History

This Fall marks a milestone in the history of Trinity Village as they celebrate their 38th year of service to seniors in the Kitchener-Waterloo community. Trinity Village offers a continuum of care, with independent living town homes, assisted living retirement residence and a long term care facility.

In 1972, Hugh and Pamela MacLean bought St. Jerome’s College dormitory, that was originally built in 1952, but had sat empty since the college re-located to the University of Waterloo campus. With some renovations it opened as St. Raphael’s Nursing home and so the history of service to seniors in the Kitchener-Waterloo community began.

Financial struggles in the early 90’s led to Lutheran Homes Kitchener-Waterloo purchasing the nursing home in 1993 and re-naming the home Trinity Village. Lutheran Homes K-W is a ministry of the Eastern Synod of the Lutheran Church. Under the agreement to purchase, Lutheran Homes had to build a new facility. The new care centre sits adjacent to the old site and was built in 2002.

Trinity Village isn’t just buildings but people. When the new care centre was completed, family, volunteers and staff moved the 150 residents into their new home in just 3 hours, belongings included. One staff member when recalling that day said, “Everyone pitched in. The residents had breakfast at the old facility and lunch at the new one!”

In a facility that once held 3 or 4 people to a room, the new accommodations with private and semi-private (shared bath) rooms were a welcomed change. One thing that hasn’t changed is the reputation of excellent care. There are currently over 200 employees at the care centre alone, supported by 150 volunteers.

Recreation staff provides a wide range of day to day programming as well as special events including cruises and summer plane rides from the Guelph airport. There is a lovely garden plot to work in and residents can enjoy an ice-cream treat on the patio.

Community partnerships and support is key to the success of this non-profit home. Trinity Village Care Centre partners with the Conestoga College Nursing program, the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University and K-W Kennel Club to name a few.

The largest annual fundraiser has been the golf tournament. In 1994, the Village People Charitable Golf tournament was birthed. The funds raised from these annual tournaments helped Trinity Village purchase a bus for outings for residents. This past August the 15th annual tournament was held and over $10,000 was raised. The proceeds now go toward “The Gathering Place” initiative. The new Gathering Place is a proposed multi-purpose space that will be connected to the care centre and allow for larger events and church services for our growing Village.

With a view of accommodating more independent seniors, Trinity Village Terrace town homes were built beginning in the late 90’s. These beautiful town homes surround the 11 ½ acre property. Their design has seniors in mind and residents enjoy not having the burden of seasonal maintenance such as snow shoveling or grass cutting.

In 2004, plans began to renovate the old care center facility into an affordable retirement residence and so the continuum of care was established when it opened the following year.

Trinity Village Studios, named for it’s many one room studios, also has spacious two-room suites. The conversion from a 150 bed nursing home to a 61 unit retirement residence was a huge undertaking. In fact, it gives many people a reason to drop by and see the workplace they once knew or the dormitory they once lived in. The beautifully appointed Studios, leave people guessing how it used to be.

With the addition of the town homes beginning in 1997, and the completely renovated Studios retirement residence in 2005, Trinity Village staff continually strives to meet the needs of seniors in their community. To find out more about Trinity Village Care Centre, call Debby Riepert, Administrator, 519-893-6320 ext. 250. For info on Studios retirement residence or the Terrace town homes, contact Susan Box, 519-896-3112 ext.  232.