A dream come true

A dream come true

December 12, 2016

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Verna Clancy has always been drawn to art. She had even wanted to study the subject at university but never had the opportunity.

However, thanks to a collaboration between Queen鈥檚 School of Rehabilitation Therapy and Sienna Senior Living, Ms. Clancy was able to experience for herself what it鈥檚 like to study at the university.

Arriving at Etherington Hall at 9:30 am, Ms. Clancy first attended a lecture by Dr. Una D鈥橢lia (Art History) 鈥楾he Renaissance in Italy: The Rebirth of Classical Antiquity,鈥 part of an introductory course on Art in the West.  Continuing the experience, she had lunch at The Grad Club and completed her day with a guided tour of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre.

It was an unforgettable day, Ms. Clancy says, and was capped off with a personalized certificate of recognition from the School of Rehabilitation Therapy to commemorate her visit to campus.

鈥淚 think everybody should have (such an experience) at least once in their lifetime. I鈥檝e learned so much today. Everybody鈥檚 been so kind and welcoming and I really appreciate everything everyone has done for me,鈥 says Ms. Clancy, still excited by what she had learned in the art history lecture. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 realize what it covers. I didn鈥檛 realize it covers politics, wars and every topic going. It鈥檚 not just about studying an artist. It鈥檚 also the time, the culture.鈥

Ms. Clancy says she was able to connect  with the lecture on a personal level as she has traveled to Italy and viewed some of the paintings in person.

Through its signature Dreams Program, Sienna Senior Living, which operates three retirement homes and a long-term care facility in Kingston, aims to fulfill the life-long dreams of its residents.

In Ms. Clancy鈥檚 case Queen鈥檚 was also able to make her dream come true.

鈥淲hile developing the School of Rehabilitation Therapy's new suite of graduate , we had the opportunity to meet several program managers from Sienna,鈥 says Erika Beresford-Kroeger, Strategic Initiatives Specialist, School of Rehabilitation Therapy. 鈥淲hen I was later contacted by Royale Place in Kingston, we were thrilled to help in any way we could. It was inspiring to experience the excitement from everyone across campus, particularly those in Art History and the Agnes, who helped the school make Verna鈥檚 dream come true.鈥  

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