Be Careful: Bear Spotted on Menno Place Campus

On Wednesday night our security cameras caught an unexpected guest on the Menno Place campus when a small black bear walked past the main doors of Menno Hospital.  The  bear continued on his walk and did not cause any issues.

According to reports from The Abbotsford News, bear sightings in Abbotsford are up for 2025 so this is a good time to remind all of us about our about standard bear safety.

How to stay safe around wildlife

  1. Keep patios and outdoor spaces clear of food that can attract wildlife.
  2. Make sure pets are leashed when talking them for walks.
  3. Be aware of your surroundings, especially when existing the buildings at night.
  4. If you spot an animal, stay calm and keep your distance. Go back inside the closest building and wait for the animal to pass.

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

To: All Menno Home, Hospital & Apartments Staff
Date: September 17, 2025
Subject: Upcoming Change to Sign-In/Sign-Out Process

In the near future, an update will be made to the face scanners. This update will require staff to physically select “IN” or “OUT” in addition to scanning your face when starting and ending your shift.

How it will work:

Scan your face as normal

Select “CHECK IN” when arriving for your shift, or “CHECK OUT” when leaving your shift.

⚠️ If you do not click “IN” or “OUT”, your face scan will not register.

Tentative Change Dates:

Apartments: September 19, 2025

Home & Hospital: September 26, 2025

Additional reminders and guidance will be provided as the change is rolled out.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Primrose Gardens Gets a Sustainable Upgrade

Crews were onsite last week to install an array of solar panels on the roof of the building.

Happy Retirement Lise! 

To: All Menno Place Staff
From: Jacob Doss, Manager of Dining Experience
Re: Retirement – Lise Nelson

Happy Retirement Lise! 

Lise Nelson is retiring after 32 years at Menno Place. Across the years Lise has worked as a Care Aide and a Visitation Host and has been part of the Laundry and Dietary teams.

When asked about Lise, her current and former managers said that Lise is a very caring person who prioritized Resident Centered Care. She enjoyed using her artistic skills to enhance the residents’ surroundings and was a great advocate for the residents when their care needs changed over time.

Garry Janzen and Jacob Doss went on to say:

“Lise always had a desire to serve the residents and their families well. Her advocacy helped improve the experience of the residents while living at Menno Place.”

Thank you Lise! You will be missed. We wish you all the best as you step into this new chapter. Lise’s retirement is effective August 31, 2025.

 

Retirement Party for Lise Nelson – Sept 16

To: All Staff
From: Jacob Doss
Date: September 15, 2025
Re: Retirement Party for Lise Nelson

_________________

Join us to celebrate with Lise Nelson as she retires from Menno Place after 32 years!

 

And the Winner Is . . . . .

Thank you to everyone who cast a vote in our 80s BBQ Costume Contest. The winner (with 38% of the votes!) is….

For the 10th Year Hundreds Gather to Celebrate Grandparents Day

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us and to the staff and volunteers who made this day possible!

Outstanding 2025 Vacation

To: All Menno Home, Apartments, and Hospital Staff
Date: September 5, 2025
Re: Outstanding 2025 Vacation

_________________________________

A reminder that a final memo was posted on July 18, 2025, asking staff to schedule the remainder of their vacation hours by August 1, 2025. Any vacation that was not scheduled by this deadline will now be booked by the Staffing Office.

Beginning September 8, 2025, the Staffing Office will schedule vacation for employees who have not yet booked all of their vacation hours. Please note: once vacation is scheduled by Staffing, no changes will be permitted.

Employees still have the opportunity to submit their final vacation requests over this weekend.

Thank you for your cooperation.