Riverview residents treated to car show
Monday, July 9, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
Residents at Riverview Manor couldn’t have asked for a nicer day to have their own little car show.

Under a sunny, blue sky, about 25 of the Peterborough long-term care home’s residents gathered in the home’s parking area June 30 to have a look at 13 classic cars and one motorcycle brought in by friends of volunteer Phil “Tiny” Walker.

In his five years as a volunteer at Riverview Manor, Walker has helped with a number of activities, but the car show is his favourite for a personal reason.

A classic car buff, Walker brought in his stylish 1964 Ford Thunderbird to showcase along with the others.

Some of the other cars featured included a 1948 Ford street rod, a 1955 Buick and a 1930 Model A, which struck a chord with 107-year-old resident Margaret Fitzpatrick.

“She wanted a picture of herself standing next to the car,” Walker tells OMNIway.

This is the second year Walker and his buddies have brought their wheels to Riverview Manor. Both years the cars have been a hit with residents, says Walker.

“They love it,” he says. “It was very successful. The weather was gorgeous. We couldn’t have asked for a better day. We have to have it again next year.”

And talk about a great way to get residents chatting and reminiscing.

“I noticed that they were talking to each other,” says Walker, “and there was a lot of talking between the residents and the car owners.”

And what was the hot topic between residents?

“They talked about what their cars were like back then,” says Walker.

Sherry Baldwin, Riverview Manor’s life enrichment co-ordinator, says some of the residents who attended were still talking about the car show on Monday.

“They said they enjoyed it,” says Baldwin. “One of the ladies who is from England (was talking) about how one of the cars brought back memories for her.”