A Year at Sherbrooke

by Wendell White

As part of November’s celebration of Arts and Health month, a screening of the film A Year At Sherbrooke was hosted at the Antigonish Library.  This event was in celebration and support of the R.K. MacDonald’s successful transition to the Eden Alternative philosophy for long-term care facilities.

This feature documentary follows 2 artists, Thelma Pepper and Jeff Nachtigall, as they work with the residents of Sherbrooke Community Centre, a long-term care facility in Saskatoon. As Thelma documents the residents of Sherbrooke through her own portrait photography, Jeff spends close to a year as artist-in-residence helping them make art. The film explores how creativity can transform people’s lives, from the abled to the differently abled, all the while vividly demonstrating the healing power of art and community.

A community group discussion, led by Dr. Brian Steeves and Kim MacDonald, offered those of us present an insightful and passionate view of the many benefits of the Eden Alternative for improving quality of life and quality of care for those living in our community.

 

A Year at Sherbrooke by Thomas Hale, National Film Board of Canada

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