Contactivity inter-generates song

Students and seniors sing together

Hosting their annual Picnic in the Park would have been a lot easier if it hadn’t rained. But instead of letting a little rain spoil their day, Montreal’s Contactivity Senior’s Centre took their festivities inside the Westmount Park United Church.

About 120 seniors and children gathered to celebrate those born in July and watch the Interlink Inter-Generational Choir perform. Led by Ian Lebofsky and accompanied by Steve Corber, the choir sang songs that according to Lebofsky, “everyone can enjoy.” These included The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Do Re Me.

Bridget Polidoro and Rashale Johar

The soprano-alto choir was a concept that started 13 years ago to “break the stereotypic ideas each may have of the other generation,” said Lebofsky. The two generations – Grade 4 children from Westmount Park School and seniors from Contactivity – start as pen-pals and after two months meet as an ensemble.

“Sometimes these pen-pals carry on for years,” says spokesperson Ginny Thomas. “It becomes like a mentoring.” For more information on upcoming events, call 514-932-2326 or visit contactivitycentre.org.