Recreation team

Kathleen O’Connor, Kira Godin, Patty Evans, Michelle Noyes-Sunstrum, Tammy Bourdon

Villa Marie has a small but mighty recreation team. Each member of the team brings their own strengths and experiences: Kathleen – dementia care, Patty – yoga, Michelle – dance and Kira – French. The team offers a huge variety of programs that are consistently well attended.

The recreation team’s many programs are a direct result of resident requests. Residents ask for activities like a book club, a ladies’ group, bus outings and gardening. As a result of offering being things they ask for, there is a lot of resident enthusiasm, engagement and participation. The team encourages resident participation by having fun, laughing together and including those who are hard of hearing or who are living with dementia.

 In October 2025, the recreation team got the residents involved in the Motiview Road Worlds for Seniors Championships. With residents cycling 1,178.9 kilometres, Villa Marie was first in Covenant Care, second in Canada and fifty-fourth in the world. Thirteen countries participated with 7,802 cyclists who cycled 290,643 kilometres.

 The recreation team has good relationships with various entertainers, the elementary school down the block, various civic groups and churches, particularly Sacred Heart parish. Sacred Heart parish volunteers host a weekly communion service, and they visit residents on a weekly basis offering prayers for those who wish.

 To promote upcoming events and activities, the team produces three recreation calendars monthly. White boards in a variety of locations show the daily recreation schedule. The recreation team communicates with health care aides to ensure residents who wish to participate are ready to go.