Reminder: No Staff Parking at Church on Weekends

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This is a reminder to all staff that the free parking offered to us by Peace Lutheran Church is available Monday – Friday (excluding holidays) from 0600 – 1800 on the west side of the parking lot only. Staff are not permitted to park here evenings or weekends.

The church has two events happening this Saturday, March 29, that are expected to draw particularly large turnouts and they have requested that Menno Place staff not use the lot at that time.  Thank you for being good neighbors and respecting both this request and the boundaries that are in place on our ability to borrow that space.

You can find a full rundown of all parking options available to staff here:
https://mennoplacestaff.com/staff-parking-2025/

Road Resurfacing on Primrose Street Starting March 24

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MEMO

To: All Menno Place Staff, Residents, and Visitors
From: Bas Kervel, Director of Support Services
Date: March 21, 2025
Re: Road Resurfacing on Primrose Street and Surrounding Area Starting March 24

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The city of Abbotsford will be in our area to complete road resurfacing from March 24 – 29, weather permitting.

The road works will affect Wildwood, Primrose, Wilerose, Brundige, Kay and Stevenson as marked on the map below. During the period of work the roads will be limited to local traffic only and NO STREET PARKING will be permitted.

Staff, residents, and visitors should expect delays and plan accordingly.  If you need to pick up a resident from Terrace East during this time it may be easier to enter through the main doors of Terrace West.

Please remember to keep a safe distance from equipment working on the road and follow all direction given by traffic control persons.

Teresa Halovich – Staff Prayer – March 20

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On this, the first day of Spring, Shawna shared some verses from Song of Solomon and we prayed for Teresa Halovich.

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MEMO: Terrace Staff Room Moving April 1, 2025

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To: All Menno Apartments Staff
Date:  March 21, 2025
Re: Terrace Staff Room is Moving April 1, 2025

Dear Team,

The current staff room located on the second floor of Terrace East will be moving to a new location effective April 1, 2025. The new staff room will be situated on the second floor of Terrace West, directly beside the existing staff room in that area. While this move is happening on April Fool’s Day this is not a prank.

You’ll be able to access the new staff room via the Terrace West stairwell just past the dining room (across from the hair salon) or from the elevator in the Terrace West lobby. The room will be accessed through a digital lock. Managers will be provide the code to their teams.

We anticipate moving the furniture over at the beginning of the work day and will do our best to minimize the disruption. Going forward both Terrace West staff rooms will be open to staff. The current staff room in Terrace East will revert back to a resident space and will not be available for staff use. Please do not use this room past March 31st.

This move is part of our ongoing efforts to improve our facilities and provide a more comfortable and convenient space for all staff members. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding during this transition.

If you have any questions please contact your manager.

Dave Janzen – Staff Prayer – March 13 2025

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We prayed for Dave Janzen and Ingrid Schultz, one of our board members, shared a meditation from Matthew 11:28-30

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Appreciate our Social Work Team – Tuesday, March 18, 2025

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Thank you to Melina, Dan, and Kim for advocating, caring and breaking barriers for residents and families here at Menno Place.

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A Prayer for Pandemic Observance Day – March 11

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March 11 is Pandemic Observance Day in Canada. For all of us who lived through the pandemic alongside seniors is it a tender time to remember. There was so much loss – lost loved ones, lost time, lost community. And now, years past that first fateful day, some things have gone back to normal and some things never will. In light of all of that we asked Kerry Dyck, one of our Chaplains, to write a prayer for the day. May these words bring you comfort.

Our Loving God,

On this day while taking time to look back and remember our experience during the Pandemic we admit that we’d rather not.

Those were hard days filled with long, difficult hours. But as we cast our gaze behind, we know that you are with us giving us strength, even as you were during the pandemic months of loss, disorientation and discouragement.

Lord, we lament what was lost.

Even though we had lots of time on our hands we lament the time we lost. We lament the missed opportunities caused by the pandemic. We grieve the relationships that suffered under the weight of strain whether due to physical separation or the separation that comes from seeing things differently.

Most of all, loving God, we are sad because we lost dear people to Covid. Oh, how we miss them! Our hearts are heavy. And yet even there you meet us and are with us.

Open our eyes and hearts to your comfort this day. Remind us that you were with us then and that you still are today. May your hope and love fill our minds and hearts with peace for you are the God of all comfort. Lord, we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but we know that you hold tomorrow in your loving and gentle hands.

This we pray by faith, even if its only a tiny bit,
in the name of Jesus,
Amen.

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Daylight Savings Time Begins March 9th

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Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 9th at 2AM. Please adjust your clocks accordingly.

The transition to Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the spring, commonly known as “springing forward,” involves setting clocks ahead by one hour. This change can disrupt our internal body clocks, leading to various health and safety concerns. In consideration of your well-being, we would like you to be aware of the following risks of Daylight Savings Time.

Risks Associated with Spring Daylight Saving Time:

  1. Sleep Disruption: Losing an hour of sleep can disturb circadian rhythms, resulting in fatigue, reduced alertness, and decreased cognitive performance.
  2. Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Events: Studies have observed a rise in heart attacks and strokes following the spring DST transition, potentially due to sleep deprivation and circadian misalignment.
  3. Higher Accident Rates: The shift has been linked to a 6% increase in fatal traffic accidents, particularly during morning commutes when drivers are adjusting to the time change.
  4. Mood Disturbances: Disrupted sleep patterns can exacerbate mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.

Strategies to Mitigate These Challenges:

  1. Gradual Schedule Adjustment: In the days leading up to DST, go to bed 15–20 minutes earlier each night to help your body acclimate to the upcoming time change.
  2. Morning Light Exposure: Seek natural sunlight in the morning to help realign your circadian rhythm. Light exposure plays a crucial role in regulating sleep-wake cycles.
  3. Maintain Consistent Sleep Hygiene: Establish a calming bedtime routine, avoid caffeine and electronic devices before bed, and create a restful sleep environment to enhance sleep quality.
  4. Prioritize Safety: Be extra cautious during activities that require full alertness, such as driving, especially in the days immediately following the time change.

Join One of Two New JOHS Subcommittees

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Are you interested in supporting health and safety initiatives here at Menno Place? The Menno Home Joint Occupational Health and Safety committee (JOHS)  is inviting employees to join one of two new subcommittees. No prior experience is required.

The two new committees are:

  1. Musculoskeletal Injury and Violence Prevention Committee (MSI/VP)
  2. Wellness Committee

The goal of the MSI/VP subcommittee is to foster a proactive and supportive environment that minimizes musculoskeletal injuries and promotes employee well-being. The subcommittee will be led by a JOHS representative.

Primary responsibilities of the MSI/VP subcommittee will include:

  • conducting risk assessments
  • developing prevention strategies
  • providing training

The primary responsibilities of the Wellness committee will be to promote employee wellbeing by developing and implementing programs that support physical, mental and emotional health for employees, providing health resources etc.

If you would like to be considered for either of these committees please fill out the form below.

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Menno Apartments – HEU-CBA – Phased In Approach

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To: All Menno Apartments Staff
From: Jessy Manhas
Date: March 13, 2025
Re: MENNO APARTMENTS – HEU-CBA – PHASED IN APPROACH

The HEU-CBA Agreement will be initiated at Menno Apartments with a phased in approach. Phase I will be effective March 25, 2025. This includes all non-monetary provisions.

You can find the HEU-CBA Agreement on the HEU website at: https://heu.org/collective-agreements/community-health/menno-apartments . The next phases will be communicated once an agreement is made with the union.

If you have any questions, you can contact the Chief Shop Steward, Megan Wadham at mewadham@telus.net.

Regards,
Jessy Manhas
Manager of People and Culture