Grandparents celebrated with walk, program
Vicki Brooker
Review Staff
Blue skies and a bright September sun shone on multiple generations of local families who set out from the Elk Point Seniors’ Recreation Centre for the annual Grandparents’ Day Walk on Sunday, with Peggy Maas, who will turn 91 in a few weeks, and a large and enthusiastic contingent of family members leading the way.
Back at the Seniors’ Centre, Diana Anderson said it was “wonderful to see how many turned out” for the event, aimed at “celebrating the love of grandparents.” As a grandmother herself, she knows full well that “grandchildren warm our hearts.”
Town Coun. Bernice Capjack brought greetings from the town, and spoke on the “values and traditions handed down by our grandparents. Grandparents in this community give their time to volunteer and hand down their knowledge to younger generations. Respect and cherish every minute your spend with them.”
Anderson noted that each year, the walk supports the seniors’ centre with a donation toward its utilities and Heritage Lodge with financial assistance for the operation of its handi bus. “This year we’re also partnering with Camp Whitney, where they are taking the old cabins out and building dormitories” that will be equipped with washrooms and wheelchair ramps, making the facility usable by those who could not have been accommodated previously, she said, thanking all who gathered financial pledges on behalf of the groups.
Olivia Rose Leaf and three of her cousins, the daughters of Carl Fakely of Red Deer, provided entertainment for the afternoon. Olivia, who is now attending a high school in Edmonton that specializes in the arts, opened the program with “Grandpa,” before handing over the microphone to her tiny cousin Emily, who played two violin solos, accompanied by her sister Kathryn on piano. Kathryn and a third sister, Sofia, later played two violin duets, with Kathryn adding two bass violin solos later in the program and Olivia singing “Ring of Fire,” “Jolene” and an original number, “Daddy’s Little Girl” to round out the program.
Following a refreshment break, Capjack announced the winners of Elk Point Elementary School’s annual Grandparents’ Day contest, noting that it was “difficult to choose the winners. You all did a very good job.” Prizes went to “ Guneet Sandhu, 6A, Maia Harms, 6B, Jessica McQuinn, 5A, Piper Babcock, 5B, Hunter Ramsey, 4A. Sadie Berlinguette, 4B, Aurora Smith, 3A, Ryan Cameron, 3B, Gavin Kadutski, 2B, Summer Swedgan, 1A and Addison Havener, 1B. The youngsters then headed off to take part in a number of games, while Anderson announced the total pledges raised with the walk. The Seniors’ centre will receive $822, the Handi Van $2,007 and Camp Whitney, $1,417 of the total of $4,306.
Prizes went to the youngest walkers, Claire Fakely and an unidentified but handsomely dressed little man, and to the oldest walker, Peggy Maas, who also had the distinction of bringing in the most pledges. Her name was also drawn from a tub containing the names of those contributing or bringing in more than $100 in donations, as the winner of tickets to the Community Choir dinner theatre.
The afternoon concluded with sisters Gabe Bayduza and Rita Bartholomew leading a sing-along of old favourites: “The Happy Wanderer,” “Red River Valley,” “You Are My Sunshine” and “Home on the Range.”
