Hobbies are gifts that keep on giving: studies show having a hobby can significantly improve health and well-being. But what if you have a hidden talent that’s waiting to be discovered?
Amica’s curated events and social programming offers opportunities to spark curiosity and uncover hidden skills, and our residents are shining examples of what can happen with a little creative inspiration.
Painting class sparks natural talent… and joy
Marina Wu, an Amica resident, recently discovered her passion for painting. Although she spent much of her life raising her daughters, she always enjoyed ‘doodling’ but never had the time to pursue art as a serious hobby.
After moving into Amica Unionville, Marina attended a volunteer-led painting class. Not long after she applied paint to canvas, the teacher recognized her artistic skills and assumed she had been painting for years, only to learn that Marina had never painted before.
With a little encouragement from the Amica team, Marina soon spent her days nourishing her creativity by watching YouTube tutorials and attending residence art classes, thrilling her family members, who were overjoyed to learn about her secret talents.
Marina now paints nearly every day, specializing in landscapes using acrylic on canvas. Her painting of a snow scene was even featured nationwide on Amica’s Helping Hands Charity holiday card in 2024.
“Always try new things,” says Marina. “You never know, you might have a hidden talent!”
Crafting enthusiast realizes her childhood dream
Growing up, Pat, a resident at Amica White Rock, dreamed of becoming a teacher. But her parents had other plans; they wanted her to focus on learning shorthand and typing in school instead. “In my day, girls weren’t really going to university as much as they do now,” she explains.
Pat worked professionally before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Alongside her parenting duties, she nurtured her love of teaching by volunteering at a school while raising her children.
Years later, after moving to Amica White Rock, Pat started attending crafting classes. Not only did she love crafting, but she also discovered a passion for organizing courses, tailoring them to meet the students’ needs, and helping them excel.
She also loved coming up with unique ideas for crafting projects and collecting driftwood from the beach near White Rock for residents to use in their creations.
After a while, as Pat’s lessons made an impact on other residents, she was ultimately asked to lead the monthly crafting sessions at Amica White Rock. “I love to see the enjoyment these ladies get, because a lot of them have worked all their lives, and they’ve never had a chance to really play,” she says. “It’s stunning to see what happens — it really makes me so happy.”
Pat is finally realizing her dream of teaching decades later, while satisfying her creative itch through crafting. “At 84, my dream has come to be,” says Pat. “I love what I’m doing here!”
How Amica is nurturing passions every day
Meanwhile, nurturing residents’ existing hobbies and expanding their horizons is integral to the Amica experience, with programs and activities tailored to each resident.
Herb Williams, a resident at Amica Peel Village, loved music from a young age. At the ripe age of 96, the longtime piano player regularly plays his piano in his Amica apartment and also performs at recitals within the residence and at local churches.
Herb also has a passion for watching live performances, which he nurtures by attending concerts at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO). Always in a dapper suit and tie, Herb loves nothing more than to get dressed up to attend classical music concerts at TSO to keep his creative spark flowing.
Thankfully, music continues to be such an important part of his life. Herb adds: “I often can’t remember someone’s name or the name of a place, but my fingers never forget where they’re supposed to go on the keyboard.”