 It has been a long few years for MHC residents, who have not been able to engage with the outside world during the pandemic. Thanks to an innovative recreation therapy team and the support of our amazing Winnipeg community through February's Around the World campaign, residents have been able to remain enthusiastic about their physical wellbeing while maintaining positive mental health! Thank you for joining us on this adventure! This year, our #ATW22 focus has been on made-in-Manitoba adventures. Click to read more about some of the exciting activities that have been made possible this month:
Thanks to your support, these dreams will become reality, when it is safe to do so! Because of you and Canadian Tire’s phenomenal matching gift program, so much joy was made possible through the Around the World 2022 campaign. Thank you. We look forward to sharing the real-life adventures with you soon!
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 “Listening to opera makes my heart wake up,” says Edith Almadi. “When I listen, I think of happiness.” The Misericordia Place resident says she never tires of watching TV opera performances and would very much like to go to a live opera performance when it is safe to do so. Edith remembers singing growing up in Budapest. She emigrated to Canada from Hungary when her son four years old. He started kindergarten the same time she began work as a nurse. Although her career was in health care, she never lost her love of music. When the kind folks at Manitoba Underground Opera heard of Edith’s desire to hear a live song they immediately jumped in and offered to do special Zoom performances just for her! Both Katherine Mayba and Sydney Clarke gave incredibly moving solo performances for Edith, who “conducted” her hands to their singing. “So beautiful,” whispered Edith, gently wiping tears of joy from her eyes. When pressed to name her favourite aria, Edith couldn’t decide. “It doesn’t matter the song or the language, the music says the words here,” explained Edith, touching her heart.   At 86 years young, Eapen uses his arm bike every day in his Misericordia Place room for at least 20 minutes every day. “I’m so grateful for the bike,” he says, “I used to walk across my floor to the north side, but with (COVID) restrictions in place I can only walk on the south side for now.” If Eapen could visit anywhere in Manitoba, he dreams of heading to his favourite East Indian restaurant: Southern Spices on St. Mary’s Road in Winnipeg – with his wife of 53 years, Marykutty, who also happens to be an MP resident! For now, thanks to our friends at Southern Spices Restaurant and the ever caring and creative Misericordia Place staff, a special lunch was the perfect way to celebrate this Valentine’s Day. Southern Spices opened their kitchen early today just to make this dream come true for Eapen and Marykutty! And to make the lunch even more magical, a Resident Care Manager who is from the same region of India as our happy couple brought in special Indian dishes from her house to serve the food on. There was an Indian music playlist and Recreation Therapist Kevin played the part of waiter for the meal.   Marie working on her strength with the help of Rael! Can you think of a Winnipegger who hasn’t been to the Forks? Misericordia Place resident Marie can: herself! “I was a country girl and moved to the city to work at the Royal Bank. All these years and I’ve never been to The Forks! I’d like to go,” says Marie. Marie’s interested in checking out the shops, visiting a restaurant and just wandering down to the rivers. She’s biking to get stronger so her walking improves. Recreation facilitator Rael says 84-year-old Marie has more tension on the bike than ANY OTHER resident! Donors to last year's Around the World campaign allowed us to purchase more bikes for residents to use - thank you! Everyone is so excited to continue the momentum and stay active this year. We truly appreciate all your support. - Rael and Marie  Misericordia Place’s resident violist Leonard Carlson, 81, would like nothing better than a night out at the symphony!
Unfortunately, COVID restrictions and personal care home guidelines dictate otherwise. The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s acting principal violist, Elise Lavallee, offered a creative solution until a trip to the symphony is possible: have Leonard join her 90-minute viola Zoom class for mature advanced students aged 70-77! Leonard more than fit right in: playing along with four other students. Bach, Kreisler, Rachmaninov, Glinka and more! Even better, the students all knew Leonard! “Is that Len Carlson?” an on-screen message popped up. Turns out the students had all played in orchestras and string quartets with Leonard and had very fond memories of him as far back as 50 years ago! A Zoom reunion! Music has always been in Leonard’s blood, infused by “musical parents” who immigrated to Canada from Finland. And he’s clearly passed his love of music down to his children, who grew up playing a variety of instruments. Daughter Andrea played piano and harp. His daughter Karen, an Associate Professor of Music at the University of Waterloo, plays the cello and composes. When Karen’s able to visit Winnipeg she brings her cello and plays duets at Misericordia Place with her dad. And son Ian plays the violin. “Dad is a much better player than I am,” says Ian. “The last time we played together he put me to shame.” “My Dad’s timing in music is steady and consistent,” shares Andrea, “An amazing skill he has never lost. He started playing the violin at age six and later switched to viola.” Leonard’s always been interested in dabbling in writing music as well, including writing his high school theme song. Interestingly, Leonard’s younger brother Bruce is an accomplished composer. These days Leonard serenades (indoors!) his fellow Misericordia residents on their birthdays and is frequently found accompanying pianists in activity rooms. |
