Austyn Balint, 12, has been a hit this summer at Sunshine Ridge Retirement Residence where he’s volunteered daily and he entertains and helps the seniors. Seated with him is Greta de Groot, while at the table in the background are Margaret Green, Bruce Babb and Fran Macintyre. (Richard McGuire photo)

He’s still only 12 years old, but Austyn Balint has made a unique connection with the seniors and staff at Sunshine Ridge Retirement Residence.

This summer he’s volunteered about 150 hours entertaining the residents with music from the past, funny animal videos, armchair travel and helped with their electronic devices.

“He’s just a lovely kid,” said Margaret Green, who often turns out with her husband Tom for Balint’s activities. “He’s 12 going on 45.”

Last Friday morning, residents trickled into the Country Kitchen room at the residence where Balint’s entertainment was vintage radio, songs from the 1930s and 1940s.

He controlled a playlist of music from his tablet that the seniors listened to with images on a television screen above them. Other weeks he plays music from the 1950s.

“I really wanted to utilize Austyn because he is such a smart kid,” said Patricia Peart, recreation and events coordinator at Sunshine Ridge. “Just an unbelievably smart kid – caring, and he loves seniors and he loves old retro stuff. He’s really into ’50s stuff.”

Balint says he enjoys spending time with the seniors, but he admits it’s not something other kids his age would necessarily want to do.

He’ll be 13 soon and will be starting Grade 8 at Osoyoos Secondary School.

It was, however, a grandparent program linking the retirement residence with Grade 7 students at Osoyoos Elementary School that piqued his interest and led to him volunteering.

After a few experiences with the seniors during the school year, Balint told his teacher, Dean Rowland, that he wanted to spend time volunteering at Sunshine Ridge during the summer.

When Peart, the recreation coordinator, met with Balint and his mother, she was flabbergasted when he said he wanted to volunteer every day. His mother reassured her that he was serious.

Next thing she knew, Balint was tossing out ideas of things he could do with the seniors.

“I thought ‘wow!’” said Peart.

In addition to providing entertainment, Balint helps seniors with their laptops, cellphones and tablets.

“He has a little tech corner and he runs it sometimes twice a week,” said Peart. “The residents bring their stuff down and he helps to teach them and explain things, he puts games on for them or takes things off that they don’t want or tries to explain things that they don’t understand.”

Peart said she’s never seen a 12-year-old like Balint.

“He just carries himself differently, he talks differently, he acts more grown-up,” she said. “He’s an extraordinary kid. He takes his time with everybody, and everybody he comes in contact with loves him. He makes them happy.”

Margaret Green said Balint has helped her with her iPad Mini, which she loves having, but doesn’t fully understand.

“He’s such a joy to have around,” she said. “He’s so young and he’s so interested in us old folk. It’s unusual to say the least.”

Her husband Tom says he especially enjoys Balint’s retro radio. He’s especially fond of big band jazz music. He’s also happy that Balint has helped with the tablet, but number one for him is that Balint walks their dog Sophie in the mornings.

Another resident, Jean Hostler, said she especially likes the funny animal videos Balint shows the seniors. Her friend Donna Priest, also a regular participant, agrees these are enjoyable for everybody.

“He knows what he’s doing,” Priest said. “Anything that he wants to put on, I’m here for.”

As the summer winds down and Balint prepares to start high school, the seniors say they’re going to miss him.

“He’s just given everything he could possibly give,” said Peart. “He’s happy when he comes here. It’s wonderful to see.”

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times

Margaret Green, Bruce Babb and Fran Macintyre listen to a retro radio program of music from the 1930s and 1940s as 12-year-old Austin Balint entertains them at Sunshine Ridge Retirement Residence. (Richard McGuire photo)

Austyn Balint, 12, has been a hit this summer at Sunshine Ridge Retirement Residence where he’s volunteered daily and he entertains and helps the seniors. He chats with Greta de Groot, as he controls his playlist of 1930s and 1940s music on his tablet. (Richard McGuire photo)