Multi-purpose room turned '50s diner a blast from the past for Regina seniors

Alvina Forsberg, 90, and Hank Reis, 93, chat about old times as they sit at thechrome and Formicatable, glass pop bottles in hand. Records and pop-culture icons adorn the walls and you might hear Elvis Presley on the juke box.

The multi-purpose room at College Park Retirement Residencein Regina has been redesigned as a '50s style diner.

"When I first saw this place, I got to thinking about my high school days," Hank Reis said.

He remembers going to dinerslike the room atthe residence, attracted to theatmosphere and music, thoughthe prices were a bitdifferent back then.

"A quarter got you a drink and a chocolate bar," hesaid.

Now, when Reis walks into the room, he says it reminds him of "the good old days."

"When you get my age, you look at memories more than looking ahead and this is just another addition to make you feel more at home."

College Park Retirement Residence Executive DirectorJessica Er Rihasays they wanted to create a new sensory room a space that would stimulate all of the senses.

"We really wanted to go for the nostalgia," she said. "We really want to take people back to the '50s back to their youth. And the residents love it. Their kids love it. And so this is a really great addition to our place."

Families can use the room for anniversaries and birthdays, and Er Riha says she hasheard residents telling their grandchildren what it was like when they were younger.

"We wanted a place that made people feel that time when things didn't really matter. When you were young and free," she said.

Putting together the different elements of the room was a team effort.

"We just had a vision; we ran with it," Er Rihasaid. "We did a grand opening and the residents just loved havingthe pop and popcorn [and] milkshakes."

When she first saw the renovations, Alvina Forsbergsays she thought, "Oh my heavens, what are they doing?" The grand opening was a happy surprise, though, and since then, she has loved coming down to visit with others.

"It's like a big family here," Forsberg said. "The family atmosphere, that's what attracts me so much. I'm a real family person."

She says the diner brings back memories from the '50s.

"Those were good years," Forsberg said. "It's from the happy days it was just fun to go out for a treat."