In time I started writing personal lighthearted short stories to share with my readers and in 2023 I self-published my first book of them titled “Cherished Memories.” “Cherished Memories” is a collection of 64 of my personal lighthearted short stories many of which are about growing up in Saint John NB in the late 1940’s to the early 1960’s. “Cherished Memories” became a ‘Bestseller.’ I self-published 500 copies with only 63 copies still available now. I am currently writing my second book “Stories To Stir Your Heart” that may be published by the end of this year.

My inspiration to entertain the residents of Nursing Homes with my funny stories began in 2016 when I went to visit Brian Walsh who was in the Saint John, New Brunswick’s Regional Hospital. Brian was in the final stages of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease). I had not planned to tell Brian my funny stories when I arrived but it turned out that I had Brian and his parents laughing for over 45 minutes with my funny stories. I was deeply moved by Brian’s response to my stories. I began wondering about volunteering my storytelling skills at Health Care Centers to bring joy and laughter to people suffering with illness, pain, and loneliness.

I began in November 2017 in Toronto and since then I’ve entertained groups of residents at over 70 various Health Care Centers comprising Rehab Hospitals, Retirement Homes, The Veterans Wing at Sunnybrook Hospital and Nursing Homes. The pandemic stopped my in person storytelling in Health Care Centers. After the pandemic was over and Health Care Centers were open to visitors my health had deteriorated. So I had to bring my in-person storytelling in Health Care Centers to a close.

Health Improvement and the Reviving of my In-Person Storytelling

My health improved last year. In 2024 I had been plagued with nightly Hypnic Night time Migraine headaches. The Caffeine Cure I started on January 20 th 2025 is still working. I take a 200 mg tablet of Caffeine at bedtime to prevent nighttime migraine headaches and I sleep very well. Because of this treatment I normally wake up each morning without a migraine headache.

This is the norm now rather than the exception. Since I am feeling much better now without having nightly headaches, I have more energy to return to in-person Storytelling in Nursing Homes. I intend to do one storytelling event each month if possible. Here are some examples of my engagements, past and planned:

On October 16, 2025 I presented 30 minutes of in-person Storytelling at St Bernard’s Nursing Home. It went well and I was invited back for an encore presentation which I did on January 27, 2026;

I presented Storytelling at Christie Gardens Long Term Care and Retirement Home on November 19, 2025 . I entertained the residents in the Courtyard long term care wing;

Cummer Lodge Nursing Home invited me to tell stories on December 2, 2025 to the second floor Residents which I did. I was there again on December 16 for the third floor Residents. I will return again to entertain another group on February 17 of this year;

On May 19, I will be at Chester Village Nursing Home to present a Storytelling Event. I will offer them a possible encore storytelling presentation for a later date;

On June 16, I will be at Thompson House Nursing Home to entertain the residents there.

While I am on holiday in Saint John, New Brunswick I have storytelling events at The Church of St David and St Stephen Nursing Home on September 3.

The following week on September 11, I will be at Loch Lomond Villa where a friend of mine is a resident. At each of these Nursing Homes where I entertain I donate a copy of my book “Cherished Memories”. Many Nursing homes have reading programs where staff and/or volunteers read to the residents.

My Outreach Initiative to Nursing Homes in Seven Countries

I have been busy on my Computer since October 1, 2025. In the past five months I have emailed over 2000 Nursing Homes across Canada and the USA, England, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia and Ireland to tell them about my Complimentary Morning Smiles of Family Friendly Humour. I am happy to report that so far 200 of them in total have replied and signed up for my Morning Smiles. The variety of respondents is encouraging: 28 Canadian Nursing homes, 152 American Nursing Homes, 3 Nursing Homes in Ireland, 12 in Australia, 3 in England and 2 in Scotland. I understand that statistically that is a very good response to an email invitation. I continue my email initiative contacting Nursing Homes. My new goal is 250 Nursing Homes in the months ahead.

Please email me if you are interested in receiving my Complimentary Morning Smiles at raymondcssr@gmail.com