A Little Bit of Australia Comes to United
The chefs at Garrison Green have prepared a two-week around-the-world “cruise” menu, which stops at a different country each day, giving residents the opportunity to sample a local, chef-inspired dish from each country.
Recently, the “cruise” stopped at Australia, which also featured a visit by a couple of cuddly friends, courtesy of Cobbs Adventure Park in northeast Calgary. A baby kangaroo and a sugar glider were big hits. The sugar glider is a small possum with a taste for sugary foods. It has the ability to glide through the air, much like a flying squirrel, which it did on this visit when it jumped from one person to another.
“The residents had a blast and so did many of the employees who had never seen these animals up close before,” said Hayley Bell, Garrison Green’s program coordinator. The visit supports United’s philosophy of engaging minds and imaginations through a variety of interesting programs.
“It was a wonderful experience,” said resident Marina Vettergreen. “I had the privilege of holding a baby kangaroo. It was so cuddly. It was a special experience that I’ll always remember.”
“I thought it was very cool,” said United Minds coordinator Bridget Coulter, who spent some quality time with the sugar glider. “It made itself right at home in the crook of my arm. It behaved almost like a cat and sat there grooming itself. It was very enjoyable!”
The baby kangaroo is eight months old and stood about one foot tall. The little sugar glider is about five years old. The residents also enjoyed a themed dinner of grilled garlic chili prawns which added to the Australia feel of the day.
Photos by United Active Living. Videos by Sherana Productions.
Don’t hesitate to talk with one of our active living advisors about life in a United community. They can arrange for a tour at your convenience. If you know a friend or family member who could benefit from living in a United community, send them a link to our website or blog, or arrange a future visit. We are happy to help!
To learn more about life at United’s Fish Creek community, watch this short video.
Or, to find out more about life at United’s Garrison Green, watch this short video.
