Every spring in Regina, Saskatchewan, something remarkable happens at one of the local high schools. It isn’t a sports championship or a graduation ceremony—it’s a dance. But not just any dance.

For nearly thirty years, the school has carried on a tradition that brings together two groups you don’t often see sharing the same dance floor: high school students and senior citizens from the community.

The students send out invitations to elderly residents, many of whom live in low-income housing or retirement complexes. For some, it’s one of the rare occasions when they can leave their apartments and take part in something joyful. Transportation is arranged so that no one has to worry about how to get there. All they need to do is show up—and be celebrated.

The evening begins with a meal prepared by the students themselves. Those in the cooking class spend days planning, chopping, stirring, and baking. On the night of the dance, they step into the role of hosts, serving the seniors at tables decorated for the occasion. Laughter and chatter fill the room as strangers become friends over plates of food made with care.

Then, the music starts. Performances by students—choirs, bands, dance groups—set the stage, and before long the seniors are moving, too. Some shuffle slowly with canes in hand, others sway gently in their chairs, while a few light up the floor with dance steps they haven’t forgotten. The students join in, twirling their older partners with the same excitement they’d bring to their own prom.

For the seniors, it’s more than just a dance. It’s a night of being seen, valued, and included. It’s a reminder that age does not erase joy, that community means every generation has something to give. For the students, it’s a lesson that no textbook could ever teach—about empathy, respect, and the power of human connection.

Teachers say the event has become a highlight of the year. Parents are proud to see their children serving food, laughing with their elders, and helping create memories that ripple far beyond the school walls. Some seniors have attended year after year, cherishing the tradition as much as the students do.

What began nearly thirty years ago as a small school initiative has now become a legacy of kindness—a reminder that the simplest gestures can have the greatest impact.

So here’s to the students who put in the work, the teachers who keep the tradition alive, and most of all, the seniors who show up and remind everyone that joy doesn’t belong to the young alone—it belongs to anyone willing to dance.

👍 Thumbs up to this Regina high school for proving that respect, compassion, and celebration never go out of style.