Making a Difference, Every Day: Steve’s Story

Steve’s Legacy at Alexander Place

Location: Waterdown, ON

For Steve, moving into long-term care didn’t mean slowing down. It just meant finding new ways to help his neighbours feel at home.

It’s not unusual to find him helping a neighbour figure out their cell phone so they can video chat with grandkids or tuning up guitars and pianos so anyone can pick up and play in Alexander Place’s music corner. If someone needs a hand, Steve’s there, ready to help.

Steve’s life has always been about connecting people. Before coming to Alexander Place, Steve spent decades teaching English around the world, from classrooms in Toronto to communities overseas. He ran marathons, raised two daughters, and always found ways to connect people through music, language and kindness.

These days, he’s building support for his next big idea: an eco-friendly greenhouse at Alexander Place. With help from staff and neighbours, he hopes to create a space where residents, families and staff can grow herbs and flowers, share stories over gardening gloves, and enjoy a little green sanctuary all year round.

His energy and kindness were recognized with a Making a Difference Award from Jarlette Health Services – for being the kind of neighbour who turns a hallway into a community, and a community into a home.

Thank you to Jarlette Health Services for sharing this story and photos. Read the original article published in The Jarlette Journal.