The Costume Contest is Back for 2025!

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Join in the fun and dress up on Friday, October 31st and you could win!

Prizes will be awarded for best individual and best team costumes. As a reminder all costumes should be family-friendly and work appropriate. No scary costumes please.

Claire will go around campus on Friday and try to photograph as many of the costumes as she can. If you don’t see her (or if you have a great pose and just don’t want to wait) feel free to take your own photos and email them to Claire.Colvin[at]mennoplace.ca to be entered into the contest.

This is a great opportunity to bring an extra smile to our residents’ faces with some seasonal silliness.

 

Daylight Savings Time ENDS on Nov 2

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This is a reminder to all staff that Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00am on Sunday, November 2, 2025.

Please remember to set your clocks BACK one hour. Staff working in resident-facing areas are reminded to please assist residents in resetting their clocks as well, as you are able.

2025 Hearts and Hands Conference

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This year was the 10th anniversary of SafeCare BC’s Hearts and Hands Conference – day to celebrate. educate and inspire health care assistants. Several HCAs from Menno Place attended the event and our very own Bina (HCA, Menno Apartments) was featured in an on stage interview with Ken Donahue talking about her 36 years as an HCA. Staff who attended said she did an amazing job. Congratulations Bina!

 

 

Report your influenza vaccine choice by Nov 30, 2025

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All staff working in resident spaces are required to report their decision on whether or not to receive the flu shot by November 30, 2025.

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Scheduled Server Maintenance – Wednesday, October 29

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Dear Team,

Please be advised that scheduled server maintenance will take place on Wednesday, October 29, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

During this time:

  • Internet access, including WIFI, and off-site resources (e.g., PCC) will remain available.
  • Only Internal resources – including network drives, VPN for off-site access, GoldCare, ComVida EMS, SharePoint, and related services – will be temporarily unavailable.

We will work to minimize the outage and restore services as quickly as possible.

If you experience any network issues after 5:00 PM, please contact Adaptive Technical for support at 604-357-3456.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we perform this essential work to maintain secure and reliable systems.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Get 25% off on Purdys Chocolates!

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It’s the most delicious time of the year!

In keeping with tradition Menno Place has signed up for a group Purdys order that means you can get 25% off your favorite holiday chocolates. Shop for your gifts or treat yourself, all of the holiday classics are here.

Deadline to order is: Monday, November 24th. Chocolates will be ready for pick up on Monday, December 8th.

You can download a copy of the 2025 catalog by clicking on the image below:

When you’re ready to shop all orders can place your order online. (No more paper order forms!)

Go to https://www.purdys.com/group-savings

When you follow the link to the Purdys site it will ask for your email address to add you to the group. Click on REGISTER in the top right corner to create an online account.

To start your order you’ll need to JOIN A GROUP

Enter the Group Number: 38919

Once you’ve joined the group click SHOP ONLINE in the menu at the very top of the page to start shopping.

That will open the marketplace that looks like this:

 

Please order by Monday, November 24th. Chocolates will be ready for pick up on Monday, December 8th.

Thank you!

Reminder: 2026 Vacation Requests to be Submitted via Employee Portal

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Reminder to all staff that 2026 first choice vacation requests are due in ONE WEEK – Saturday, November 1, 2025. See memo below for details and other reminders.

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.

 

Memo: Planned Power Outage Sunday Oct 26

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Please be advised that BC Hydro has scheduled an electrical shutdown that will result in a power disruption affecting the entire Menno Place Campus and surrounding properties, on Sunday, October 26th, from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

  • This power outage will affect Menno Hospital, Primrose Gardens, Terrace West, and Terrace East.
  • This power outage should not affect Menno Pavilion.
  • Menno Home will have full power via generator backup

During this time, the following services will be impacted:

  • Apartment suites will be without power, including baseboard heating
  • Some Wi-Fi and phone services may be interrupted
  • Common areas will have partial lighting and heating
  • Main kitchens will have partial power therefore menus may be adjusted accordingly
  • Each building will have at least one elevator operational
  • Menno Home will have full power via generator backup
  • All other buildings will have generator backup for Essential services only

We recommend planning accordingly to minimize disruption to your work and ensure the safety and comfort of residents and staff. If you have any questions or require assistance preparing for this outage, please reach out to your supervisor or the Facilities team.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation.

If you get questions from families you can see the communications we sent out to families at the links below.

Menno Apartments: https://mennoplacelife.com/apartments/memo-planned-power-outage-tw-te-pg/

Menno Hospital: https://mennoplacelife.com/menno-hospital/memo-planned-power-outage-menno-hospital/

Learning Opportunity: Webinars for LTC Caregivers

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Menno Home & Hospital Family Council would like to inform family and friends of 2 upcoming optional educational webinars.

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Starting new habits: Cyber Month week 4

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We all have routines that make life easier, like having bills set to autopay, meal prepping for busy weeks, or planning an outfit the night before for the next day. These small habits pay off by helping future you be prepared. Cyber security works the same way – starting a few small habits today can protect you from bigger problems in the future.

Week 4 of Cyber Month is all about forming everyday cyber security habits that can keep you safe from threats like malware , ransomware , and viruses. From being vigilant about what you download , to knowing how to spot suspicious files and AI-generated scams, this week is all about making cyber safety second nature.

Malware, ransomware, and safe downloading techniques

Malware is malicious software  created by cyber criminals. These programs can steal your data, damage your device, or lock your files until you pay to get them back (ransomware). They’re often disguised as downloadable files such as a free app, a coupon, a video, or even files disguised as something else, like a PDF.

One of the most effective habits you can start to prevent malware is to only download files or apps from trusted sources like official app stores or reputable websites. You should also avoid clicking download links from emails, texts, or messages from people that you don’t know. This week, we’ll discuss how to spot suspicious messages and files so future you can download anything confidently.

Anti-virus protection

Even the most cyber-secure person can make mistakes sometimes – and that’s where anti-virus software comes in. It scans for threats and detects problems before they can infect your device. It can also help remove malicious programs if your devices are compromised.

In some ways, anti-virus software  works like an alarm system for your devices. Having a trusted one in place means you’ll be less likely to fall victim to harmful downloads, infected links, and suspicious websites. This week, we’ll discuss how to choose the right anti-virus software for your needs and how getting into the habit of scanning your systems regularly can protect you from future headaches.

Spotting the signs of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a powerful tool for work or personal use, but it’s also making cyber threats more sophisticated. Cyber criminals use these programs to write more convincing phishing messages, impersonate people you know, and create more realistic videos and websites that are harder to identify.

As technology advances, getting into the habit of critically analyzing messages, files, and downloads is more important than ever. This week, we’ll discuss how to spot the signs of AI-generated content like messages that are overly polished, voice calls that sound robotic or ‘off’ and content that seems suspiciously urgent.

Looking ahead

The habits you build today, like thinking twice before downloading and knowing how to spot AI, can add up to protect you in the future. This week, take a moment to learn how to protect your files, identity, time, and finances by getting cyber safe for the future.