MEMO: Mother’s Day Flower and Gift Deliveries

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To: All Menno Place Staff
From: Sharon Simpson, Director of Community Enrichment
Date: May 4, 2026
Re: Mother’s Day Flower and Gift Deliveries
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Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 10 and we are expecting a large volume of floral deliveries along with one of the busiest visiting days of the year. We need your help to make sure these gifts get to their intended resident.

Starting Friday, May 8 and throughout the weekend please help celebrate our residents by doing the following:

  1. Accept any floral deliveries that come to your building provided they meet the following criteria:
    a. No lilies or other scented flowers.
    b. No loose flowers – Menno Place is not able to provide vases. An exception can be made if you know the resident has their own vase.
    c. No large potted plants. Plants that can reasonably sit on a desk or table are permitted.
    d. No large gifts that require a cart to transport will be delivered.
  2. If the delivery is for a resident in another unit in your building, please look them up in PCC and arrange the delivery of the gift to them.
  3. If the delivery is for a resident in the other Menno Place LTC building call:
    a. Menno Home 604-853-2411 x 2323
    b. Menno Hospital 604-859-7631 x2244
  4. If the resident lives in the apartments, it’s best to redirect the delivery service to that building to use the enterphone to make the delivery. If you receive a gift that is for a resident in the Apartments, please hold the gift and inform your Nurse Manager.

Thank you for taking the extra time to ensure our residents have a meaningful Mother’s Day. It matters to them so it matters to us.

NAOSH: “May the 4th Be With You”: Safety is strength

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Today is our “May the 4th Be With You” day, a reminder that safety is a force of strength and resilience. We keep each other safe by noticing risks early, speaking up, and using the tools we already have.

7 Safety Riddles:

  1. I’m not a prize, but I’m the gold ribbon that starts the story when something goes wrong. Find me on the home page when you log in, then choose me “on demand.”
  2. I’m a library with rules that can change. I’m not on a shelf, but I hold the “official” versions.
  3. I’m not social media, but I’m posted where teams walk by. I help you remember safety without logging in.
  4. I’m not a relay race, but I have parts. You start me, then you pass me along so others finish their piece.
  5. I’m a “recipe card” for chemicals. I live both in binders and online.
  6. I’m free, I’m fast, and I stop invisible hitchhikers. Do me well for about 20–30 seconds to avoid danger.
  7. I’m not an alarm, but I’m a quiet signal that someone’s status matters for safe care.

How to play:
Solve them as a team. We’ll post the answers tomorrow, and share why each one matters.

You may have noticed that today is our “May the Force Be With You” day — a reminder that the strongest force we have is safety awareness.

In our work, the “Force” is what helps us:

  • Notice risks before they become harm
  • Speak up when something doesn’t feel right
  • Support each other to work safely, every time

As a team, in addition to solving riddles, complete the activities below:

  • Identify one real safety risk on your unit today
  • Take one small action to reduce it
  • Share it with other shifts/units.

Do You Know What To Do In An Emergency?

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Natural hazards may be beyond our control, but there are ways to reduce the risk and the impact of whatever emergency we might face.

Emergency Preparedness Week (May 3-9, 2026) encourages people in Canada to take concrete actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their household during emergencies. This special week is a national effort lead by Public Safety Canada, provincial and territorial emergency management organizations, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector.

By taking a few simple steps, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere. It is important to:

  • Know the risks – Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to our community and our region can help you better prepare
  • Make a plan – It will help you and your family know what to do
  • Get an emergency kit – During an emergency, we will all need some basic supplies. We may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in an emergency

Visit Canada.ca (or your EMO or local website – the Abbotsford site is here) for more resources to help you and your family prepare for all types of emergencies.

This week, take concrete actions to be better prepared. Please do your part! Experience has shown that individual preparedness goes a long way to help people cope better – both during and after a major disaster. Get an emergency kit now – it can make a world of difference.

Emergency Resources

The following pages go to canada.ca where you’ll find specific instructions and helpful links to help you get prepared and stay prepared. Click on the type of disaster below to go to the safety information.

Wrapping up COR and a QUIZ

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Today is the last day of our COR audit.  You may see Kibria walking around the buildings today and he might ask a question or two. We look forward to receiving our final audit report sometime in the summer and we are excited to make improvements to our safety program to ensure all our staff and residents, visitors, and contractors remain safe.

Thank You & Prize Draw

Thank you to everyone who participated in this week’s COR Audit activities and quizzes. Your engagement, honesty, and commitment to safety are truly appreciated and play an important role in keeping our workplace safe for everyone.

You have another chance to be entered into the draw to win a $25 gift certificate to the business of your choice. Take the COR safety quiz below and submit your answers.

  • All quizzes submitted today and last Friday (April 24th) will be included in a prize draw.
  • All completed quizzes received by noon on Monday, May 4th will be entered.
  • The winner will be announced on Wednesday, May 6th.

Good luck to all participants, and thank you again for supporting a strong safety culture at Menno Place.

Fill out my online form.

Happy National Physicians’ Day!

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Your compassion, professionalism, and commitment to excellence do not go unnoticed.

Read more

NAOSH Week – Activities for May 4th to 8th.

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Next week is NAOSH Week (North American Occupational Safety and Health Week), a week to celebrate what we already do well and build even more confidence in safety at Menno Place.

Here’s what’s happening each day:

Monday, “May the 4th Be With You” (Strength & Resilience)
A quick safety‑mindset day with a few fun riddles and reminders that safety is something we do together.

Tuesday, May 5 — Hand Hygiene Events (Hospital Chapel)
Join us in the Hospital Chapel for hand hygiene games and information sharing, led by Loveleen (our Clinical Educator).

Wednesday, May 6 —  “We Needs a Day” (Rest & Recharge)
A wellness check‑in day: reset, breathe, and get ready to finish the week strong. (Wellness supports workplace safety.)

Thursday, May 7 — Thirst for Safety (Hydration)
A simple reminder: staying hydrated helps us stay alert and reduce mistakes.

Friday, May 8 — Relationships & Caring (Mother’s Day Weekend)
A reminder that safety also includes how we care for each other; co‑workers, residents, and families.

We’ll share a short post each day. If your unit or team participates, please take one photo (staff-safe) and send it to pandccares@mennoplace.ca so we can celebrate the week and capture evidence for next year’s COR audit.

All submissions from the week will be entered into a draw and the winning team will receive some treats for a coffee break.

Individuals who share their favourite way to hydrate will receive a $10 coffee card.

COR Update & Reminder

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Yesterday officially marked the mid-point of the COR audit, and I’m pleased to share that interviews are continuing to run smoothly overall. However, I wanted to remind individuals about their scheduled interviews. In the event you cannot make an interview or if the auditor is running late, please notify your manager ASAP. If the auditor cannot finish the interviews, that will set the whole audit back.

On a positive note, the auditor continues to provide encouraging feedback about our meetings and the knowledge shared by managers. Staff have expressed that they feel well supported, which is a testament to our ongoing commitment to safety and the well-being of our employees and residents.

There were also some constructive suggestions offered to help us improve. Specifically, notes were made regarding Surge for Injury Management and Near Miss reporting. Kibria has observed that our system is not yet fully operational; that means near misses are being recognized but not reported. Additionally, there is inconsistency in pre-shift meetings and huddles, and risk assessments are currently being conducted by just one individual in each department rather than a team. These insights are valuable opportunities for us to strengthen our processes moving forward.

Thank you for your continued support.

Racoons and Babies Safely Relocated by local Racoon Whisperer

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Thank you to our very own Racoon Whisperer, Kaush, in Maintenance – and with help of their mother, three baby racoons were successfully relocated from the storage area in the Chalet Courtyard.

Way to go, Kaush! 

‘Cause they’re as free as a bird nowAnd this bird you cannot change… LS, ’73

Register for Run for Water NOW (by April 30) to get a T-Shirt

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Do you want a T-Shirt?
Join the Menno Place Movers in the 2026 Run For Water by April 30 to get the T-Shirt

Menno Place is putting together a Run for Water Team for the 2026 Run For Water 10K and 5K Fun Run (you can walk!) on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

Are you interested in joining the MP Team? Please fill out your interest today! We are forming the team by May 15th.

Please fill out the interest form by the end of the day on May 11th.

Keep in mind:

  • The location is right here in Abbotsford, starting at Mill Lake.
  • Team members will be contacted by email once the roster is confirmed with a password to register with the Menno Place Movers team
  • Cost to enter the race is:
    •  $66.71/ person for the 10K Run
    •  $55.94/person for the 5K Run.

Let’s do this together!

Please complete the following form to express your interest in this run.

You’ll receive a password for the Menno Movers team.

Fill out my online form.

COR Feedback: Day 1 Update

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Here’s a quick update on Day 1 of our COR audit. Kibria, our auditor,  was genuinely impressed with the progress we’ve made in health and safety over the past year. They commended our transition from paper processes to the QRM, which has made a significant impact. It was great to hear his positive feedback about our Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSC) actively reviewing policies, participating in inspections and investigations, and improving the quality of meeting minutes. The auditor was also thrilled to learn that our executive team will now be reviewing suggestions from the JOHSC every month.

While no red flags were found, the auditor did highlight a few areas for improvement. These include keeping our communication boards consistently up to date, enhancing some of our documents, especially those on Surge, strengthening our document control procedures, and refining our policies.

Today, Kibria will begin interviewing staff, which is always a highlight for our auditor and a valuable part of the process.

Thank you all for your continued support and engagement. Your efforts are truly making a difference.