The isolation created by the pandemic inspired a series of meet and greets in the surrounding area by members of the Calgary's Golden Generation Seniors Club.

Cochrane was their destination for the first of three visits across the region. Recently, a luncheon and cultural exchange were held with members of the Filipino Canadian Association of Cochrane (FCACA) and Seniors on the Bow (SOTB). 

"The last three years have been devastating because of the pandemic, so we were deprived of meeting with people," explains Lulu Paraiso, of the Golden Generation Seniors Club. "We thought long and hard about what would be the best project and decided upon this."

They'll also be visiting Hanna and Ponoka.

SOTB president Nancy Gibbie was inspired by the visit and has welcomed the Calgary club to return for a social this fall.

The funding for the meet and greets was provided by the federal New Horizons for Seniors program.

Exchange dance 1Dances were performed by both members of the visiting Golden Generation Seniors Club, above, and members of the local Filipino association, below. (Photos submitted)

dance 2

Piano performance Glenn Michael Knickle performed during the luncheon.