KITCHENER, Ontario — The Canadian seniors’ care community is mourning the death of Ron Schlegel, the founder of Schlegel Villages and a longtime advocate for older adults, community building and meaningful aging.
Schlegel died peacefully on Saturday, September 19, 2026, according to an announcement from Schlegel Villages. His death was also confirmed by the Ontario Long Term Care Association, which described him as a visionary leader in seniors’ care whose work changed the way aging and senior living communities were approached.
For decades, Schlegel combined business, research, philanthropy and community service in an effort to improve the lives of older adults. His influence extended well beyond the organization that bears his family’s name, reaching research institutions, health-care initiatives and communities across Ontario.
He leaves behind his wife, Barb, and his three sons, Rob, Brad and Jamie, along with their families and a much larger community of colleagues, residents, researchers, friends and people whose lives were touched by his work.
Ron Schlegel Dies at 80-Plus
Ron Schlegel died peacefully on September 19, 2026, after a life devoted to community building and improving the experience of aging.
Schlegel Villages described him as a colleague, mentor, friend and source of inspiration to countless people.
The organization noted that Schlegel had chosen to live at The Village of Winston Park in Kitchener, the first Village that helped establish the organization as it exists today. Even after stepping into his own later years, he continued visiting with residents and team members, asking questions and taking an interest in their experiences.
His approach reflected a central philosophy that shaped his career: older adults should not be separated from community life but should remain active participants within it.
The Founder of Schlegel Villages
Ron Schlegel founded what became Schlegel Villages after years of involvement in seniors’ care and a family tradition that began with his father.
His father, Wilfred Schlegel, purchased a nursing home in London, Ontario, in 1953. Ron was exposed to elder care from childhood and later expanded that family legacy into a broader vision for senior living.
In the early 1990s, Ron opened the first Schlegel Village in Kitchener.
The concept was different from a conventional long-term-care facility.
Instead of treating seniors’ care as an isolated institution, Schlegel envisioned a community modeled partly on the small Ontario towns where he had grown up. The Villages incorporated features such as a Main Street, Town Square, cafés, gathering spaces and recreational areas designed to encourage social interaction.
That vision eventually expanded into a network of Villages serving older adults across Ontario.
A Different Vision for Aging
One of Schlegel’s central beliefs was that aging should not mean losing one’s sense of purpose or connection.
The Schlegel Villages model was designed around relationships, community participation and the idea that residents should continue to have opportunities to learn, contribute and pursue meaningful interests.
The organization’s stated vision is for people to live in a Village where they can find purpose, pursue passions, develop relationships, learn and grow, and contribute to their community.
That philosophy became one of the defining elements of Ron Schlegel’s professional legacy.
He wanted senior living to feel less like an institution and more like a genuine neighbourhood.
Ron Schlegel’s Agricultural Roots
Before becoming widely known for his work in seniors’ care, Schlegel developed a strong connection to farming.
He grew up around Ailsa Craig, near London, Ontario, and operated farms and a straw-baling business while pursuing his education.
According to Schlegel Villages, he continued his agricultural activities while completing undergraduate and graduate studies, including a master’s degree and doctorate.
Those experiences helped shape the practical and entrepreneurial approach that would later characterize his business career.
His interests eventually extended well beyond agriculture.
A Diverse Business and Research Career
Schlegel’s professional interests expanded into several areas.
His ventures included:
- Schlegel Urban Development
- Schlegel Poultry
- Homewood Health
- Seniors’ living through Schlegel Villages
- Research into aging and health through the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging
Schlegel Poultry eventually became Canada’s largest turkey producer, while his work in mental-health and addiction care connected him with Homewood Health.
His interest in research also became an important part of his legacy.
Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging
Ron Schlegel was a major supporter and founder of the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, commonly known as the RIA.
The institute focuses on improving aging and senior care through research and innovation.
Schlegel’s interest in research reflected his broader belief that senior living should continue evolving rather than simply maintaining existing systems.
His support helped establish a research organization that would examine issues affecting older adults and seek practical ways to improve their quality of life.
His contribution to seniors’ care therefore extended beyond operating retirement and long-term-care communities.
He also invested in research intended to improve the future of aging.
Ron and Barb Schlegel
Ron Schlegel’s work was closely connected to his wife, Barb.
Schlegel Villages has described Barb as an important partner in the family’s broader vision and community-building efforts.
The couple frequently visited Schlegel Villages, spending time with residents and team members.
According to the organization’s tribute, Ron and Barb would visit different Villages, often spending time listening to residents and learning about their experiences.
That personal involvement distinguished Schlegel’s relationship with the organization.
He was not simply the founder whose name appeared on the buildings.
He continued visiting the communities and talking with the people who lived and worked there.
The Green Bench and Elder Wisdom
Another important part of Ron Schlegel’s legacy was his emphasis on learning from older adults.
This philosophy helped inspire the #ElderWisdom campaign and the iconic Green Bench, where conversations between generations became a way of recognizing the knowledge and experiences of older people.
Schlegel believed that older adults possessed valuable wisdom that younger generations could learn from.
That idea became closely connected to the culture of Schlegel Villages and its emphasis on relationships.
A Passion for Community
Although Schlegel built successful businesses, official tributes have emphasized that his interests went beyond business achievement.
His legacy included community projects, philanthropy and efforts to create spaces where people could gather.
Schlegel Villages described his generosity as extending into numerous community initiatives, including parks, sports fields and spaces intended to support people facing difficulties.
His approach to philanthropy was closely connected to his broader belief that strong communities benefit everyone.
Recognition as an Officer of the Order of Canada
Ron Schlegel’s contributions to seniors’ care, research and community development earned national recognition.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s significant honours.
The recognition reflected his contribution to improving the lives of older adults and advancing ideas surrounding aging and senior living.
Despite receiving numerous honours and honorary degrees, Schlegel was described by those around him as someone who remained humble and more interested in conversations with people than in discussing his own achievements.
Remembering Ron Schlegel as a Mentor
One recurring theme in tributes to Schlegel is his curiosity.
He was known for asking questions and taking an interest in people.
Schlegel Villages said he could speak with residents, team members, researchers, visitors and children with the same genuine curiosity.
He wanted to know their stories.
That habit of listening became part of his leadership style.
Rather than simply telling people what to do, he often sought to understand what they were experiencing and what could be improved.
His Final Years at Winston Park
Schlegel’s connection to the first Village he created became particularly meaningful later in life.
As his own health needs changed, he chose to live at The Village of Winston Park in Kitchener.
The organization described this as a fitting continuation of his story because Winston Park was the Village that helped launch the Schlegel Villages model.
There, he continued interacting with residents and staff.
The founder of the organization was ultimately living within the community he had spent decades helping to build.
Family Mourns Ron Schlegel
Ron Schlegel is survived by his wife, Barb, and his three sons, Rob, Brad and Jamie, as well as their families.
For his family, his death represents a deeply personal loss.
For the wider Schlegel Villages organization, it marks the passing of the person who established the vision that became the foundation of the organization.
His influence will also continue through the family members and leaders who remain involved with Schlegel Villages.
Funeral Arrangements
As of the latest official announcements, funeral arrangements had not yet been released publicly.
The Ontario Long Term Care Association said that no funeral details were available when it published its September 21 tribute.
Additional information may be announced by the Schlegel family or funeral service provider.
Ron Schlegel’s Legacy
Ron Schlegel’s legacy extends across several generations.
He inherited a commitment to seniors’ care from his father, transformed that tradition into the Village model, supported research into aging and health, built businesses and invested heavily in communities.
But perhaps the most enduring part of his legacy is the idea that older adults should remain connected to community.
The Village concept was built around familiar neighbourhood features, social interaction and opportunities for residents to maintain meaningful relationships.
That philosophy now continues through the organization he founded.
Final Tribute to Ron Schlegel
Ron Schlegel, founder of Schlegel Villages, died peacefully on September 19, 2026.
He leaves behind his wife Barb, sons Rob, Brad and Jamie, their families, and thousands of people connected to the communities and organizations he helped build.
His career included agriculture, business, seniors’ care, research and philanthropy.
But the central theme throughout his life was community.
He believed in listening to older adults, learning from their experiences and creating environments where people could maintain purpose, connection and belonging.
That vision became Schlegel Villages and influenced the broader conversation about aging in Canada.
Ron Schlegel will be remembered not simply as the founder of an organization, but as a community builder whose curiosity, generosity, hard work and commitment to older adults shaped a lasting legacy.
May his family, friends, colleagues, residents and everyone who knew him find comfort in the memories they shared with him.
Disclaimer: This article is based on official statements from Schlegel Villages and the Ontario Long Term Care Association. Funeral and memorial arrangements had not been publicly announced at the time of writing and may be updated when the family releases further information.