鈥淲e'll meet again,
Don't know where,
Don't know when,
But I know we'll meet again some sunny day...鈥�
The crooning of Second World War favourite wafts softly from the overhead speakers in the Artworks studio at on Oak Street on a warm August afternoon.
The song choice is fitting when you consider the three men sitting around a large arts-and-crafts table are all veterans of the Second World War, including a former Lancaster bomber pilot named Ron Cox who is covering a piece of canvas with blue paint. Cox says once the piece is complete the blue will act as sky and backdrop to the image of a Lancaster plane he intends to paint over it.
Across the table from Cox is veteran and retired salesman Alfred Best, who says there was a time he 鈥渃ouldn鈥檛 even draw a cat.鈥�
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The statement is hard to believe considering the beautiful silk scarf adorned with delicate purple flowers Best is showing off. The scarf is one of more than 20 the 91-year old has painted since joining the art therapy program at the long-term care facility home to 148 residents, many of whom are veterans.
鈥淭he scarf is a gift for Cecilia, one of the caregivers here,鈥� Best says, showing off a hand-printed card he also made for his friend. 鈥淭he greatest satisfaction I get is making someone else happy.鈥�
Best moved into Brock Fahrni from his Coal Harbour home two-years ago in January, after suffering a heart attack and several strokes. It wasn鈥檛 long afterwards he joined the art program and discovered his hidden talent.
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鈥淚 had to give up singing so this is my consolation,鈥� says Best, whose wife died 12 years ago after 60 years of marriage. 鈥淚 used to play the violin and was music director of a church choir so I miss it, but that鈥檚 OK, I鈥檓 a positive thinker.鈥�
Like most activities offered at Brock Fahrni, which falls under the umbrella of Providence Healthcare, the art program is supported by several veterans associations, including Veterans Affairs Canada, the Royal Canadian Legion and Army Navy Air Force Veterans in Canada.
Arts and crafts instructor Paddi McGrath says the art program, which started during the Second World War, is a great way to draw residents out of their shell and encourage them to socialize. For those who can鈥檛 leave their room, art therapy staff members go to them with supplies and instruction. Once a week, an instructor wheels the 鈥淎rt Cart鈥� around the entire facility encouraging residents who aren鈥檛 already involved in the program to try their hand at something artistic.
鈥淪ometimes you find someone who is isolated,鈥� says McGrath. 鈥淎rt is a way to get them socializing. We focus on veterans, but the workshops are for everyone.鈥�
Irving Bakerman, 94, who had recently been confined to his bed due to a health issue, says his art is 鈥済etting there.鈥� But the swing table across Bakerman鈥檚 is chock full of art supplies so they鈥檙e available to him at any time, demonstrating his interest is more than passing. The charming senior and former wholesale clothing salesman says he enjoys the reception he gets when presenting someone with a one-of-a-kind handmade gift.
鈥淚 love the gracious comments,鈥� says Bakerman, with a grin. 鈥淓very day when I go downstairs I couldn鈥檛 look forward to it more. Who knows, I might be discovered one day yet.鈥�
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David Dennison also paints from his bed, but even under a blanket it鈥檚 easy to see the strapping young man he was. Paintings and drawings on his wall depict Dennison鈥檚 favourite subjects, scenes from the Old West and the arctic, including many of wolves. After retiring from the Air Force in 1992, Dennison taught at a remote school for boys in northern B.C. where he learned to hunt and fish, not paint and draw.
鈥淎t first they gave me books, but I wasn鈥檛 too keen,鈥� says Dennison, showing off a realistic painting of his son and daughter-in-law he was in the midst of completing. 鈥淚鈥檓 grateful for these departments or I鈥檇 go crazy.鈥�
Meanwhile, McGrath calls what she does her 鈥渄ream job.鈥�
鈥淚 once read poetry to a man as he was passing,鈥� says McGrath. 鈥淚t was poetry he wrote himself so it was very special.鈥�
@sthomas10
