Georgian College student Katie Elliot hosts the roulette table during Leacock Care Centre’s recent Casino Royale night.
Casino Royale night the latest event organized through home-college partnership
Residents and students benefitting from fun events
Friday January 15, 2010 -- Deron Hamel
A Casino Royale night is the latest chapter in a valuable partnership between Leacock Care Centre in Orillia and the therapeutic recreation program at Georgian College.

Donning tuxedos and fancy dresses, about 12 students from the program were on-hand to host the game night, named after the 2006 James Bond movie of the same title, which was held in the home’s activity room.

Students hosted the tables where games, including roulette, bingo and trivia, were set up. Each game table followed the theme of a European country.

Residents, who were also dressed up in their finest clothes, were given betting chips to play the games. The objective was to accumulate as many chips as possible.

As part of the program’s requirements, students enrolled in the college program must plan events in the community.

The home has “been fortunate to be the recipient of quite a few of their activities,” says Lois Blais, the Jarlette Health Services-owned home’s volunteer services co-ordinator.

Blais says the partnership is a win-win for residents and students.

“First of all, it’s exciting for the residents, it’s something unusual for them, and the residents are also helping the students as part of their coursework,” says Blais.

“In return, the students get the benefit of working with the resident population.”

Vivien Marrette, one of the residents participating in the event, says she enjoys going to casinos, adding the effort put forth by the students provided a realistic atmosphere that was reminiscent of casinos she’s visited.

“I really loved it and I came away with the feeling that I had been to a casino — that’s how it felt,” she says, adding she commends the work the students did to make the evening a success.

“It was really wonderful.”

Life enrichment co-ordinator Debbie Allen notes that residents “did not want the evening to end.”

“It was the best event of the year,” she says.

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