The Hamlets officially open a new arcade room for its residents on Friday (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

NEW ARCADE ROOM

Young residents at The Hamlets like kids in candy store with new arcade room

Mar 5, 2021 | 1:54 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been a tough go for some long-term care facilities in Kamloops during the pandemic. There were outbreaks at a few of the homes in the city and a general feeling of anxiety around COVID-19.

However, The Hamlets in Westsyde is brightening the spirits of some of its younger residents with a one-of-a-kind arcade room. After weeks of painting and acquiring games, the arcade officially opened on Friday (Mar. 5) and it’s already being widely used.

Pac-Man is Jennifer Shelstad’s favourite game to play. Now she gets to run away from the goblins any time with The Hamlets opening up a new arcade games room.

“I grew up playing that and got pretty good at it,” said Shelstad.

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The space has a handful of arcade games, including Pac-Man and Street Fighter, an air hockey table, and an arcade-style basketball hoop. The games are low enough, too, to accomodate the residents in wheelchairs.

Pac-Man is one of the arcade games now available to the residents at The Hamlets in Westsyde (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

The idea came about after The Hamlets’ building services manager Angie MacKenzie spoke with the residents about how the home could enhance their lives. It gives them an outlet to have fun without having to go anywhere.

“It’s breaking down barriers. It’s very difficult for them to go out into the community. It’s a full day of planning — how are they going to get there? If they want to leave at any given time, how are they going to get home?” noted MacKenzie. “They’re able to break down those barriers by us providing this arcade for them with the help of the community.”

While the arcade room is limited to Hamlet residents during the pandemic, the plan is to open the doors for the entire community to use it for free once it’s deemed safe to do so.

“This was definitely a huge part — community inclusion,” said MacKenzie. “Once COVID is over, we plan to open the arcade up to the community with youth groups, maybe on Friday nights, birthday parties, boy scouts — whatever we’re able to bring into our home.”

Shelstad is looking forward to more games of Pac-Man and doing other fun things with her fellow residents.

“It’ll be great,” she said. “Because of this COVID, it’ll give us some things to break the monotony. Gives us something to looking forward to.”