A grand opening was held on Friday for La Boutique des Chenes at Villa Youville in Ste. Anne. 

Director Natalie Rocan-Menard tells us where they got the idea to open a boutique in the care home. 

“The boutique is something that we got inspired by another home in Saskatoon where they have a gift shop within their long-term care home, and they have lots of volunteers that run it and all the proceeds go back into programming for their residents. So that's kind of the model that we're doing.” 

The boutique sells handmade items, locally crafted, and is completely run by volunteers. 

Celeste Pattyn is the project manager at the Villa. She says the gift shop has a wide variety of items including bath bombs, lotions, macrame, and dog collars. 

“We’re trying to gear it to everybody. So, there’s a little bit of everything for everyone, kids, seniors, parents...” 

Former nurse, Paulette Dittrick, has some of her work in the shop. 

“I’ve been doing nursing for 50 years and I’m very creative, I know that. I try to do a lot of stuff from recycled jewelry, wood, silver trays.” 

Dittrick says she loves working with her hands and has been encouraged to share her talent by bringing her work to the boutique. 

Villa Youville’s mission is to “enrich lives and build a stronger, more vibrant community,” and the boutique will be helpful in completing that goal.   

Rocan-Menard says the short-term goal is to be successful and to bring community members into the building. 

“I think one of our main goals too, is to just have more community involvement, so that people know that we're here, and then maybe change the way that people see long-term care. There's a lot of stigma attached to that. So being able to change that in a more positive light that people aren’t as afraid to come to a personal care home as they age, that it can be a home environment and that it can be somewhere where you come to live and not just come at the end of your life.” 

She also hopes this boutique will help residents find more purpose as they get involved in the various aspects of the shop, which will provide funds for programming. 

“Because that’s something that, unfortunately, there’s not lots of funding for it,” Rocan-Menard adds. 

There are three different levels of care at the Villa, with 84 independent living suites, 24 supportive housing units, and 66 long-term care suites, all under one roof. 

You can find more information on La Boutique des Chenes by visiting their social media sites on Facebook and Instagram. 

-With files from Darci Wilkinson

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