Frost and Rosebridge celebrate the Bard's birth

Robbie Burns Day celebrations enhancing fun and laughter at OMNI homes

January 29, 2010 -- Deron Hamel

Frost Manor and Rosebridge Manor were two of several OMNI Health Care-owned long-term care homes that this week celebrated the birth of Robert Burns, the famed Scottish poet, affectionately known as The Bard.

Residents at Frost Manor were treated to entertainment from a local performer, dressed in full traditional Scottish garb and playing bagpipes, who visited the Lindsay long-term care home Monday.

As part of the festivities, residents and staff members were served haggis, the traditional Robbie Burns Day delicacy, consisting of chopped organ meat mixed with oatmeal and suet and baked in a sheep's stomach.

Frost Manor resident Marion Kennedy says the day brought back fond memories of growing up in a Scottish household. She was also directly involved with the celebration by bringing in the haggis as the bagpipes played.

"I was very happy that (staff members) remembered to do something," she says.

"The piper was great and I felt really good bringing in the haggis - my mom used to make her own haggis. Scottish people are very proud of Bobbie Burns Day.

Robbie Burns Day marks Burns' birth on Jan. 25, 1759, in Alloway, Scotland.

Burns is best known for his many poems, including "A Red, Red Rose," "The Battle of Sherramuir" and "Auld Lang Syne."

Staff members at Rosebridge Manor provided the Jasper long-term care home's residents with a Scottish-themed meal, including cock-a-leekie soup, crumpets, sausage, spiced apples and sticky toffee pudding cake.

The Rosebridge celebration also included entertainment from a local group that performed for residents.

"The residents enjoyed this a lot," says life enrichment co-ordinator Kathy Barr. "They got a kick out of the different food and the entertainment."

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