A different kind of Winter Games competition was held at Bethany CollegeSide over the past two weeks.

The 2019 Bethany CollegeSide Resident Winter Games, in partnership with Red Deer College, took place from Jan. 15th to 24th.

With help from RDC students, seniors and young adults with disabilities competed in bowling, puzzles, foosball, wheelchair hockey and a biathlon obstacle course.

Resident Bryan MacWilliams was awarded a won a gold medal in the puzzle category during a medal ceremony Friday morning.

The competition teaches everybody to participate in sports – not only young and able-bodied individuals, he said.

It was challenging, “But we managed to do it as a group,” he said.

Karin Kranenburg, an occupational therapist with the long-term and specialized care residence, said the event was a great opportunity for the community to get involved.

“It’s just a way to celebrate that the Winter Games are coming here and have the residents be a part of that,” she said. “And just build up the team spirits of Bethany as well.

“Games like these involve lots of components physical, cognitive and also the social aspects that many people value.”

Yvonne Harris, who was visiting her mother at the residence, said it was wonderful to see how excited the seniors were during the presentation ceremony.

“I thought it was just a wonderful thing that they had put on here. It’s a great thing for seniors, and they are just so happy with what they have accomplished.”