Southbrook Retirement Residence
The Village of Erin Meadows
Description
At Southbrook Retirement Residence, we are a warm, close-knit community where people truly feel at home. We offer a variety of comfortable accommodations, along with independent living and assisted living services designed to make daily life easier and more enjoyable. Residents enjoy home-style dining, meaningful social and recreational programs, and care that is personalized and inclusive.
Set on four acres of beautiful gardens and walking paths, Southbrook is nestled in a quiet residential neighbourhood in Brampton. We are a well-established and trusted retirement community, known for our welcoming atmosphere, long-standing staff, and strong sense of family. At Southbrook, relationships matter, and everything we do is centered on helping residents feel supported, connected, and at home.
Be a part of our family
Our Village is a proud part of a Canadian family tradition of community building that goes back 70 years. The first Schlegel family home became the foundation of what Schlegel Villages is today. Here at The Village of Erin Meadows, we offer several lifestyle options to meet a variety of needs. Our continuum of care allows for residents to age with us in place as their needs change. The residents we serve come from a range of backgrounds that thread together the fabric of our community, and while we know resident-centredness is a term that many lean on these days, we truly do focus on each individual’s wishes to guide our approach to service.
Our Signature Programs help us focus on the individuality of each resident we serve. Our LIVING in My Today dementia care philosophy, for example, was developed by our team and our partners alongside people with lived experience. This provides our team the opportunity to learn exactly what it means to support a person who is experiencing the changing perceptions of dementia. We also celebrate the Wisdom of the Elder as another Signature Program, thanks to the inspiration of our founder Ron Schlegel. Ron once said: “The greatest untapped resource in Canada, if not the world, is the collective wisdom of our elders,” and we honour the individual and collective wisdom of those we serve in ways large and small.
What do you do differently or uniquely well?
What do you do differently or uniquely well?
Southbrook is designed to be a smaller, close-knit community, allowing us to offer something truly special. A warm, cozy environment where everyone knows one another. From the moment residents arrive, they are welcomed into a setting that feels comfortable, familiar, and easy to settle into. Our size makes it simple to build friendships, stay connected, and feel a genuine sense of belonging.
Many residents choose Southbrook because it doesn’t feel overwhelming or impersonal and it feels like home. Relationships form very naturally here, and many of our residents come to us through word of mouth, often because a parent, relative, neighbour, or fellow church member previously lived here and shared their positive experience.
The Village concept that sets us apart was always meant to create a living space for seniors that feels like a small town. In many ways this is similar to the experience our founder, Ron Schlegel, had growing up in Ailsa Craig outside of London, Ont. Our Main Street connects to the Town Square as the social spine of the Village. Together these spaces allow for indoor and accessible options for residents to live life as they always have. Ron also envisioned the Village as community hubs for seniors and others from the surrounding community. His vision was to connect the Village to the broader community to enhance the lives of residents as well as support those living outside the Village.
What supports do you offer residents as they adjust to life there?
What supports do you offer residents as they adjust to life there?
Moving in is easy at Southbrook. As a two-storey building, an elevator is not required to move in your belongings, making the process simple and efficient. We are happy to communicate directly with your moving company to orient them to our community and help ensure a smooth, stress-free move. We welcome move-ins seven days a week, offering flexibility for furniture delivery.
Each resident who calls the Village home, comes with a unique life story. By completing our My Experience (ME) Form, you help us better understand your life, experiences, values and preferences. In order to support you to live well within our village, we need to begin by hearing your story. Your dedicated Village Experience Coordinator helps guide you through this paperwork and helps make the move-in experience as smooth as possible. Our resident Welcoming Committee strives to help their new neighbours feel welcomed and connected.
How are residents supported if their needs change?
How are residents supported if their needs change?
At Southbrook, we offer Independent Living as well as Assisted Living. Residents find comfort in knowing that should their needs progress, there is additional help available for them. Our suites are typically the same layout in Assisted Living as they are in Independent Living, making transitions feel seamless.
Our full continuum of care allows residents to remain within one familiar community as their needs evolve. This includes independent living, retirement living apartments, assisted care, memory care, and long-term care, all connected within the Village. As care needs increase, residents continue to experience the familiarity, relationships, routines, and sense of belonging that make our Village feel like home.
Under what conditions would you advise someone against choosing your community?
Under what conditions would you advise someone against choosing your community?
Southbrook may not be the right fit for everyone, and we believe it’s important to be transparent so families can make the best decision for their loved one. We are not a large, luxury-style residence with amenities such as a swimming pool or grand chandeliers. Instead, Southbrook is best suited for individuals who value warmth, familiarity, and a true sense of home over upscale features.
As we are not a Long-Term Care facility, there are limits to the level of care we can provide. We are unable to accommodate individuals who require Hoyer lifts or two-person transfers. While we do support residents with some cognitive impairment, we do not have a fully secured dementia unit.
Erin Meadows may not be the right fit for someone looking for a very private or independent lifestyle without much connection to others. Life in the Village is designed to feel like a small town, where relationships, shared spaces, and daily interaction are part of the experience. Residents should also be comfortable living in a community where fellow neighbours have a variety of different care needs. We are a full continuum of care Village and we strive to make it a place where everyone belongs. We’re best suited for people who want to be part of a community—to know their neighbours, to be known by name, and to live in a place where connection and belonging are part of everyday life.
What might residents find surprising about your community?
What might residents find surprising about your community?
Many residents are pleasantly surprised by the depth of care and connection at Southbrook. While our community may appear small, people quickly discover a highly experienced and dedicated team, including staff who have been with us for over 30 years, creating continuity, trust, and familiarity. Residents are also often surprised to learn that we have two doctors on site, providing added peace of mind. In our Assisted Living program, care is all-inclusive, which simplifies daily life and reduces unexpected costs. Often described as a “hidden gem” in Brampton, Southbrook exceeds expectations by offering deep connections, consistency and compassionate care.
New residents often say “I wish I had done this sooner!” They’re surprised by how quickly they become absorbed in the community and how fast new friendships develop. In no time at all, everybody knows their name and like in any small town, a walk down Main Street is an opportunity to connect with friends and new acquaintances. People are also surprised by opportunities offered to grow and learn in their new community. They find new passions like hosting a podcast, riding a mechanical bull, becoming an artist or fulfilling a lifelong dream of skydiving. As they say, the possibilities are endless.
How will your community change in the next five years?
How will your community change in the next five years?
Over the next five years, our goal is to continue strengthening the sense of community that residents already value here. We will keep building on the welcoming, family-like atmosphere that defines Southbrook while enhancing programs, services, and daily opportunities for connection. Our focus is to ensure residents continue to enjoy comfortable living, meaningful relationships, and the confidence that support is always close at hand.
We will continue to build on the Village concept that defines life at Erin Meadows. That means deepening our connections within the broader community, expanding opportunities for learning, creativity, and engagement, and continuing to listen to residents’ stories through tools like our ME Form. We will also strive to evolve our care and service offerings given the changing needs of our residents. The Village will keep evolving as a place where people can live fully and receive the support they need while staying connected, and continue to discover new passions, just as they would in any vibrant small town.
What five facts about your community should people know?
What five facts about your community should people know?
• Southbrook is located in Brampton, Ontario, in a quiet residential neighbourhood.
• We’re surrounded by more than four acres of green space, gardens, patios, and outdoor areas for residents to enjoy.
• We offer both independent living and assisted living options, with care customized to residents’ needs.
• Residents enjoy social events, activities, and shared spaces that make it easy to meet neighbours and build friendships.
• Southbrook is known for its close-knit, welcoming atmosphere where residents and staff feel like family.
Ask us about our:
Ruby Restaurant: Schlegel Village’s hidden gem
#ElderWisdom: Stories from the Green Bench Podcast
Program for Active Living
Riverstone Spa
Signature Programs
Independent Living
Assisted Living
Apartments
Dementia & Memory Care
