Local
hotel staff treat residents to dinner and concert
Thursday December 4, 2003 Sheri Fiegehen
Considering Glen and Rachelle Laroque have been married for 50 years, going
out on a date should not seem all that unusual – but for this couple,
it is.
For just over a year now, the couple has lived apart. Glen
moved in to Forest Hill just over a year ago, and although his wife volunteers
at the home and makes regular visits, the couple has been unable to share
special times like they used to.
For them, a night out on the town is something meaningful.
The couple was among a group of 16 people from Forest Hill
and Garden Terrace who enjoyed a lovely Christmas dinner and a concert
by the Mills Brothers last week.
What made it even more special for Glen and Rachelle was the
fact that they had seen the Mills Brothers together before – 51
years ago, when they were courting.
“We saw them when we were dating, back in Montreal. Oh
my gosh, all those songs brought back a lot of memories,” says Rachelle.
The entire event was compliments of the local Holiday Inn Select/Comfort
Inn, explains Carolyn Della Foresta, life enrichment co-ordinator at Forest
Hill. The hotel’s administrators came forward and offered to put
on a lavish dinner at Forest Hill, and they donated the tickets for the
concert, which took place at Centrepoint Theatre in Nepean.
“They set up a buffet fit for a king,” says Carolyn,
adding that the dinner was prepared by the hotel restaurant’s head
chef. “It was just like in a banquet hall – it was stunning.”
The hotel staff also took a warm, family-like approach to the
event, as a group of managers and their children joined the residents
at their tables for the meal.
“And then, Santa appeared with Christmas presents for
everyone. He brought each person a Christmas ball with a suction cup so
they could stick them on their windows,” says Carolyn.
Jeff Bedley, life enrichment co-ordinator for Garden Terrace,
was just as enthusiastic about the hotel’s initiative. “It
was exceptional. It was so generous of the hotel to do that, to brighten
the lives of the residents.”
Although Jeff did not go to the concert with the group, he
witnessed first-hand how much the residents enjoyed it. “I was here
when they returned, and they came back with big smiles on their faces.
It was just exceptional – I can’t say enough about it.”
As for Rachelle and Glen, they’ve had the opportunity
to create another wonderful memory together, an evening they’ll
never forget.
“It was a fantastic evening – we were treated like
kings and queens,” sighs Rachelle.
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