Students hold Oscar night at Richview Manor

Vaughan Weekly
March 5, 2014  
By Chris McGowan

It was Oscar night at Richview Manor in Maple on Sunday, March 2. The red carpet and live entertainment made it a grand evening indeed.

Richview is a retirement living complex but the design and décor is reminiscent of a luxury hotel or condo.  They have approximately 90 senior residents with room for more that receive either independent or assisted living accommodation.

Students from Villanova College in King City volunteer at Richview every Friday for two hours in a program that is called “Adopt a senior,” and on Oscar night, Melissa Peruzza and Rachael Schachtler interviewed residents and other participants on the red carpet.

Resident Irene Miller was dressed for the evening in a long gown and shawl and happily participated in a red carpet interview by Peruzza. Other students from St. Mary’s school in Nobleton participating in the evening were Jenna and Sam Gulizia and Stephanie Micel.  Judging by the smiles on their faces they seemed to enjoy the evening as much as the seniors.

The entertainment portion of the evening was provided by students from Musaic School of Music located in Vaughan.  They acted out skits and sang songs from movies of the past, such as “Grease.”

Anna Walpole, the Life Enrichment General Manager, said the students from Musaic practiced for weeks prior to the evening and it showed with an array of different costumes and catchy, upbeat songs.

After the entertainment portion of the evening, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were served and then the residents went to watch the Oscars on a large screen TV in the auditorium just off the grand entrance in the home.

Richview has held Oscar night for the last three years and was suggested by one of the original residents Berit Plunkett. “I love the Oscars” she said, as she gladly took her seat in the front row to watch the entertainment.

Joseph Gulizia, the president and CEO of Richview Manor said: “We want to create a positive way for the residents to live” and it is clear that is what they are doing.

Richview Manor is one of the groups of assisted living homes owned by Universalcare.