'Not your typical senior's home': Victoria seniors go skydiving in Campbell River
When many hear the term "retirement home" they often think of seniors spending their days playing bingo or shuffleboard, but one independent living facility in Victoria is changing that perception.
"We’re not your typical senior’s home, in that we’re really pushing boundaries so that we can fight ageism," said Kimberly MacNeill wellness manager of Tapestry at Victoria Harbour.
"We want our residents to live their lives to the fullest no matter what that means," she said.
On Monday, three residents and three staff members from Tapestry travelled to Campbell River, B.C., to hurl themselves out of an aircraft at 10,000 feet over the Campbell River Skydive Centre.
Senior Angie Chan was the first to sign up when the option arose.
"I am now at the point where I’m doing everything on my bucket list," Chan said.
Chan says a representative of the Skydive Centre stopped in at the Victoria retirement home to give them an idea what participants would be up for.
"They calmed us down when they came to talk to us last week and answered all our questions," she said. "It really felt safe and fun and no need to be worried or scared for that matter."
Following her tandem skydive and safe landing on the ground, Chan said "I was scared s***less," with a smile on her face.
Resident Bobbie Patrick first did a tandem 20 years ago, but says Monday’s adventure was far more memorable.
Victoria senior Bobbie Patrick is pictured. (Campbell River Skydive Centre)
"It was wonderful, amazing, I’m so glad I did it," she said. "This was special, it was the best."
GoPro video provided by the Skydive Centre shows Patrick even assisting with steering the parachute on the way down to improve her view.
"It was a 360 – the ocean, the mountains, the trees, this was the best," she said.
STAFF PERK
Matthew Auld is Tapestry’s concierge and was one of three staff members who went on the adventure.
"Basically, the wellness manager who arranges all of these amazing activities was just like, 'Hey you want to go jumping?' Yes! I want to go jumping!" Auld said.
MacNeill says everyone involved had a memorable time.
"They’re ecstatic, they’re having the best time and I’m so glad that we can have the employee engagement that we have at Tapestry. It’s something that we really value," said the wellness manager.
WHAT TO TELL THE FAMILY
Chan told her family of her plans to plummet out of an airplane, even writing "Hi Kids" on her hands to display during her plunge.
"My son didn’t say anything. My daughter-in-law said, 'No way,'" Chan says.
Victoria senior Angie Chan is pictured. (Campbell River Skydive Centre)
Resident Phyll Knowles was a little more secretive.
"Surprise! I just like to do things without comments from the peanut gallery," Knowles joked.
Other recent activities taken on by the residents include kayaking through Victoria’s Inner Harbour and climbing up the Malahat Skywalk. Future plans call for winter kayaking and skiing on Mount Washington.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.