New development combines nursing home with elementary school

REGINA – Pre-K to grade 8 students from the independent Prairie Sky School will soon have a new home in Harbour Landing.

“Extremely excited,” stressed grade 6 student, Addison Verot.

Even more exciting, she said, is that the school will be attached to a new nursing home: “We’ll be able to hear stories from the older people and they’ll be able to share some of their skills, like knitting or artwork – things like that. I’m glad we’re getting a bigger school and I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Orange Tree Village is a ground-breaking concept: it will offer moderate income housing for seniors, along with fitness classes, services to support independent living and many common spaces that will bring the students and the residents together – something that doesn’t happen often enough.

“We’ve gotten to a point that this is where the children go and this is where the seniors go. We’re putting up barriers to people to form those relationships,” explained Crystal Spooner, Orange Tree Village CEO.

The idea came from her own personal experience: her mother worked in seniors care and Spooner grew up in the industry.

“I was 12 years old at the time. I had 50 gramma’s and grampa’s. It was amazing. They were just so happy to see me and I was just so happy to see them.”

“The minute I heard the project, I thought, ‘Yeah, this is like a little village inside a bigger community,” said Ward 2 councillor, Bob Hawkins.

The development boasts space for a cafe, salon, pharmacy and health professionals, but there will also be plenty to offer the young ones too.

“Since I see all this big field, I’m guessing there’s going to be quite a big area for us to play,” said grade 5 student, Katja Herle.

“I think this is the trend for home care for seniors in the future,” said Hawkins.