• Parkview Services for Seniors marked its 60th anniversary with a fundraising gala at Station Creek Golf Club on Sept. 25.
  • Founded in 1964 by the Mennonite Home Association, Parkview opened its first care home in 1965.
  • The organization has since expanded to include retirement apartments, life-lease bungalows and suites, and a 128-bed long-term care centre.
  • CEO Hamlet Nation praised staff and volunteers, stressing the importance of innovation in serving an aging population.
  • Board Chair Ted Madden credited Mennonite values for shaping Parkview’s foundation through example.
  • Keynote speaker Jane Philpott highlighted Parkview’s legacy of community collaboration.
  • Susan Reesor urged continued community support, sharing her family’s personal experience with Parkview’s care.

 

A cherished Stouffville institution marked a major milestone last week, as Parkview Services for Seniors celebrated its 60th anniversary with a fundraising gala at Station Creek Golf Club on Sept. 25. The event brought together residents, staff, supporters, and community leaders to honour Parkview’s legacy and look ahead to its future.

“For six decades, Parkview has been a beacon of hope and support for our seniors community. Their tireless efforts provide not just care, but a sense of belonging and dignity to seniors,” Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt said. “The impact of their work is immeasurable, and it resonates through the lives of the families and friends of the seniors they care for.”

Founded in 1964 by the Mennonite Home Association of York County, Parkview opened its first 63-bed care home on Rupert Avenue the following year. An additional 49 beds were added in 1971, and in 1984 the Parkview Village retirement community was established on Ninth Line. Parkview Village expanded further in 1989 with the addition of independent-living bungalows.

A move to a new, purpose-built facility on Weldon Road took place in 2006 for the Home and its residents, now operating as an accredited 128-bed long-term care centre. Services have also expanded for Village residents, who enjoy access to a café, library, fitness and gardening facilities, and an on-site hairdresser.

Parkview Board Chair Ted Madden reflected on those beginnings, crediting the Mennonite, Brethren-In-Christ, and Missionary Church communities for establishing and financing the original home. Their Christian values, he explained, shaped the organization’s foundation not through proselytising but by demonstrating care through example.

“They had no intent of imposing their Christian beliefs on the residents of Parkview, but they wanted to lead by example. They wanted to show how an organization could run using Christian values,” Madden remarked. “In hindsight, it’s a remarkable, forward-thinking way to run an organization.”

Chief Executive Officer Hamlet Nation emphasized that residents remain at the heart of Parkview, reminding staff daily why their work matters. He praised both the volunteer board and employees for their dedication and service.

“We stand tall with a volunteer board that has served for over 60 years. It’s a place where our staff embody compassion, professionalism, and integrity in every act of care,” Nation said. “It is a place where our residents bring warmth, wisdom, and joy, reminding us daily why this work that we do matters.”

Nation also pointed to the need for innovation in models of care, noting that one in four Canadians will be over 60 years of age within the next decade. In his view, Parkview’s role in serving Stouffville’s growing senior population will only expand.

“There is a community around us that requires service, that requires support, and we as an organization are interested in looking at how we can support that community,” he told guests. “As we celebrate 60 years, we give thanks for the past, embrace the present, and look forward in confidence to the future.”

Keynote speaker Jane Philpott, former Federal Health Minister and Chair of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team, commended the visionaries who founded Parkview and the spirit of collaboration that has defined its history. She said Parkview’s story demonstrates how communities can recognize challenges and work together to solve them.

Drawing a parallel with Canada’s strained healthcare system, Philpott said hope can be restored if communities unite as Parkview has. She expressed confidence that Stouffville, Ontario, and the country as a whole can rise to the challenge of ensuring no one is left behind when it comes to primary care.

“What an incredible day it is to celebrate 60 years of high-quality services, along with the compassion and commitment that it has taken to be able to keep this legacy alive,” Philpott added. “I have no doubt that Parkview Services for Seniors will continue for many, many decades to come to serve the people of this community.”

Closing the evening, Susan Reesor described Parkview as “more than just a home,” where care and compassion are woven into daily life. She urged guests to support programs and services that go beyond government funding, from new equipment and expanded programming to the small touches that make Parkview feel like home.

Reesor also shared her family’s story, recounting how Parkview Village supported her mother and helped her live independently until shortly before her passing at nearly 101. She expressed gratitude that her mother was able to spend her final week at Parkview Home, praising “the loving care that they gave to her, and also the support they gave to us as family.”

Pointing attendees to Parkview’s online donation page, Reesor told the audience that every dollar raised goes directly to enhancing the lives of residents: “Together, we are building a future filled with dignity, compassion, and community for seniors.”

 

Cover image provided by and used with permission from Parkview Services for Seniors