Network Maintenance – Oct 8 5 – 7pm

Dear Team,

Please be advised that network maintenance is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

During this time, the entire campus will experience disruptions to network services, including computers, printers, network access, and GoldCare. Cloud-based services such as PCC may be less affected, but access could still be limited.

If you experience any network issues after 7:00 PM, please contact Adaptive Support at 604-357-3456.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding as this work is essential to maintaining reliable and secure systems. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Menno Place CEO Wins National HR Champion Award

Congratulations to our CEO, Sujata Connors, on winning the 2025 Dentsu Canada Award for HR Champion (CEO)!

Memo: 2026 Vacation Requests to be Submitted via Employee Portal

M E M O R A N D U M

Date: October 1, 2025
To: All Regular HEU Members
From: Staffing
Re: 2026 Vacation Requests to be submitted via Employee Portal
_____________________

Any holiday requests made on paper, email or via voicemail will NOT be approved. Please send all requests via GOLDCARE

First Choice Vacation Requests:

  • 1st choice Vacation Requests must be submitted by November 1, 2025

Second & Subsequent Vacation Requests:

  • 2nd and subsequent Vacation Requests must be submitted by December 1, 2025, this includes ALL remaining vacation hours.
  • A maximum of (5) days may be left unscheduled, BUT must be booked by August 1, 2026 (if not, Staffing will assign, and no changes are to be made)

Please Note:

  •  Staffing requires 14 days’ notice for time off requests.
  • Short notice time off requests (less than 14 days) must be approved by the department Manager. If approved by the Manager please forward to Staffing.
  • ALL 2026 vacation must be taken by December 31, 2026
  • 2026 vacation cannot be carried over and used in 2027.
  • Part time staff please note that vacation hours are approximate. Final calculations will be done at the end of June 2026.
  • Maximum number of staff off on vacation per day will vary depending on department and operational requirements.

 

Purple Lights Nights: Standing with Those Affected By Intimate Partner Violence

October is Domestic Partner Awareness month and once again Menno Place will be participating in the Purple Lights Nights campaign – lighting our campus purple to stand with those affected by Intimate Partner violence.

If you are a victim of intimate partner/domestic abuse, we encourage you to seek help. There are supports available to you through these channels:

  • Those in immediate danger should call 9-1-1
  • Those seeking help in the form of therapy, strategies, and safety, can call the Employee Family Assistance Program at 1-800-667-0993 or visit Mennoplacestaff.com/mentalhealth
  • Women seeking shelter can contact the Ann Davis Transition Society (Chilliwack) at 604-792-2760 or SARA for Women (Abbotsford) at 604-852-6008 (24-hour access)
  • Those who are seeking Mennonite support can call 604-850-6639 or toll free at 1-888-622-6337
  • Gentlemen who wish to improve their relationships and be part of a Men’s Support Group may wish to explore the MCC Home Improvement Program by emailing endabuse@mccbc.ca or call 604-850-6639

Please remember that you can also speak to one of our own Chaplains who can provide spiritual support.

There is no place for intimate partner/domestic abuse in our communities. Please be kind to those around you as you don’t know what others are experiencing. If someone confides you and tells you that they are being abused, please encourage them to get help, listen without judgment, and build their confidence.

Please come see the People & Culture department for additional information.

Preparing your future self today: Cyber Month week 1

Imagine: it’s 9:59 am, and your favourite artist’s concert tickets are going on sale at 10 am. You log in easily, click “Book Now” and you’re in. No fumbling for login credentials , and no forgotten password  reset thanks to your password manager. That’s the benefit of good account security: it doesn’t just protect you from cyber threats, it also makes life easier for future you — whether it’s buying tickets, filing taxes, or quickly logging into a meeting on a busy day.

The first week of Cyber Month is all about learning how to protect your accounts now to save yourself time, stress, and even money in the future.

Passphrases, passwords, and password managers

Passwords and passphrases are your first line of defence when it comes to protecting your accounts. They should be unique to each account and complex. Passwords should be at least 12 characters long and include random numbers and characters. Passphrases are made of four or more random words, at least 15 characters; they’re easier to remember and harder for attackers to guess. It’s best to use a strong passphrase  when possible.

Let’s face it: no one can memorize dozens of strong and unique passwords or passphrases. That’s where trusted password managers come in. These tools store your credentials securely, so you don’t have to remember them — helping when you need to sign in quickly, book a flight, or file important information all while staying secure. This week, we’ll discuss how to create strong passwords and passphrases, how to choose the best password manager for your needs, and how it can make things easier in the future.

Multi-Factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second verification step when you log in. This means you’ll get a notification when an attempt is made to log into your accounts, meaning you have more control over who has access to them. MFA comes in many forms and can be a one-time use PIN sent to your phone, an authentication  app that requires you to confirm your identity, a token, or biometrics like your thumbprint.

MFA can dramatically reduce the risk of losing your account credentials. This week, we’ll discuss different ways to use MFA and how it protects you when you might need it the most.

Social media account security

Your social media accounts are part of your digital identity. They’re a great way to share your life and stay in touch with friends and family, but if you’re not careful, they can also be an easy way for cyber criminals to access your information. Taking precautions before you post, like limiting who can see your information, disabling location sharing when you aren’t using it, and managing your account settings, can go a long way in protecting your privacy.

Protecting your accounts with strong, unique passwords, enabling MFA, and keeping apps and devices updated can also help keep you safe. This week, we’ll discuss securing your social media  accounts and how simple steps can help protect your identity now and later.

Looking ahead

Take a moment today or this week to review your accounts. With a few simple steps, your future self will thank you. Learn more about passwords and passphrases, password managers, MFA, and social media by following along throughout Cyber Month.

CANCELLED: Upcoming Change to Sign-In/Sign-Out Process

MEMO

To: All Menno Home, Hospital & Apartments Staff
Date: September 27, 2025
Subject: Upcoming Change to Sign-In/Sign-Out Process – CANCELLED

There will be no changes to the face scanner signing in and out process at this time.

Continue scanning in as normal without trying to punch in or out.

Thank you for your cooperation.

ComVida Use Paused

MEMO

To: All Staff
Date: September 26, 2025
Subject: ComVida Use Paused

Dear Staff,

We would like to inform you of a technical issue with Comvida. Because our set-up is unique to Menno Place, Comvida has identified a problem related to the most recent Apple iPhone upgrade. As a result, cross hired staff are not receiving notifications for both sites unless they manually log into each site. To be fair to everyone, we have to pause the use of ComVida until the issue is resolved.

In the meantime, Staffing will manually call out daily single shifts by phone effective September 27, 2025.

Please note:

  • Block bookings will continue to be called out through Comvida, as staff have sufficient time to bid on these shifts.
  • Cross hired staff must log in to each site using the specific login for that location to bid on block bookings.

Thank you to those who brought this issue forward. Your feedback is important and helps us identify and resolve problems quickly.

We will provide updates as soon as ComVida shares a fix.

Menno Place Observes Truth and Reconciliation Day

Linda Weatherly (L), Manager, Recreation and Volunteers and Bridget Findlay (R) MCCBC Indigenous Neighbours Coordinator share stories at the Menno Place Truth and Reconciliation gathering.

Menno Place hosted Bridget Finley, MCC BC Indigenous Neighbours Coordinator who gave a presentation for all residents, families and staff to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Bridget spoke with us about what Jesus taught us about what it means to be a good neighbour in Matthew 22:39, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Sharon Simpson (Director, Community Enrichment) shows off a beautiful scarf with art by Indigenous artist, John Rombough, “Remember”. Purchased at the Stolo Gift shop in Chilliwack, BC

She explained the history of land acknowledgements and how they are a First Nations practice rooted in creating and maintaining relationships between groups. She spoke about the importance of listen to the stories of our Indigenous neighbours as part of the ongoing work of reconciliation. Bridget reminded us that the best way to understand and love our neighbors is to spend time with them, listening to who they are, where they have been and how they experience life. She reminded us that, “We tell our stories until we are healed.” It is a critical part of truth and reconciliation to listen to the stories of our indigenous neighbours.

“We tell our stories until we are healed.”

Timi Derbyshire (L) Recreation Aide and Leonard Klassen (R) Manager of Community Enrichment attend the presentation in Menno Hospital Chapel.

Taking Steps Towards Reconciliation

If you are looking for ways to join the work of reconciliation here are 6 things you can do today:

  1. READ about residential school history
    https://nctr.ca/education/teaching-resources/residential-school-history/
  2. EXPLORE the stories of the victims and survivors
    https://witnessblanket.ca/explore
  3. LISTEN to kids from the Sk’elep School of Excellence sing “We Won’t Forget You”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0YYkvIWbng
  4. WATCH stories of survivors:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJHR1STq_-s
  5. LEARN the right words to use when referring to our neighbors:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEzjA5RoLv0
  6. PARTICIPATE in the Stetís ímexstowx (“walk beside us”) Gathering at The Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford, Sept 30, 2025 at 10am
    https://thereach.ca/events/stetis-imexstowx-gathering/

Join Us as we Honour Truth & Reconcilation

Please join us as we honour Truth & Reconciliation with a presentation from Bridget Finlay, MCC BC Indigenous Neighbours Coordinator. We will meet in the Menno Hospital Chapel on Thursday, September 25th at 1:30pm. Residents, families, friends and staff of Menno Place are welcome to attend.

The Mennonite Church of British Columbia’s website explains the importance of the work of reconciliation this way:

Reconciliation as a core value is the work that God is doing in Christ and that we are called to do both individually and collectively. The call prompts us to embrace the practice of redemptive listening, learning, and advocacy in the interests of reconciliation between settler and Indigenous peoples.  Reconciliation as the core value guides our actions and holds us accountable.

For followers of Jesus, reconciliation is a core foundational value.

Reminder: Please fill out the MSI Safety Survey

ALL STAFF in all departments are reminded to please take a couple of minutes to complete the Musculoskeletal Injury (MSI) Prevention Survey. This survey is part of our health and safety practice and we need to hear from you. This short, anonymous survey asks about your experiences with physical strain, availability of equipment, training, and overall comfort while performing daily tasks. Your feedback will help us identify risks, strengthen our supports, and improve MSI prevention strategies across the campus.

Click here to take the survey here:

MSI Survey