Hillcrest celebrate Seniors ' Week in style

They have stories to tell, wisdom to share, and volunteer hours to give. They are Barrhead’s seniors, and last week was all theirs.

Alberta celebrated Seniors Week June 3-9, and Hillcrest had a fully packed schedule for the occasion which officially kicked off last Tuesday.

A group from Hillcrest traveled to Pots n Pansies Greenhouse June 4, where seniors enjoy refreshments in the garden atmosphere and trade stories about their own gardening experiences. The trip has been part of the week’s festivities for the past several years running,

The Strawberry Tea took place Wednesday afternoon, where between 60 and 70 people headed down to the Hillcrest dining area for the event. Seniors were served tea or coffee, and collected a piece of strawberry shortcake and fresh fruit.

An addition to the tea this year was a delicious chocolate fountain, in which seniors with a sweet tooth could dip their fresh fruit. Oswald said many folks had never had a chocolate fountain before, so the delightful treat was something new.

“We try to bring something new every time. We like to do something different,” said Oswald. “You’re really not finished living until you’re gone from this earth, so you may as well live and have fun.”

Thursday a small group made a trip to the Barrhead Centennial Museum, where they had the opportunity not only to tour Barrhead’s history, but their own.

As they wandered through the various exhibits, many of the donation names were once familiar faces to the Hillcrest residents. Fond memories flooded back, and often had group members laughing with delight.

“Again, reliving those stories about what this was used for, what they did for that. A lot of that sharing is really good,” said Oswald. “It’s interesting because they have lived through the homestead years, then the television, then the party line, to cell phones and to computers. Horse and buggy to electricity. They really have lived it all.”

On Thursday’s perfect, clear skied evening, a large group of seniors sat themselves in a seat at a table outside on the Hillcrest property. They ate wieners roasted over an open campfire, sipped iced tea, and awaited the entertainment that was soon to come.

When 6:30 rolled around, the live band took centre patio stage. Hazel Ernst skillfully banged away on the keyboard with ease, while the talented Walker Falk and Joe MacIsaac serenaded the crowd with their guitars.

Classics songs such as The Church in the Wildwood and Mexicali Rose floated through the air, many singing and bopping along.

“We’ve had a wiener roast, but we’ve never had a campfire sing-along,” said Oswald. “It’s something that we thought we’d try.”

An enjoyable atmosphere sprouted from the musical evening, and with the positive feedback Oswald said the band will most likely return in the future.

The week ended with a special celebration on Sunday: Hillcrest’s annual 90+ birthday party. This year the 90+ club welcomed 13 new members. Even more exciting is the fact 36 members from the original 1999 90+ club are still living within the facility.

“It is amazing. It’s really wonderful,” said Oswald. “What better way to celebrate than during seniors week?”

Though the week may be officially over, Hillcrest has one more event happening this Friday they weren’t able to squeeze into last week’s activities. On June 14 seniors will be putting on their dancing shoes for a spring dance.

“This is really about living. Not waiting for things to happen, but making opportunities work for them,” said Oswald. “Creating opportunities for them to participate in, that’s what it’s all about.”

The nice thing about the activities during Seniors’ Week, said Oswald, is they are able to pick and choose what events they attend. Though they can participate in what they wish, there were some seniors who took advantage of all the week had to offer.

“I did have several of the people attend all of the events. Those are the ones who are living life to the fullest,” laughed Oswald. “That’s what it’s all about, and to share with other people what their life was like.”

In her 20 years at Hillcrest and helping organize Seniors’ Week, Oswald said she sees first hand the importance of the role seniors play in the community. They are an inspiration to the generations after them, and have a vast number of resources and knowledge they are willing to share.

“Lots of people can benefit from what seniors have done,” said Oswald. “The stories in this building are unbelievable. The hardships and the perseverance.”

And that’s what Seniors’ Week is all about, celebrating a group of individuals who have done it all and are willing to share and pass on all that they know.

“I know it’s a busy week, but it’s a week where we recognize all that they’ve done,” said Oswald. “It’s the week for them. We celebrate them. We do things with them, for them.”