AMICA RETIREMENT HOME had a party on Sunday, April 2. The celebrants ranged from old coots to old pooches…maybe said a bit politically incorrectly but these party people showed no signs of age and surprising energy and spirit in their dance steps all afternoon.
Amica deserves to celebrate after a year of development and growth. The 16160-suite complex with over 100 residents is part of the City of Pickering. These residents are in their homes which is a different residence in the city. The Amica corporation is behind the residential complex but in the words of general manager, Jennifer Smith, “We are providing a real home for older citizens and that is our first priority.” This feels like a corporation with a heart, intent on providing a caring home for older citizens, first and foremost, not to promote the corporation behind the home.
A Mardi Gras party!
What a party! Golden oldies dancing to the golden oldies music, nibbling away on delicious finger food with sparkling bubbly to wash it down. This really was a super party for the residents and for the invitees from the city who chose to accept the broad invitation made by AMICA. Many came, nearly all of the two hundred invited guests. Even political representatives like Councillor Shaheen Butt with his lovely wife.
Two hours of shufflin’ feet, in flats, some in heels, these seniors were ready to party. It was the festa of the besta…live entertainment with a local band playing oldies with energy and experience for those who really appreciated the reminiscence down memory lane of the old tunes and dancing away as they once did to the sounds played on CHUM radio and DJ Al Boliska.
Amica held a party and close to two hundred people used their invitation.
The music was fabulous: Elvis revisited, rockabilly Everly Brothers back once more, Rick Nelson, Fats Domino, Chuck Barry, Johnny Cash, all the greats of the past, their tunes rocking the room with vigor and vim once more. Even slow stuff by “Old Blue Eyes” adding a touch of romance to the atmosphere at Amica’s party. The main room of the Amica Rock Palace swung for two hours, a mite slower than in past years, but still spirited, alive and kickin’.
In another room, the music was augmented by a white-haired maestro tinkling on the ivories with the memory of a man who was familiar with all those golden oldie show tunes: South Pacific and Mitzi Gaynor, Judy Garland’s “Over the Rainbow” from the Wizard of Oz, movie memories with instrumentals from Exodus and GWTW. This man was a showstopper, a piano fortissimo.
To top everything off, the chef of the Amica kitchens deserves the highest of compliments for his non-stop production of outstanding “nibbles:” from pizza to pulled pork, gnocchi in mushroom cream with fried sage crisp to rosé creamed ravioli. This chef never stopped, always kickin’ up a notch which suggests these residents dine first class nightly. A charcuterie side table that would be the envy of a Parisian charcuterie with slices of salami, prosciutto and capicola, wedges of cheddar and Grana Padano chunks. The culinary offerings were endless and delicious.
Whew, then the desserts, no cake walk here. Creme brule, blueberry cream cheese wraps, meringue cookies and sugar cookies. Old standards, cupcakes, donut crullers and even candies, jujubes, and chocolate-covered raisins. Amica pulled out all the stops when it came to the food presentation and as John R., one of the residents confirmed, “Yep, our dining is first class here, like dining out every night.”
Finally, apple juice and refreshing water were supplanted. Amica pulled out all the stops even cracking open some bubbly for the festa celebrants.
What a great anniversary party! Amica deserves to be congratulated big time for providing the local residents to join a wonderful celebration in an opportunity of seeing how senior residents live in an outstanding retirement home in their city.
Bravo Amica!
