Vera and Douglas Smith have been making the trip from their home in Gatineau to the Bryson Lions Club’s dances for some 40 years, and Saturday evening’s Halloween dance and dinner was no exception.
“It’s my favourite place to dance,” said Vera, who was celebrating her 72nd wedding anniversary with Douglas at Saturday’s party. “It’s because they still have the band, with the live country music.”
The two, joined by their daughter and granddaughter, spent the evening dancing around their table and catching up with old friends who they only get to see when they make the trip to Bryson.
Also two-stepping and waltzing to the tunes from Dennis Harrington and Heritage Country band were friends Ken Workman, a resident at the Friends of St. Joseph’s Manor, and Viola Gauthier from Otter Lake. The two play cards together at the Campbell’s Bay Legion and on Saturday, took their friendship to the dance floor.
Just when the dancers were showing signs of wanting to sit down, the band played the first few notes of a well-known square dancing number and people who had, until then, been seated, hopped to their feet, including a seven-foot tall Frankenstein, and his partner, the Queen of Hearts.
The two were hard to miss as they do-si-doed their way across the floor. Their outfits were in fact so noteworthy they won the couple – Shawville’s Betty and Herbert Hamilton – the prize for best costume, presented by MRC Pontiac warden Jane Toller half way through the evening.
All the while, Bryson Lions Club president Betty Leach and member Relics Leach were busy in the kitchen, setting out the various dishes that had been brought by dance attendees.
“Whenever you come to an event, you bring a dish with you. That’s how we do it here,” Relics said.
Betty said she was disappointed with the turnout at the event, a meager 50 or so people compared to the hundred the dance usually brings in.
“This is nothing compared to what we normally have,” she said. “It’s disappointing but what can you do?”
Relics emphasized what he believes to be a great need for dances like these to continue.
“This is more for an older generation. That’s what the Pontiac needs is to get the old people active again, because we don’t have enough of that in the Pontiac,” he said.“It gets them corresponding, they’re talking with each other. Otherwise they’re sitting at home, sitting in front of the TV or sitting on the phone.”
He noted the club will be putting on its annual Christmas supper for seniors, paid for entirely by the Lions Club, and throwing a New Year’s Eve party.
“Because otherwise some of them would be totally alone for Christmas,” Relics said. “It’s nice for them to see each other again.”
