When staff and architects were designing the amenities at Three Robins Active Living Community in Red Deer, they created a space they thought might be used as a demonstration kitchen — where grandkids could stop by to learn Grandma’s classic shortbread recipe, without getting Grandma’s kitchen in her apartment completely covered in flour.
But Three Robins is passionate about facilitating resident-led programming, and soon after the active adult apartment building opened in 2019, residents had assembled a Cookery Crew and transformed the kitchen for a different concept. Residents on the Cookery Crew lay out a fine feast for their neighbours to enjoy — just one of many ways Three Robins builds a supportive community.
Alive Inside
Three Robins is an 89-suite apartment building with affordable rent (homes start at just $1300/month), and residents can add on support services as-needed so it’s easy to age-in-place. Plus, everyone has access to the great communal spaces and a lively calendar of resident-led activities, which means residents never feel lonely or bored.
The wood shop is always a hive of activity, where some work on whittling, wood carving, or turning gorgeous bowls — and everyone’s happy to share their knowledge. And it’s not just busy-work: residents may bring down a chair or shelf from their apartment, and ask a neighbour for help with repairs.
“It’s a real community. It’s a place where people help each other be successful, and feel a real sense of belonging,” says Jolene Wilson, General Manager at Three Robins Red Deer.
If someone’s feeling under the weather, neighbours will quickly organize to drop off meals. If one of the regulars doesn’t show up for morning coffee, someone will go up to knock on their door and check in.
A growing, evolving community
Earlier this year, a few residents spent an afternoon painting rocks, just to exercise their creativity. But once they started chatting, they came up with the idea of decorating rocks to help commemorate the many children who died in residential schools.
Once again, staff at Three Robins supported the resident-led project and soon people across town were involved. Other seniors’ residences and schools painted rocks until the total reached over 3000. On Sep. 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, supporters walked the rocks from Three Robins to City Hall Park under police escort, to create a commemorative display.
If residents at Three Robins can dream it, neighbours and staff are ready to help them achieve it.
Visit a show suite at Three Robins Red Deer today! Call 587-377-8672 to schedule an appointment, or visit threerobins.ca/red-deer for more information. Follow Three Robins on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to see what’s new!
