02/21/2026
GEM Health Care is built on people, people with different backgrounds, cultures, stories, and paths that brought them here. Those differences help us learn from one another and create places where everyone feels welcome. This month, we’re sharing one of those stories through Sandeep Kaur from Melville Gardens.
Sandeep Kaur has been part of the Melville Gardens team for two years, working as a Recreation Programmer. She was born in Haryana, India, and raised in a Punjabi Sikh family before moving to Canada in 2021 to study Fitness and Health Promotion.
Sandeep discovered the field of recreation during a placement at a long-term care home while she was still a student. Until then, she hadn’t realized recreation was a career path. By her second internship, she knew it was the right fit. What stood out to her was the opportunity to create meaningful programs, adapt activities, and build genuine connections with residents.
Since joining GEM Health Care, Sandeep has continued to grow in her role, developing leadership skills, learning on the job, and maintaining a strong sense of professionalism. One of her proudest accomplishments is building a career in recreation in Canada and seeing residents engaged in programs shaped by their feedback.
Sandeep’s cultural background plays an important role in how she approaches her work. Values like respect, kindness, integrity, and giving back to the community guide how she interacts with residents and colleagues, and how she creates inclusive programs. She enjoys sharing food, talking about cultural festivals, and learning about other cultures with her team, helping create a welcoming workplace.
Outside of work, Sandeep enjoys spending time with family, watching movies, listening to music and podcasts, exploring new places, and going for walks. One of her favourite memories at GEM was helping plan and lead Resident Week, where creative themes and strong teamwork led to strong resident engagement.
What Sandeep enjoys most about her role is creating monthly calendars and leading programs across all wellness areas, especially seated yoga and exercise. She also values the respectful and supportive team environment at Melville Gardens, where she feels comfortable sharing ideas and being herself. Looking ahead, Sandeep plans to pursue further education in the healthcare field while continuing her career in recreation.
Her advice for anyone starting out in the field is simple, enjoy what you do, be open to feedback, and remember that recreation is about creating meaningful experiences and connections.
Thank you, Sandeep, for your dedication to care and for enriching our Melville Gardens community!
