The memories that make a home: Roberta Place at 25

Twenty-five years ago, Harrison Jarlette was a child running through Roberta Place, considering himself part of the setup crew, jumping on empty cardboard boxes with his brother while their parents worked weekends to get the new long-term care home ready.

He laughs now that he probably wasn’t much help. Today, as President of Jarlette Health Services and with a five-year-old of his own, he understands just how little “help” they may have offered. But the memory has stayed with him.

At Roberta Place’s 25th anniversary celebration, memories like these filled the room. They weren’t grand accounts of buildings or milestones. They were stories about familiar faces, small acts of care and relationships that grew over years.

Mayor Alex Nuttall spotted his high school friend Melanie in the room. When Roberta Place opened, they were students at Innisdale Secondary School. She has now worked at the home for more than 20 years.

“When you’re able to retain and support staff for that period of time, it says a lot about your organization,” he said. Looking around the room, he added that it was clear the home cares about the people who work there. And, that they, in turn, care deeply about the people who call it home.

For MP John Brassard, the connection is equally personal. His mother-in-law once lived at Roberta Place.

“The care that she received in this place, we will never forget it,” he said. “It was incredible.”

He also remembered when residents using walkers had to travel along the gravel shoulder of Essa Road to reach the nearby plaza. As a city councillor, Brassard worked with Nuttall and other council members to have a sidewalk installed. It was a practical change, but one that made it safer for residents to remain connected to their neighbourhood.

MPP Andrea Khanjin spoke about listening directly to residents, families and staff. She recalled the talent and professionalism she witnessed on the memory care floor, along with the practical feedback staff shared about providing 24/7 nursing care and support. Work that reflects long-term care’s essential role in Ontario’s health system.

“This is the foundation of our communities,” she said.

To mark the anniversary, residents and staff gathered to plant a young maple tree out front. They are already looking forward to the shade it will provide in the years ahead for residents, families and team members.

It was a fitting way to celebrate a home shaped by the people who have grown alongside it, while making room for new relationships and memories to take root over the next 25 years.