Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming many incredible co-op students to Royal Brock Retirement. Every so often, a student leaves a lasting impression—not only on our staff, but on our residents as well. Sometimes, they even become part of our extended team. Other times, they leave feeling just as impacted by the special connections they’ve made here.

Most recently, we had the joy of working with Ella, a bright and compassionate co-op student who has been with us for the past several months. As part of her class project, Ella created a beautiful newspaper that captures her time at Royal Brock. She thoughtfully included stories and reflections, most notably her heartfelt friendship with one of our cherished residents, Joyce—a former photojournalist.

With permission from Ella and the residents featured in her project, we’re proud to share this special keepsake with our community. We’ve made copies of her newspaper for all of our residents to enjoy, and we invite you to take a few moments to read it as well.

Ella has truly been a delight to have with us. Her kindness, creativity, and thoughtfulness have touched everyone she’s met. One particularly sweet gesture: she even brought in a bird feeder and seed for the window where a mama robin built her nest—just another example of the care she brought to our home.

Working in retirement living gives us the rare and beautiful opportunity to witness bonds form between generations. It’s something we never take for granted, and Ella’s time with us has been a shining example of that magic.

Ella, thank you for sharing your light with us. We know you’ll go on to do amazing things—and you’ll always have a home here at Royal Brock.