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Spring Fling dance brings back fond memories for Westmount Gardens residents
Music, dancing and themed activities recreate favourite moments from residents' younger years
6/17/2026
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Deron Hamel
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Recently, Cheryl Dwyer says Westmount Gardens residents have been sharing fond memories with her of dance parties they attended when they were younger that featured music, dancing and time spent with friends.
With those memories in mind, Cheryl, one of the London, Ont., long-term care community's life enrichment team members, decided to organize a dance party – dubbed the Spring Fling – to help bring those experiences back to life for residents.
“The highlight of the dances for them was the music, the dancing and the fun they had with their friends,” Cheryl tells S&R Today. “The recreation team is always looking for ways to bring the residents' fond memories back to life, so we worked together to put on a special dance for them.”
The event featured music, refreshments, mocktails, a Polaroid photo booth – so residents could have printed photos to hold on to – and a “make your own corsage” station, all designed to recreate the fun and excitement many residents remembered from the dances of their youth.
Residents, family members and staff packed the room throughout the event, with many joining in the singing, clapping and dancing.
The response, Cheryl says, was overwhelmingly positive.
“One resident stated that he doesn't remember the last time he attended a dance,” she says. “Many residents, family members and team members told us they can't wait for the next one.”
The life enrichment team spent weeks planning the event and more than an hour decorating the space with flowers, streamers and decorations.
The evening also included the crowning of the Spring Fling King and Queen. Resident Cesar – who proudly wore his crown for several days afterwards – was named king, while resident Pat was crowned queen.
Both were surprised and thrilled by the honour after residents and staff cast their votes during the celebration, notes Adnan Resh, Westmount Gardens' life enrichment manager.
Adnan credits Cheryl and the life enrichment team for organizing the event and doing the legwork to make it such a success.
The results spoke for themselves, he adds.
“Honestly, this was one of the greatest events in a while,” Adnan says. “It was a showstopper – families and many staff members stopped in because you could hear all the fun going on down the hall. I remember one of the residents saying, 'I don't remember doing something this fun in years.'”
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If you have feedback on this story, please contact the newsroom at deronhamel(at)gmail.com.
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