From Barbie to Bingo: March Moments at Spencer House

March at Spencer House kept us on our toes! Some days were quiet, others were packed wall-to-wall with friends and laughter. Between the classic East Coast weather (sun, snow, rain, and fog—all in one day!), special events, regular programs, and even a film shoot, no two days were the same. There was always something new, and always someone to share it with.

Lets start with the Barbie Party. What began as a simple “Hey, let’s watch the Barbie movie” turned into a full-blown pink parade. Members and staff decked themselves out in pink (some even dressed as characters), we served pink treats and laughed like teenagers at a sleepover. It was pure joy, childlike fun! Rumour has it you can still find the pink pom poms in Alli and Brittany’s office!

The St. Patrick’s Day Dance was another highlight. With staff unexpectedly out, our volunteer Adrianna and new staff Mwamini really came to save the day. They killed it by planning games, posters, and even a dance-off that had the whole room cheering. Between them and Rob Carr on the music, the event was a smash! Shoutout to our dancing queens, Sana and Claire who tied the dance off.

Wellness Wednesdays really took off this month. Dalhousie’s Dental Hygiene team gave us tips and clean smiles, and friend of the centre Rob Carr returned with a self-defence session. One particularly unique event was our Women’s History Month sharing circle. Members opened up about their lives, struggles, accomplishments, dreams and hard-earned wisdom. The wisdom shared will undoubtedly live on for generations as we had younger women from the community who attended to learn from what they had to share!

We were fortunate to host Concerts in Care Atlantic, which proved once again that music heals. Larry Bjornson, Shimon Walt, and John Ebata played country music that had everyone moving. TD Insurance hosted one of our best-ever Music Bingo sessions. We really danced our way out of winter!

We had some visitors, such as Joanne Thompson, in one of her last visits in her role as the federal Minister of Seniors. Stephanie from the CRA Volunteer Program came all the way from New Brunswick to run a tax clinic that was well appreciated! There were some funny moments like when staff managed to revive a broken-down scooter. Special thanks to Nicole from Parkwood who stopped by numerous times over the month to lend a helping hand!

And of course, March had great food. Our volunteer Kathy’s fish cakes made a triumphant return. RBC joined us for pancake day where they served more flapjacks than we could count! Paige is really making a name for herself in the kitchen with her pot pie and African peanut soup.

This winter wasn’t always easy. One of the hardest realities of a community of older adults is that with age comes loss. No matter how much joy and laughter we share, it still hurts to lose a friend. Over the past few months, we’ve said goodbye to some members who were true pillars of our community. While our centre is never empty, we can’t help but feel the absence of those we’ve lost. In times like these, we’re reminded how lucky we are to have each other. It was through that connection, care, and shared strength that we got through. To every member who’s offered a hug, been a shoulder to cry on, shared a story, or even brought out an old photo—thank you. It’s during the hard times that the strength of our community shines the brightest.

As spring begins to bloom, so does the energy at Spencer House. With longer days and brighter skies, we’re ready for more laughter, new connections, and joyful moments. Here’s to everything this colourful community will grow together