PrimeTime Magazine PrimeTime Spring 2019 | Page 12

cont... from page 10
Musical Volunteers Bring Joy to
Others and to Themselves
Margaret Patricia Eaton
age 95, says Activity Director,
Gaetan Lepage. He’s worked
with veterans since completing
a degree in recreation at
l’Université de Moncton 27
years ago, first at Dr. Georges
Dumont Hospital and since
2002 in the cheerful facility on
War Veteran’s Avenue.
and realize they are very lucky
to be here. At 19 or 20 years
old, falling in a parachute and
landing in the dark with soldiers
shooting at you — it’s got to
be scary.”
But in spite of what they’ve
lived through, “this is a very
stable group of veterans” who
“These are my friends,” he says. enjoy the activities, especially
“They are admirable people and the music events Lepage
organizes with a dozen different
I learn a lot from the way they
volunteer groups. “Music
live and they way they act, so
touches them” he says. “They
it’s a rewarding job. You hear
seem happy most of the time,
all kinds of stories from them
but even if someone is not
in the greatest of moods,
the music puts them in a
good mood and it has lots of
benefits. It’s been proven to
be good for people mentally,
112 Murphy Ave.
it brings them back in time,
it’s soothing and comforting.”
Mature Adult
Although Vera Lynn’s “We’ll
Community
Meet Again” elicited a few
Communauté
tears, he says it’s common for
adulte mature
songs to trigger emotions and
that’s also helpful.
Services Included:
• On-site staff Services Inclus:
• Employée sur-site
Features Included:
• Library
• Common areas/
Game rooms
• Sunrooms
• Indoor parking garage
• Laundry facilities
• Elevator
• In-Suite storage space
• Social committee
• Dance hall Aménagements inclus:
• Bibliothèque
• Espaces communs
• Solariums
• Ascenseurs
• Stationnement intérieur
• Salles de buanderie
• Entrepôt personnel
dans chaque unité
• Comité sociale
• Salle de danse
Contact us/Contactez-nous:
Building Manager /Gérant de la résidence: 506.381.3165
Leasing Agent /Agent de location: 506.855.4663 ex 1
12
PrimeTime SPRING/PRINTEMPS 2019
“Gary and his friends are just
a great fun bunch of guys.
They like to come in and
tease each other and the vets
really appreciate the variety
of music they play,” he says.
Their repertoire includes
country, pop standards from
the 40’s through the 60’s, and
depending on the audience,
country rock and rock ‘n’ roll.
“The vets are always smiling,”
says Wedge, “and they show
such appreciation and the ones
who can, relate to the old, old
songs we do, and they sing
along with us. The vets did so
much for our country and we feel
we owe them.”
The group, all volunteers and
retired, is fluid and for any
given performance range from
five to fourteen. They cover
seven seniors’ homes, playing
two to three times a week,
each taking turns with vocal
solos and accompaniment,
with Wedge scheduling them.
Most have never played
professionally, “I just plucked
the guitar and played at
parties with my dad,” he says,
“but Claude LeBlanc was
professional and played with
a lot of different groups. Now
he’s having fun and
helping us out.”
“My best explanation for
getting started,” he says when
asked, “is everyone loves music
and can relate to it, so I thought
maybe it was a good idea to go
and entertain seniors since they
are confined and don’t get out
much and they really enjoy the
music. We get a lot of benefits
from the smiles on their
faces and that is our
biggest payoff.”