can be when schools, volunteers, nonprofits, and local businesses work together to create opportunities for connection across generations.