LINDA NUZZO ON BUILDING A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND BELONGING FOR THE SENIORS AT MARTIN GROVE

We chatted with Linda Nuzzo, Regional Manager at Minto Apartments, about the Martin Grove rental community in Etobicoke. Read on to learn about how the team goes above and beyond to offer residents a warm living experience in this rental community.

Hi, Linda! Thank you for taking a few minutes out of your day to speak with us. To start with, could you tell us a bit about Martin Grove and the people who live there?

Nestled among parks near Highways 401 and 427 in the neighborhood of Richview in Etobicoke - Martin Grove comprises 236 one-bedroom suite accommodations, with a primary focus on affordable housing for seniors.

Population growth has been exceeding new housing supply in Canada for many years now and finding affordable and adequate housing for many – particularly seniors - has become more challenging.  At Martin Grove we have tried to address this challenge through more affordable and livable options for seniors.  

What types of activities and events do you organize for the residents at Martin Grove? 

We are committed to building a strong sense of community and belonging among our residents. There are ample common spaces, designed to promote mingling between seniors and the diverse single and family demographics that live here. 

We focus on creating programs to help keep our seniors social and active and have easy access to information and resources.  We regularly organize knitting, bingo, karaoke, fire safety sessions, community garden projects, exercise programs, on-site Covid clinics, and BBQ and coffee socials . Seniors also have access to a variety of programs via ESS Support Services.  We took a short break during the pandemic and are now committed to working on increasing support and events for our valued residents.

Do you partner with local businesses or organizations to bring services to Martin Grove residents?  

Yes! We do partner with the City of Toronto, Toronto Public Health, Toronto Fire Services, Rogers, ESS, and TechserveTO to organize activities for our residents.  

Do you have any special memories from your interactions with the residents that you could share? 

There are too many to count.  For our residents without their own families, we have become their extended family through time.  

We are so blessed to know that our residents appreciate us, and this is often displayed in beautifully handwritten notes to our members of our team. The words written to us often thank us for our ongoing support and just being there for them.  

I find a handwritten note is often the simplest way of feeling appreciated and means so much to my team and me, and we truly cherish them. It makes what we do every day feel extremely fulfilling to know we can make a difference in our residents' lives and experiences. 

How do you and your team go above and beyond to help those living in the property? 

Because residents are predominately seniors, our team and I are fully supportive of their needs and offer resources where we can with IT support, access to printing materials, information brochures for senior support groups, open door policy to our onsite Resident Services Center to we meet face to face with site representatives, wellness checks, or just spend time to chat with them and say a friendly hello.

Why do you think people love living at the property? 

Our residents have a great sense of pride in being part of a larger community and feel safe and well-taken care of. Residing at 620 Martin Grove provides our residents with a guaranteed excellence in customer service and a high level of service standards. 

Learn more about life at Martin Grove here. 

Learn more about the importance of affordability here.

Interested in joining the team at Martin Grove or one of other properties in the GTA?  Visit our Careers Page!