Do you have any plans for Friday evening? If not, kick off Valentine's season at Pat Porter Active Living Centre’s Valentine Dinner Dance this Friday, February 10.  

Program and Volunteer Coordinator Rachel Cull shares her excitement for gathering the community to celebrate the day. 

“We try and host events for our members, have an evening of fun for them and keep it at an affordable price. It's important to have that social aspect and that's why we have the dances. It also helps us fundraise for other events and stuff like that and keep prices low,” Cull says.

The night will be accompanied by music from a local band, the Cracked Egg Shell. 

“One of the players works for the seniors' transit. He is a member here and he plays on Wednesdays in our Old Time Country Jam as well. We have people that come here and they all jam together and listen to music. He's pretty popular with the people. They have a wide range of music like the 50s, 60s, 70s and now and then some 80s. It hits a lot of different age groups,” she says.

It will be more than just a night of dancing. There will be a pasta dinner which includes spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread and dessert. For drinks, a cash bar will be available. Prizes from raffles and a 50/50 will be given away. 

Doors open at 5 PM, the dinner starts at 5:30 PM, and the dance goes from 7 PM to 11 PM. Purchasing tickets in advance is required due to the numbers needed for dinner. Cull notes that tickets can be purchased online or at Pat Porter. The deadline to get tickets is on Thursday at 4 PM. The cost for members is $25, $30 for non-members, and $20 for those only looking to dance. 

Cull adds that Valentine’s Day is also for the community and celebrating the day with others. 

“Valentine's Day doesn't have to necessarily be about a special partner. It has to do with friends and family, and as we get older and throughout life, we need to realize this time is very important together," she says. "It's not just for those love moments between a couple, it's loving your friends and loving your family and making sure that you're taking that time to let them know and to celebrate the times with them.”