Burnaby, B.C., long-term care home puts on drive-in movie night

Staff at a long-term care home in Burnaby, B.C., sought to bring back memories of summer-night drive-in movies for its residents with an outdoor film screening on Monday.

Dania Home staff wore vintage costumes and served hot dogs and popcorn at the mid-20th-century styled event that was designed to stir up nostalgia.

"They remember when they were younger, as teenagers, going in the car, hiding their buddies in the trunk or their first date with their girlfriends," said Leslie Torresan, recreation consultant for Dania Home, at the event.

"And now they're able to share this experience with their families here."

Most of the residents at Dania Home, which has around 100 beds, are in their 80s, Torresan said.

On Monday, dozens of them attended a screening of the 1978 musicalGrease, which stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

One of them, Roy Stacey, said he used to go to the Hillcrest Drive-In Theatre in nearby Surrey, B.C.

"A long time ago, yeah," he said. "Never snuckin, though."

He said his favourite memory of the drive-in was going with his then-girlfriend.

Craig McCulloch, whose 90-year-old father has lived at Dania for 2 years, said the event gave a sense of how drive-in theatres once fostered connections between generations.

"This is how most people, a lot of people saw movies for the first time," he said. "It was economic, where you packed the entire family and go down to the drive-in, right? And we don't do that any more."

He said it also made a world of difference for long-term care residentsand helped restore a sense of normalcy for them.

The event alsohonoured theCascades Drive-In Theatre the first drive-in theatre in Canada, dating back to 1946, according to Heritage Burnaby which was located a few blocks west of the home before the site was redeveloped in the 1980s.

WATCH | Long-term care residents treated to drive-in night:

Seniors enjoy a drive-in movie night at B.C. long-term care home

4 days ago

Duration 2:04

Residents at a seniors care home in Burnaby were treated to a nostalgic outdoor experience, a classic drive-in theatre that was recreated just for them. CBCs Shaurya Kshatri reports on the fun event.