The Opening Minds through Art (OMA) program facilitators and the Trinity Village community would like to congratulate Sophie Pettit on being the recipient of one of 2019’s France-Anne Sweeny “Making a Difference” Awards! 

The France-Anne Sweeny award is a Grade 11 Award and Graduate Award program available in all secondary schools within the Catholic and Public boards within Waterloo Region. The award, presented to Sophia, is the first level of the program. Each high school, through an application process, will select one Grade 11 award winner who will have a charity of their choice to donate to.

We are very honoured that Sophia has chosen the OMA program as the donation recipient.

The OMA program is an intergenerational art program where students are paired with Elders living with dementia, aimed at promoting their social engagement, autonomy, and dignity through the experience of creative self-expression.

During her time with OMA, Sophia – a now Grade 12 student at Forest Heights Collegiate Institute – learned about dementia, how to communicate with older adults with dementia and various aspects of the OMA program. Sophia had the pleasure of being partnered with Irene, who happened to turn the age of 100 during their eight weeks together. Sophia also has a Great Grandmother who resides at Trinity Village Care Centre.

 “Irene’s big heart radiated boundless warmth and kindness, and I was incredibly fortunate to get to be there with her to celebrate her 100th birthday,” Sophia says, “Irene left a clear mark on my life and I’m so glad that I got to spend time with her.”

We are very proud of Sophia’s achievements with the OMA program and she has certainly made a difference in enhancing the lives at Trinity Village.

OMA’s mission is to build bridges across age and cognitive barriers through art; thank you Sophia on helping us to continue building bridges with our community.

The OMA team and the Trinity Village community wish Sophia all the best for her future in volunteering and with her continued education.

The France-Anne Sweeny "Making a Difference" Fund is a fund within Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation. For more information, visit their website at http://www.kwcf.ca