On February 5, 2026, Menno Place gathered to celebrate the annual Team Appreciation Awards—a tradition we have held for the past 12 years. This annual event is a chance to say thank you, to honour faithfulness, and to recognize the quiet, daily acts of compassion that shape the lives of residents and families across their campus.
This year 94 staff members were recognized, including special honours for four staff reaching 30 years of service, one reaching 40 years, and one reaching an extraordinary 45 years with Menno Place. Altogether the 94 staff members represent a remarkable 1,076 combined years of service—a legacy of care, consistency, and commitment that has touched thousands of lives.
Serving at Menno Place Since 1981
Our 45-year honouree, Ester Darco, joined the Housekeeping and Laundry team back in 1981. Nik Van Egdom, Manager of Environmental Services, described Ester as “a wonderful housekeeper who goes out of her way to make sure the residents feel loved.”
Our 40-year honoree, Vannareth Chang is part of the Dining Experience team. Her manager highlighted her thoughtful eye for improvement and her heart for making things better for residents and colleagues alike.
Four members of the care team were recognized for 30 years of service in Menno Home and Menno Hospital and each one was recognized by their manager:
- Lana Bessett was praised for her willingness to teach and lead by example.
- Deirdre Rosie was celebrated for her care rooted in dignity and kindness.
- Ronald Simon was appreciated for keeping residents’ concerns close to heart and faithfully following through.
- Heather Taylor was admired for always putting residents first and treating each person with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Outstanding Achievement Awards
In addition to long-service awards, three Outstanding Achievement Awards were presented—Everyday Hero, Living Our Values, and Best Leader. These awards carry special meaning because the recipients are nominated by the members from all across the Menno Place community. This year, nearly 100 nominations were submitted by residents, families, and staff, recognizing 78 staff members from every team and every area of our campus. These nominations are powerful affirmation of trust, impact, and everyday excellence.
This year’s winners were:
- Best Leader – Lana Harder, Housekeeping and Laundry
- Everyday Hero – Julie Toopitsin, LPN
- Living Our Values – Rhonda Henderson, Housekeeping and Laundry
We believe that honouring our staff is not just a good organizational practice—it is part of our calling. We are guided by a commitment to serve with compassionate Christian care, and we recognize that this care is lived out daily through the hands, hearts, and faithfulness of their people.
As Sujata Connors shared in closing, “We know that God is here at Menno Place. I see it every single day. Thank you for continuing to work here and support our mission to provide wonderful, compassionate, Christian care for our residents and for each other.”
Event Photos
To view images from the event go to the google album here: Go to Gallery
To download any of the images, click on the image then click on the three dots in the top right corner to open the dropdown menu. Select download from the menu to save the photo.
You can also watch a video of the event at the bottom of this post.
How to Collect Your Gift
If you reached a milestone in 2025 we have a gift for you! Gifts for 5 and 10 years of service can be collected from your manager. Gifts for 15 or more years can be picked up from Loradonna Botter. All gifts need to be picked up within 30 business days. A full list of recipients can be found below.
