OUR VISION

To build a community committed to promoting health and wellbeing through intergenerational relationships and lifelong learning.

EQUALITY

Members are equals with uniquely valuable contributions to make and benefits to gain from participation.

AUTHENTICITY

Being ourselves, and allowing others to do so, is how meaningful connections are made.

CURIOUSITY

Given the opportunity, the brain never stops learning, and we don't intend to let it.

Social isolation and loneliness are associated with increased poor health and wellbeing across the lifespan. Seeing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social isolation and loneliness across all ages, and feeling a loss of connection ourselves, we recognized an opportunity to mitigate the social impact of the pandemic on both older and younger adults.

The Wisdom Exchange Project was created in 2020 as a grassroots initiative that provides opportunities for graduate trainees to connect with older adults living in community settings in Canada. Now, we host knowledge exchange events to promote learning, feed curiosity, and build relationships. 

"I have enjoyed the partnership that I have established with my partner. This program has connected me with someone who I would not have otherwise met with and who has now become a mentor to me, helping me grow professionally and personally. I really appreciate the person who I have been paired with."

"I like hearing about the research that other people from the program are involved in. I also like the engagement and discussion had around the topics."

"Have made a fabulous friend.  We laugh and share all kinds of interests & experiences."

"I am enjoying finding out about the life of someone at the beginning of theirs,  and you accidentally paired me with someone who is going though some similar social and gender issues as I have dealt with in my own life.  I don't lecture, but  share stories of my own life that she can take courage and support from. As I live alone, during COVID I saw other people less than ten times and even now only one person fairly regularly and phone another every ten days or so, and having a new person in my life has greatly eased the loneliness."

"I like seeing the other members of the project and learning their stories.I found the one on cognitive problems as we age very enlightening."