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Multicultural event showcases diversity and generosity of care partners at PWL Stettler

September 5th, 2019

Employee care partners at Points West Living Stettler hail from all around the globe. During a recent multicultural event, they shared their traditions, dress, dances, songs, food, and families with residents. The result was a colourful, joyful and memorable afternoon for all.

Philippines, Nepal, Cuba, Pakistan, India...

The event began with the introduction of each country and its representative employee care partners in traditional dress. The countries represented included Philippines, Nepal, Cuba, Pakistan, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, South Africa, the Netherlands, and Canada (represented by HCA Denise Johnston with red cowboy hat and a Canadian flag).

The program went on to include a number of traditional songs, and group dances including: Tinikling, danced over moving poles; Cariñosa, a romantic courting dance with fans and handkerchiefs; Bulaklakan, a flower dance; and, the more recent Mamang Sorbetero, a dance created in the late 1970s around the popular Filipino pop song about the appeal of the ice cream seller.

The ice cream seller

This was followed by the ringing of bells signaling the arrival of a Filipino ice cream ‘cart’. Right on cue, the care partners’ children, who until that point had been sitting watching the program, jumped up and swarmed the ice cream seller, proffering coins to receive their ice cream cones.

“Each presentation was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience of residents and care partners,” says Recreation Therapist, Lisa Smith.

Food to stay for

Up next was the food, a wide spread of traditional dishes, prepared by employee care partners to be shared with residents. “Most residents stayed for the food,” says Lisa. “They were very excited by the selection and the variety, and loved trying all sorts of foods and flavours. One of our Dutch ladies was thrilled with the traditional Christmas cookies from her homeland baked by allied health care partner Melinda Kent.”

Love and joy

The event, spearheaded by Health Care Aide Vanessa Garcia, was a great success. “It created an environment of love and friendship,” says Lisa, “especially with the joy of the children’s laughter. Residents were excited to share stories of their own culture, and their memories of how they celebrated it in their homes. Lots of joy surfaced from this creative event.”

Photo: Employee Care Partners, (from left) Maryna Norman, Leizel Calaoagan, and Alka Maharjan dance the Filipino Bulaklakan flower dance for residents at the August 21 Multicultural Day at PWL Stettler.

More photos at Flickr: Multicultural event showcases diversity and generosity of care partners at PWL Stettler