Edmonton, AB – October 29, 2026 – Optima Living and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) are pleased to announce a new partnership designed to provide NAIT students with practical experience in seniors living while supporting Optima Living’s commitment to being the best place to live and work for our residents and teams.
Through NAIT’s JR Shaw School of Business, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Technology, Bachelor of Business Administration, Business Administration diploma, and Culinary Arts diploma programs will have opportunities to engage in co-op placements, capstone projects, and applied research within Optima Living communities.
Seniors living draws on a wide range of disciplines, from hospitality and culinary services to business, technology, and community operations. Through placements, projects, and applied research, NAIT students will put their classroom learning into practice while contributing to the services and experiences that shape residents’ daily lives.
The partnership will also support Optima Living’s commitment to hospitality excellence, introducing NAIT’s Culinary Arts students to the benefits and joys of working in seniors living early in their careers.
“Seniors living is ultimately about people and relationships,” said Angela Grottoli, Chief Operating Officer at Optima Living. “This partnership gives students the chance to see firsthand the difference they can make, whether working directly with residents in our communities or alongside teams in our support offices. We’re excited to welcome students to Optima Living and help them discover the many ways they can contribute to the lives of older adults.”
A Shared Vision for Vibrant Communities
Optima Living is driven by the belief that a home is more than just a place—it’s a feeling. As Canada’s seventh-largest seniors living operator, Optima strives to create vibrant, supportive communities where seniors can live with purpose, dignity, and joy. Joining forces with NAIT is a natural partnership, inspired by a shared vision for creating meaningful careers and vibrant communities.
“Alberta’s seniors living sector offers a wide range of career opportunities, and this collaboration helps connect students to that growing demand,” said Dennis Sheppard, Dean, JR Shaw School of Business, NAIT. “This opportunity allows students to apply their learning, build professional networks and gain valuable industry experience. We’re excited to work with Optima Living to create opportunities for students, while supporting the evolving needs of seniors.”
The partnership was announced at this year’s Basecamp, one of Optima Living’s annual gatherings for leaders, held October 26–27 at Rogers Place in Edmonton. It will begin taking shape as early as January 2027 through co-op placements and capstone projects, with additional opportunities expected to follow as the collaboration grows.
About Optima Living
Founded in 2007 by two friends inspired by a love for seniors and their families’ dementia journeys, Optima Living was created to offer a more home-like experience in seniors housing and care. What began as a personal mission has grown into Canada’s seventh-largest seniors living and continuing care provider, offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, Supportive Living, Long-Term Care, Brain Health and Memory Care, including Optima’s proprietary brain health and care model: Spark, With You in Mind.
Today, Optima Living is the only Top 10 Canadian seniors living and care provider focused exclusively on Western Canada, serving more than 6,000 residents across Alberta and British Columbia with more than 6,200 suites under management, and was named one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies in 2025 and 2026 by The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine. Guided by our North Star, Let us welcome you home™, we are committed to People, Place, and Community. With a resident-first philosophy, deep community ties, and a focus on innovation, we are shaping a future defined by integrity, dignity, and empathy.
Contact:
Katie Matthews
Director, Communications
Optima Living
T: (236) 988-5883 | E: katie.matthews@optimaliving.ca
Veronica Jubinville
NAIT Media Relations
media@nait.ca
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