Extendicare St. Catharines gears up for Olympics
Torch visit, upcoming games spark Olympic spirit at home
Tuesday January 26, 2010 -- Jennifer Higgs
Extendicare St. Catharines staff and residents are excited for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games with plans for its own events to coincide with the ones in Vancouver.

Igniting some of the excitement was having a resident’s son, who was one of the torchbearers in the Olympic torch relay celebrations, bring his torch to the long-term care home Dec. 21, 2009. Residents, staff members and family members had the opportunity to see the torch and take photos.

Resident Kevin Talsma and his mother Pauline with the Olympic torch.

“The (residents) loved it (and) our staff loved it, too. They called their kids at home (and) their kids came in and got a picture with the torch and staff members were holding the torch and it was a great day,” says administrator Jane Freeman.

The home has a Canadian flag with photos of residents and staff around it and a “Go Canada” statement to support the 2010 Olympic athletes.

The home is making plans for its own Olympic games, including opening ceremonies Feb. 12 to correspond with the opening day in Vancouver, says resident program manager Jeannette Beauregard.

She says they are planning to have six teams throughout the home that will each represent a country, including a team of management staff, a team of other staff members and four resident teams, which will each have a staff member captain.

Teams will participate in six games: air hockey, Wii ski jumping, Wii figure skating, speed skating, downhill skiing and curling. For speed skating, downhill skiing and curling the home created board games.

“I think (the residents) are excited,” says Beauregard.

Some of the benefits from the home having its own Olympic celebrations include the opportunity for residents to be social, to connect with an event going on outside the home and the male residents like the idea of the sports, notes Beauregard.

For the home’s closing ceremony Feb. 28 students from Power Glen Public School will visit and sing the national anthem.

If you have feedback on this article, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, or e-mail jennifer(at)axiomnews.