Children surprise elder with birthday celebration
Elder's 86th milestone celebrated with song
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, February 9, 2017
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
A group of children and youth in Fort Simpson couldn't have had better timing on Feb. 3 when they decided to head to the elders long-term care home for a bout of karaoke.
Helen Canadien, centre, had a special surprise for her 86th birthday when children in Fort Simpson paid a visit to the elders care home. In the back, from left, are Sela Horesay, Meeka Edda, Canadien, Katana Williams-Snider, Scarlett Okrainec-Cli and Janessa Williams-Guinn. In the middle, from left, are Dahtu Norwegian, Layla Cli, Summer Kotchea, Jonah Greencorn and Cruz Lafferty. In the front is Keirah Simon. - April Hudson/NNSL photo
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The trip was orchestrated in advance by librarian Troy Bellefontaine and attracted more than a dozen youth for the afternoon singing session.
A welcome surprise
Little did they know, Helen Canadien was celebrating her 86th birthday that day. Seated up front and centre, Canadien was treated to a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday, followed by songs hand-picked by the children.
While some children sang throughout the afternoon, others played games or visited with the elders.
Janessa Williams-Guinn, an avid singer, said she had fun and hopes to join more children in the future at the long-term care home.
"I really like to visit with the elders," she said.
Readings with elders
Bellefontaine said he orchestrated the trip after hearing one parent in the village mention her daughter was doing readings with the elders.
That prompted him to put out feelers for a trip to the care home.
He said he picked karaoke because he had been joining care home worker Erin Wyatt off and on for karaoke sessions.
"I talked to the kids at the library and they all seemed pretty excited by it," he said.
"I was really impressed by our turnout."
Bellefontaine said he hopes to make karaoke afternoons a regular thing in the future, possibly holding an event every week.
His hope is that even more children and youth will join the group in building a bridge between generations.
"The elders love seeing the kids come over. It was a good fit," he said.
