Every first Tuesday during the summer months, the Parksville Lawn Bowling Club hosts residents from Stanford Place for a morning of lawn bowling.
Ben Thomas, a club member, said he started the initiative about eight years ago, after Stanford Place had a volunteer get-together. During that gathering, Thomas said, participants played a game of bocce ball which led to the idea of inviting residents to the club.
Thomas said he came back to the club afterward and talked to the greenskeeper about it, since bringing wheelchairs and walkers onto the greens could be damaging. To protect the greens, Thomas said, they put down protective coverings.
“We have them down there in wheelchairs and whatever, bowling from the chair,” Thomas said.
Since Stanford Place is next to the lawn bowling club, the members walk over to the care home and bring the residents over for the morning’s activities.
“It’s literally a breath of fresh air for them. They get out. They become active. They do something,” Thomas said. “They’re having fun. They’re socializing with each other and with our people.”
It’s not just the residents that look forward to the day, though, Thomas said.
“Our people have so much fun just doing it. There’s 10 of our people out there, and they’re having a ball.”