Veterans at Sherbrooke enjoy weekly mingle with pints

Regardless of which war, Donald Barredt says a strong bond exists between veterans. It's one of the reasons he lives in Veterans Village at Saskatoon's Sherbrooke Community Centre.

"It's been very good. I endorse it 100 per cent," Barredt said.

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Barredt said the community centre offers a number of activities for vets but he especially enjoys happy hours, where veterans band together to socialize.

"You get closer and have a chat with a fellow and it seems to open up the doors and everybody gets quite friendly, which is good," he said.

Christy Norrish, the Veteran's Village recreation coordinator, saidhappy hours are held once a week and the vets can order whatever drink they want. She said the gatherings get veterans to interact.

"We have some men that don't generally take part in a lot of the activities but they like to come out for happy hour just to socialize," she said.

"It only lasts an hour, an actual happy hour but a lot of times we'll be visiting there afterwards. Conversations start and keep going." Barredt said, addinghappy hours create a comradeship with fellow servicemen and servicewomen, which he describes as a unique relationship.

"Now that we're running out of veterans we're getting people who were never in the force and there's a difference between the two," he said. I can't put my finger on it but it's not the same."

Norrish said the happy hours at Sherbrooke have been a long time tradition and they'll continue because they provide a good mix of fun and sociability.

"Heaven forbid we miss happy hour one week." she laughed. "We have a great group of people."