Graduation day on June 10 is a memorable occasion for Lauren Cooke, but what she has gained through her Niagara College experience will last her a lifetime.
As a student in the Recreation Therapy – Fast Track program, Cooke took a keen interest in working with seniors and completed her field placements at Heidehof Long Term Care Home, where she was hired on as a project assistant in the fall of 2023.
In this role, Cooke supported the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a partnership project between NC and Heidehof called “A Senior’s Freshman Year” during the 2024 winter term.
Through the initiative, 29 Recreation Therapy students participated in a class course at Heidehof alongside 10 residents living at the home in Long-term Care, Supportive Housing and Life Lease units. Cooke was instrumental in the success of the project, which won the Innovation and Excellence Community Connections Award through AdvantAge Ontario for its trailblazing approach to intergenerational learning.
“By having the wealth of knowledge and resources from both Niagara College and Heidehof, I was able to work alongside this intergenerational program with ease and excitement…little did I know how absolutely incredible this experience was going to be,” said Cooke, who was born and raised in St. Catharines where the home is located.
Lauren Cooke (2nd from left) was among the representatives from NC and Heidehof who attended AdvantAge Ontario’s Advancing Senior Care Convention in April 2024 to accept the Innovation and Excellence Community Connections Award for “A Senior’s Freshman Year.”
Working so closely on the special project deepened Cooke’s passion and love for Recreation Therapy.
“A student in the class said ‘It feels good, to do good’ and he is absolutely right, Recreation Therapy isn’t a job to me, it’s a calling!” she said.
Cooke is currently in the process of writing a paper for publication on the project to share the innovative learning that took place for other professionals in the field.
“The Recreation Therapy program takes pride in preparing graduates for meaningful career opportunities, and Lauren exemplifies the exceptional achievements our graduates can attain,” said Jaclyn Frail, Associate Dean, School of Community Services.
“During her time in the program, Lauren fully embraced the learning journey, establishing remarkable connections and relationships with the program team and field placement agency. We are very proud of Lauren and are confident she will make positive contributions to the field of recreation therapy.”
Since completing her project assistant role, Cooke continued on at Heidehof working part time as a recreation therapist and has also been working part time at Albright Manor. She will begin a new role at the end of June with Niagara Region that focuses on adult day programming to advance her career aspirations and personal growth in the field of Recreation Therapy.
“I have created many beautiful relationships with my peers, and residents, that I will always hold close to my heart,” said Cooke.
“There have been many takeaways from this experience that I will take with me in my career as a Recreation Therapist, but one that that sticks out the most is the growth in connections and relationship building which is what TR is all about!”
And it’s those relationships that supported Cooke through her own educational journey.
“I can honestly say, I could not be more thankful for my learning experiences at Niagara College, and for the incredible professors that fostered my passion for this field,” she said. “During my time as a student, I encountered heavy losses within my family, upon other obstacles, however with their ongoing support and encouragement, I pushed through and am graduating!”
This summer, Cooke plans on spending her free time outdoors, including playing in a slow-pitch league with her boyfriend and their friends. Giving back to her community is also important for Cooke. She volunteers on Sunday mornings at St. Georges Anglican Church, serving breakfast to people who are homeless with her dad and other masons, and assists the Shriners at their parades and other events.
Lauren Cooke (back row, 2nd from right) celebrates with NC and Heidehof students and staff at a luncheon following the final class of the partnership project on April 9.
