Photo: Eaglestone residents fish for ducks, fish and lobster in the gazebo. Photo by Bastien MacLean
By: Bastien MacLean
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Kamsack Times
A new program is encouraging Eaglestone Lodge residents to participate in social activities.
Those who participate earn ‘Eagle Bucks,’ which they can exchange for goods at the Eagle Store.
The Eagle Store just opened in June, and is stocked with items from donations and funding from The Friends of Eaglestone.
“There’s chips, pop, chocolate bars, we have toothbrushes, all kinds of personal items,” said Activity Director Rhena Musqua. “Pretty much anything you can think of, we try to get.”
When residents go for exercise or activity, they earn an Eagle Buck.
“Every time they come out, it shows they have intention, and they have fun when they come out”, Musqua said.
Every day residents have the opportunity to earn up to three Eagle Bucks, which are totalled at the end of the month for residents to be able to buy something from the store.
“They absolutely love it. It was standing room only on the first day.”
Residents also manage a shared community garden, another activity that helps keep the residents outside and active.
“They’ve got carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, there’s beets, there onions,” said Musqua. “They’re absolutely crazy about gardening. They love it.”
Eileen Chutskoff, a resident, said she enjoys the activities at Eaglestone.
“It keeps us mobile,” she said, “it’s a way of socializing too, we get in touch with different residents.”
“It’s really lovely here, the staff are so nice and the residents are so nice,” said Thomasina Ross, an HSA at the residence. “Everybody cares about each other.”