Safety Comes First — Supporting One Another During Current Flood Conditions

Dear Team,

We are aware of the ongoing flooding in Abbotsford and the closure of Highway 1 and nearby routes. We understand this situation is creating real concern and disruption for many of you.

Your personal safety is our highest priority. No employee is expected to travel to or attend work if road conditions, closures, or other flood-related circumstances make travel unsafe or uncertain.

For those who are able and comfortable coming to work using alternate routes that are confirmed open and safe, your support helps us continue essential care for our residents during this challenging time. This decision is entirely voluntary and should only be made based on your own assessment of safety.

If you are unable to report to work due to unsafe travel conditions and road closures related to the flooding, please notify as soon as reasonably possible, following usual call-in procedures. These circumstances are understood to be beyond individual control.

Leadership teams are actively coordinating staffing and contingency plans to ensure resident care needs are met while respecting employee safety, rights, and collective agreements.

Thank you for your continued professionalism, compassion, and care for one another and for our residents.

Pooja Mishra,
Executive Director of Care

How to Download Your Christmas Party Photos

We’ve had some questions from staff on how to download, save and/or print your photos from the Christmas party. So here’s a quick tutorial on how to do that.

Step 1. Go to the Google gallery by clicking on this clink: Gallery Link (this is set to open in a new tab so you can still see these instructions)

Step 2. Scroll to the photo you want to save and click on it. The photo will get large. Click on the three dots in the top right corner to open the dropdown menu.

From the dropdown menu select DOWNLOAD to save the photo:

Save the photo to your phone or computer. You can now print it or share it as you like. If you have any questions or run into any problems please contact the communications team.

 

How to Contact Work for Evacuation Orders on Dec 11, 2025

Your safety is important to us, and we know individuals have been impacted by the flooding.

If you are affected by the evacuation orders and you are unable to come into work,  please contact:

  • UNTIL 6 PM – Home Staffing Office 604-851-1345 (Including Hospital )
  • AFTER 6 PM – Please resume the normal process to report absenteeism

The City of Abbotsford has provided an interactive map showing the evacuation orders and alerts.

See: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/2b4c162bc2f44a459c9be0321a63f520

Thank you and stay safe.

How to Access Your Pay Stub

We’ve had some questions from staff so here’s a quick reminder on how to access your pay stub.

Pay Schedule: Employees are paid every other Friday. (Dates may shift slightly around statutory holidays.)

Delivery: Pay Notices are emailed at least 1 day before the deposit date and include a password protected PDF.

Password Format:

  • Default password = First & Last initials (uppercase) + day of birth (2 digits) + last two digits of birth year (no spaces).
    Example: Jordan Smith, born August 14, 1989 → JS1489.

Email Address: Please ensure your personal email address on file with People & Culture is current.

If You Don’t Receive Your Pay Notice:

  • Check your junk/spam folder first.
  • If still missing by Friday of your expected deposit, contact your manager for assistance.

Weather Alert: Orange level warning – Rain

Please be advised of this weather alert put out by Fraser Health.

Orange Level Warning – Rain

Issued at 2025-12-09 11:16 by Environment and Climate Change Canada

 Issued for

  • Fraser Valley – central including Chilliwack and east including Hope, Hope Slide and Highway 3 – Hope
  • An atmospheric river will be heavy rain and warm air, likely resulting in high streamflows and localized flooding

Current details

  • Localized flooding is likely. Some roads may become impassable. Visibility will likely be suddenly reduced at times.
  • Find further details here: Weather Alerts

 Timeframe: Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening

An Orange warning means severe weather is likely to cause significant damage, disruption, or health impacts.

Flood Watch

Issued at 2025-12-09 12:00 by River Forecast Centre

Issued for

  • Lower Fraser tributaries including Fraser Valley around Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope and east through Manning Park

Current details

  • This event is potent, but it is projected to shorter in duration with less precipitation as the 2021 year event, and is forecasted to be concentrated more south of the border.
  • In addition to the anticipated atmospheric river high rainfall, shallow snowpack is being observed around the mid and upper elevations of the region, with conditions to produce rain-on-snow and additional streamflow runoff.
  • Rivers have risen from rainfall yesterday and overnight and remain high.
  • Current modelling is indicating the potential for flows to reach the 5-year to 20-year return period range or higher.
  • Stay clear of the banks of swift running rivers and never drive across flooded roads, bridges or river crossings. At this time of year leaves can clog storm drains and impact urban drainage. Keep storm drains clear.

Timeframe: Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening

A Flood Watch means that river levels are rising and will approach or may exceed bankfull.  Flooding of areas adjacent to affected rivers may occur.

_____________________________________ 

Potential impacts for consideration

  • Travel – Major travel disruption to services and transportation in the region is possible
    • Staff may have trouble accessing work sites
    • There may be delays to transport of patients and supplies
    • Communities may be inaccessible
  • Utilities and services – Utilities and services likely impacted
    • Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage
    • High winds may result in power outages and fallen tree branches
    • Power loss can lead to pump failures
  • Land and structures – Substantial property damage
    • Sudden rise in stream levels and localized flooding in residential and business areas
    • Can increase likelihood of Code Grey internal flooding
  • Human health – There may be an increased demand on health care services
    • There is a potential for higher number of visits in Emergency Departments
    • There is a possibility for delays from BCEHS and 911 dispatchers
    • Prioritization of client/patient/resident wellness checks should consider priority populations

 Potential actions to take

  • Sign up for weather alerts through Alertable, WeatherCAN, and AlertMe
  • Make sure on-call leadership is aware and knows how to report any impacts
  • Be aware of plans that support the impacts of flooding and power failures
  • Give yourself more time to travel for work
    • Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve

Purdy’s Orders Ready for Pick Up!

Thank you to those who participated in the Purdy Group Savings Program for Christmas 2025. The chocolates have arrived.

Anyone who placed an order is asked to stop by Loradonna’s office to retrieve your chocolates. How sweet is that?

Loradonna’s office is located in the admin hallway in Menno Hospital East 1.

 

Christmas Party Photos! And Gifts! And a Survey!

Looking for your photos from the party? Wondering if you won? It’s all right here.

Blue Christmas: A quiet reflective service

Christmas can be a difficult time of year. Residents, families, friends and staff are invited to join us for this gentle service.

Christmas Door Decorating Contest 2025!

The Christmas Door Decorating contest is underway for 2025! We will have a prize for the best team door and the best individual door.

The contest is running from December 1st to 15th. Have you decorated your door yet?

How to Enter:

  1. Gather your team (or go solo) and decorate a door. Please make sure that the door remains safe (ie can open, close, and lock as usual) and do not block any necessary sightlines.
  2. Take a photo and send it to Claire.Colvin [at] MennoPlace.ca along with the names of the people who worked on the door and your location on campus.
  3. Please submit your photos of your team or individual Christmas doors no later than 4 pm on December 15th.

Winners will be announced by Thursday, December 18th.

Happy Decorating!

Here are some of last year’s entries (including the winning entry!) for inspiration: