Written By Olena Riznyk
STRATHROY – Eight students and eight seniors spent seven months painting small squares at Strathmere Lodge–and ended up building something much bigger than a mosaic.
Since September, they met once a week, working in pairs on what became a 100-piece artwork called The Tree of Life. The piece was unveiled this week and will now hang in the Lodge’s chapel. But the project wasn’t really about the final result. “The essence of it is really the relationship between the two,” said Barb Thyssen, Volunteer and Community Coordinator at Strathmere Lodge. “It’s not fully about what we present, it’s really about the friendship.”
Students were paired one-on-one with residents, giving them time to work together and get to know each other. Over time, those meetings turned into something more natural–conversations, shared routines, and, in many cases, real connection. “There’s a lot of loneliness and isolation,” Thyssen said. “And this gives something different: connection.”
This year’s group worked on a single shared piece rather than individual projects. Each participant painted small sections of the mosaic, adding personal touches that came together into one image.
For students, it was a chance to step into a stage of life they don’t usually see. For residents, it brought energy and something steady to look forward to. Kaylie Garner, who was paired with Tena Van Rys, said she wasn’t sure what to expect at first.“I didn’t know if we would have anything in common,” she said. “But we had a lot. We got along really well. We just blended together.” That uncertainty didn’t last long.
Jenavieve Wiencken, who worked with Donna Richardson, said the connection came through simple time spent together. “It was just being able to have a connection with someone from a completely different generation,” she said. “It was a wonderful experience.”
At the unveiling, former Strathroy-Caradoc mayor Joanne Vanderheyden spoke about why projects like this matter. “In my opinion, it’s really important that all of us feel that we belong,” she said. “Sometimes the simplest things bring the most joy.” She added that connection across generations doesn’t happen on its own. “When we work together, regardless of our age, we can do something really meaningful,” Vanderheyden said.
The finished mosaic is detailed and personal, made up of small pieces that only come together as a whole. The same could be said for the people who created it.
