I found a pamphlet beside the “Make a Wish” Box. Remembering that growing up, my sisters and I always went to Friday night dances but my sister Karen never had the opportunity to go, and knowing about her love for country and western music, I put in a wish for a country themed Friday night dance. Wow!! You and the staff exceeded our expectations as was clearly evident by the huge smile on Karen’s face. She never sat down once and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Thank you to you, all the staff and all the residents that help bring Karen’s wish to life.
Julie Giasson – Sister of Karen

The Wishes and Dreams program was launched in November 2017 and our first wish came in just before Christmas in December 2017. It was a request from Karen’s sister Julie for a Friday night dance party for Karen with all her new friends at Crown Ridge Place. Julie explained to me that she and her family were so thrilled with how well Karen had settled into her new home and wanted to celebrate with all her new friends. What a fantastic request that everyone would enjoy and could be involved in: residents, family members and staff. We planned to hold this on a beautiful evening at the end of May. I asked Julie to make up a list of all of Karen’s favourite songs and we had Jen (Life Enrichment Aides) be the DJ for the night. What a fun time! Karen and her family, and lots of staff came in to dance and brought their children and we all danced up a storm! Karen danced and had a smile on her face the whole time and it was tough to shut the party down at the end of the night! I later came to learn that this night was even more special to Julie because growing up she would go to Friday night dances with her sisters, but Karen was never able to go. So now Julie has finally had the opportunity to attend a Friday night dance with Karen. And we have found a new tradition!
Katherine Burns – Life Enrichment Coordinator, Crown Ridge Place