Care Team Restructuring Update

After careful consideration, the leadership of the Menno Place care services has been restructured.  Pooja Mishra, Executive Director of Care Services, continues to have broad responsibility for Long Term Care and Assisted Living.  The Assisted Living team will report directly to Pooja. Smitha Varghese (Director of Care, Long-Term Care) is now responsible for Long Term Care at both Menno Home and Menno Hospital .

Anitha Thomas remains as the Manager of Care for Menno Home while at Menno Hospital, Kahan Rekhia and Jagdeep Bains continue in their roles as Manager of Care and Nurse Manager, respectively.

Thank you for your patience as we have finalized the care team structure.

Happy Administrative Professionals Day

Happy Administrative Professionals Day to our Unit Clerks and Executive Administrator!!

What is the history of this day?
Three people led the effort to create Administrative Professionals Day/Week: Mary Barrett, a past president of the National Secretaries Association – now called the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP); C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation; and Harry F. Klemfuss, public relations account executive at Young & Rubicam.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer proclaimed the first observance of National Secretaries Week as June 1-7, 1952. Wednesday, June 4, 1952, was designated the first National Secretaries Day. In 1955, the National Secretaries Association changed the dates to the current celebration during the last full week of April.
The name of the observance was changed to Professional Secretaries Day/Week in 1981 when the National Secretaries Association became Professional Secretaries International (PSI).
In 1998, PSI changed the organization’s name to the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) and the name of the occasion was changed again in 2000 when the IAAP designated the holiday as Administrative Professionals Day/Week. The name change reflects the changing job titles and expanding responsibilities of today’s administrative workforce.

Celebrating Easter

Christ’s death and resurrection inspires us to provide compassionate Christian care for all.

Kara Wilkinson – Staff Prayer – April 17

As we prepare for Easter Weekend, Shawna a volunteer chaplain here at Menno Place, shared about Maundy Thursday and we prayed for Kara.

The Meaning of Easter – Holy Week

Easter is celebrated by over 2.3 billion Christians in the world. For 40 days, Christians anticipate the death and resurrection of Jesus in a time of Lent. This ends on Palm Sunday which is the start of the Holy Week. The end of the Holy Week brings Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ death and Easter Sunday, His resurrection.

Send Your Thanks to the Visitation Hosts

This is your chance to say thank you to the visitation hosts before the program ends at the end of April.

If the shoe fits, wear it! Footwear Assessment: April 22, 2025

PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN:
HELP REDUCE FOOT INJURIES

On April 22, 2025, there will be a Footwear Assessment done site-wide. Your footwear will be assessed.

If it doesn’t comply, People & Culture will be alerted and a review of compliance will take place within a reasonable amount of time (for example: 10 days)

No matter who you are or what industry you work in, foot safety is an important part of making your workplace a safer place.

Each year, nearly 1 in 8 time loss injuries are foot related.

There are a number of common foot injuries, ranging from sprains, strains and tears to surface wounds, bruises and fractures.

That’s why foot safety is so important.

Purchase footwear at a discount:

If you need to purchase footwear that complies with Menno Place Dress code and Safety footwear, you can enjoy an extra 10% off already discounted employee pricing at Shoes for Crews:

Visit your custom portal: CLICK HERE

The perfect slip-resistant footwear will feature:

  • Lightweight, soft, and durable EVA rubber outsoles
  • A non-slip hexagonal tread pattern
  • Padded collars
  • Water- and stain-resistant uppers
  • Orthotic footbeds with arch support
  • A cushioned midsole for maximum comfort
  • Adequate toe boxes
  • A flattering, versatile design

Make certain you wear the footwear that is right for your job and that they fit properly.
Remember, when it comes to protective boots and shoes, it’s always feet first!

 

Menno Place Dress Code Policy AP-2-16

Footwear:

2.3          Footwear (in accordance with WorkSafeBC Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Guidelines Part 8: 8.22, 8.23):

  • Footwear must comply with WorkSafeBC Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. Employees are required to wear appropriate non-slip footwear that provides protection against injury from slipping and other hazards that are likely to be encountered in the workplace.
  • Footwear must be kept clean and in good condition.
  • Footwear must be of a design, construction and material appropriate to the protection required in each department or specific work area.
  • Individuals working in direct care areas must wear footwear completely enclosing the foot from heel to toe, including covering the top side of the foot.
  • Individuals in non-direct care work environments may have varying or additional specific safety requirements appropriate to the hazards in their work area. Flip flops are not allowed in the workplace, including office settings.

Reminder: The Federal Election is Monday April 28, 2025

The next federal election is scheduled for Monday, April 28, 2025. The polls will be open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Advance polling is also available April 18 to 21, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Voting is both a right and a privilege and all staff who are citizens of Canada are encouraged to take the opportunity to participate in the election.

Shifts at Menno Place are generally 7.5 hours, which should give staff sufficient time to vote before or after work. If you are working more than 8 hours on April 28th, please speak to your manager about accessing time to vote.

Representatives from Elections Canada will also be on site that day to assist residents with voting. The voting on site is only for residents.

Residents may have questions about voting on that day. Thank you in advance for working with us to ensure we have appropriate staff coverage and for ensuring questions are answered, especially about voting. We appreciate your hard work and your commitment to ensuring our residents receive excellent care in a safe and welcoming environment.