Country Terrace residents take first lunch outing in two years to favourite spot

Trip to Mackie’s restaurant in Port Stanley brings back happy childhood memories

It had been more than two years since Country Terrace residents went on a lunchtime outing, so staff members at the Komoka, Ont. long-term care home wanted to make sure they were treated to somewhere special as soon as they had a chance.

And the team knew just the place.

Mackie’s restaurant, located in Port Stanley, has been a fixture in southwestern Ontario since it opened on the shores of Lake Erie in 1911.

Since then, several generations have enjoyed the hamburgers, hot dogs, fish and chips, and famous homemade beverage, Orangeade, the restaurant offers.

Many Country Terrace residents are among those who have fond memories of enjoying a meal at Mackie’s, says Lora Blackett, Country Terrace’s life enrichment co-ordinator.

On July 14, a group of 12 residents and staff members made the 45-minute drive to Port Stanley to have lunch at Mackie’s and enjoy the scenery of the beach town.

Given that this was the first outing of its kind since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2022, residents had an especially enjoyable time, Lora says.

“The residents loved it; it was such a beautiful day,” she tells The OMNIway. “It was nice and sunny, and they were able to eat outside and look at the water and watch the kids playing on the beach.”

After lunch, residents were treated to ice cream and then got to take a walk along the beach. The Port Stanley beach is wheelchair accessible which allowed all residents to participate, Lora notes.

Lora says the outing brought back fond childhood memories for several residents, and one of the best parts of the trip for her was hearing residents recall their experiences at Mackie’s and Port Stanley.

“A lot of the residents shared memories about going there when they were kids,” she says.

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