Residents, team members and guests come together to honour the special role of grandparents
By Deron Hamel – September 21, 2026
Village on the Thames honoured all the grandmas and grandpas who call the Chatham-Kent seniors living community home with a celebration in honour of National Grandparents’ Day on Sept. 13.
The event is held annually at the Village to pay tribute to grandparents and the difference they make in so many lives.
“What a wonderful day we had celebrating all of our very special grandmas and grandpas,” Danielle Whitmarsh, the fun co-ordinator at Village on the Thames, tells S&R Today.
“There is something so special about grandparents – the love, hugs, stories, laughter and all the beautiful memories they create with us.”
The centrepiece of the celebration was a large vanilla cake which was shared among residents, team members and guests.
And, of course, no celebration is complete without live music. Attendees were treated to some “wonderful piano music” from pianist April, who is a fan-favourite performer at the Village, Danielle says, adding April’s performances are always engaging for residents.
“Everyone loves when April plays, and there’s always lots of singing along,” Danielle says. “It made our celebration even more special.”
But the true success of the event was how it brought so many people together to celebrate the grandparents, Danielle says.
“It was such a joy to have everyone together and to take a little time to remind our grandparents just how much they mean to all of us,” she says.
Danielle says the celebration was a wonderful opportunity to recognize the important role grandparents play in the lives of so many people.
“We are so thankful for our grandmas and grandpas and the very special place they hold in our hearts,” she says. “We hope they know just how loved, appreciated and cherished they truly are.”
National Grandparents’ Day is held the second Sunday in September in Canada and many other countries around the world to celebrate grandparents. The day was first recognized in 1978 in the U.S.
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