‘Elvis’ rocks Willingdon Creek Village’s first anniversary

You can’t have a Vegas-themed party without Elvis belting out a tune or two. But finding the King isn’t so simple. Unless, of course, you live in Powell River.

When Laura Kissick, coordinator of recreation and the adult day program at Willingdon Creek Village, started organizing the complex care facility’s one-year anniversary party, she simply dialed 4352 on her office phone to find herself an Elvis.

At the other end of the line was Robert Falls, a power engineer in Facilities Maintenance and Operations and part-time Elvis tribute artist, who was delighted to slip back into his white jumpsuit and black wig to perform for staff and residents at the event, which also featured that other Vegas staple – gambling.

Plenty of singing and dancing

“It was a great party and Robert put on a phenomenal show,” says Laura. “It took a while for everyone to get settled into the new facility a year ago so we really wanted to have a fun celebration for the first anniversary. There was lots of singing and dancing going on.”

Robert Falls in action as Elvis.

The 102-bed, $26.5 million facility, which is owned by the Powell River Regional Hospital District and operated by VCH, welcomed its first resident in April 2015. With its completion, it added an extra 21 beds of capacity to the community. The facility, which is organized into six different houses each with 17 beds, also has a Special Care Unit for residents with advanced dementia and challenging behaviours.

‘Elvis’ career launched at VCH site in 1998

The Willingdon anniversary party wasn’t Robert’s first VCH event. In fact, he launched his Elvis persona at the neighbouring Evergreen Extended Care facility back in 1998 for a Halloween party after becoming known around Powell River for his talent at karaoke, including covering Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison songs. Since then, he’s been a finalist at a few Elvis contests in B.C. and has travelled to amateur competitions in Memphis, Ontario and across B.C. so the Willingdon staff and residents got quite the treat at the April anniversary party.

Robert Falls

“It was a lot of fun and it got really going at the after party,” says Robert. “I was asked for requests – mostly from Elvis’s early career – and then most everybody was up dancing. I played for about an hour and the residents just loved it.”

Robert had considered hanging up the cape, but he’s giving Elvis at least one more kick at the can and heading to the Penticton Elvis Festival in June.

“I think they want to have some old time Elvises back,” he laughs. “I’d better start growing my sideburns now.”