Meet the Director of People and Culture
Melissa Francis with her BBQ partner, Garry Janzen at CANADA DAY 2023
Staff BBQ – July 27, 2023 – 1030 to 1430
YOU are the Heart of Menno Place! This BBQ is for YOU! Please join us on July 27th – Click for more information
Notice: Fire on Menno Home E2 – Update
Menno Home E2 Fire – July 2, 2023 Update
We are pleased to report that all residents whose rooms were impacted by smoke and water damage are relocated to safe places throughout Menno Home and Menno Hospital. There are 6 Menno Home residents relocated to the newly formed convalescent unit (CV Unit) on Menno Hospital W2. The CV unit was not, yet, full, so this was an opportune way to provide a space for some of the residents. Others have been relocated within Menno Home and several remain in the dining room with privacy screens.
Thank you to the staff who transported and settled the residents in their unfamiliar spaces, including our CEO, Sujata Connors! She was also involved in providing assistance in the laundry as we had all the linens as well as all the personal items to launder.
E1 (below the site of the fire) was impacted on the “lounge” side – it is the north side of the neighbourhood, directly entered when you come into Entrance “B”. Water came through from the sprinklers above and the Restoration company was quick to attend to these rooms. Most of the rooms have returned to their normal use as a resident room. With this progress, we have re-opened visiting to E1 Menno Home.
We continue to see the professional skills of our staff as they keep both E1 and E2 Menno Home calm and routine for the residents. Thank you to all the staff in these areas! We also want to thank the W2 Hospital team as they have taken in a number of new residents and have navigated their needs to provide continuous support and medical care. We are very proud of our team members. They have shown us all that our Resident and Family Centred Care motto, “If it matters to you, it matters to me” comes straight from their hearts.
The only place where we are discouraging visitors is Menno Home E2. However, we will not stop a family member who is anxiously wishing to see their loved one from entering.
At this time, the noise of the fans and the work of the Restoration company make it difficult to have visitors in the Menno Home E2 neighbourhood. We do not, yet, have a timeline on when the restoration will be complete. This means that family and friends will visit the 6 Menno Home E2 residents located in W2 Hospital – as well as others who were moved within Menno Home.
We are opening up more opportunities to Zoom call with residents on Menno Home E2. This initiative will be led by Garry Janzen and the Visitation Host team, beginning on Tuesday.
Media Interest
If the media approaches you for your thoughts or comments on this incident, we remind you that Menno Place only has one spokesperson to the media – CEO, Sujata Connors. Direct any enquiries to her.
Staff Support
We are very grateful that all residents are safe in their temporary locations. Thank you for taking them into your care and your hearts.
For the staff who were impacted by the fire, there will be professional support provided by FSEAP on Tuesday, tenatively between 1:30pm – 4:30pm. There will be more details provided in the next short while.
You can also reach out to FSEAP personally, your supervisor or Director of People and Culture (Melissa) if you would like further support. Sometimes, it’s really good to talk.
FSEAP – Now we’re talking – Employee & Family Assistance Programs – Confidential Counselling Services
Contact FSEAP 24/7 /365 – 1.800.667.0993
Notice: Fire on Menno Home E2
Menno Home E2 Fire – June 30, 2023
On June 30th, there was a contained fire in one resident room on Menno Home E2. The fire alarm went off when smoke was detected. The resident was safely evacuated. The sprinkler system was activated and extinguished the fire. All residents in the vicinity were also evacuated to safety. The Abbotsford Fire Department was called and attended. Smoke and water damage has impacted 14 resident rooms on E2 and the same on E1 as water ran down into the rooms below.
The team that was working did an amazing job at evacuating residents to safe places within both E2 and E1, following the protocols that they learned through our regular fire drills. Thank you for all that you did to protect the residents. We are very proud of the dedication and coordination that you displayed, providing safety and support for the residents.
David Janzen, Building Systems and Emergency Response Coordinator was on-site coordinating with the Fire Department, Fraser Valley Fire and the Restoration company. He continues to work with the Restoration company to clean and restore. Additional support came from the leadership and executive team who also attended at the time of the fire.
There be no visitors to E1 and E2 until further notice while we complete the restoration, unless loved ones are visiting a palliative resident.
Please do not go to these units to see what happened. Only the staff who work on the units should be present there.
Special thanks to Garry Janzen and Raman Benaso who called the primary contacts for all the residents so that you are informed and up-to-date.
We are very grateful that all residents are safe. There will be professional support provided by FSEAP in a debrief. You can also reach out to FSEAP personally, your supervisor or Director of People and Culture (Melissa) if you would like further support. Sometimes, it’s really good to talk.
FSEAP – Now we’re talking – Employee & Family Assistance Programs – Confidential Counselling Services
Contact FSEAP 24/7 /365 – 1.800.667.0993
Hymn Stories – July 2023
Written and published in 1833, O Worship the King, is considered one of the finest hymns from the early nineteenth century Romantic Era. It has often been called a model hymn for worship. Find out more about this hymn and its author, Robert Grant.
Click to listen.
July 7 Violence Prevention Workshop CANCELLED
The Violence Prevention Workshop on Friday, July 7, 2023 has been cancelled due to low registration.
Canada Day Celebration!
Join us on Friday, June 30th from 11:00 am-2:00 pm, for our Canada Day Celebration! We will have a BBQ, antique car show, & music by Patsy Cline, performed by Alyssa Nielson. This will take place in the Menno Place Courtyard. Everyone is welcome to come!
Memo – Trish Giesbrecht, Transitioning to Executive Director at The Cascades, Chilliwack
MEMO
To: All Staff
Re: Trish Giesbrecht transitioning to new role at neighbouring care home
June 23, 2023
Trish joined the Menno Place Team in 2006 and has worked throughout our campus of care as an LPN (Home and Hospital), Nursing Manager (Home), Manager of Care and Quality Improvement Lead (Hospital) and currently Manager of Community Enrichment (Apartments). Trish is a vibrant and compassionate faith-based leader who has helped us to move forward to success in many areas, including the adoption of Point-Click-Care in Long-Term Care, the development of a robust Private-Pay Assisted Living program, the expansion of supportive services for Independent Living as well as leadership in our Assisted Living program to onboard residents with more complex needs. From 2019 – 2022, Trish took the opportunity to develop and teach a care aide program at Columbia Bible College.
Trish has been on a leadership journey throughout her time at Menno Place, achieving her Bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Master’s in Health Profession Education. We were pleased to assist her in this through the educational financial support program that is available to all staff at Menno Place.
Trish is a trusted team leader who lifts up the members of her team to thrive in their capabilities. She sets a vision and creates a plan forward. Most recently, Trish has been our Manager of Community Enrichment, providing leadership in the care and enrichment of our 350 residents in the Apartments.
With her experience and education, Trish is now preparing to transition to a new role as Executive Director with a neighbouring organization, The Cascades in Chilliwack, BC. Although we are sad and will miss her, we are very excited for her and wish her the very best in her new role. Her last day at Menno Place will be Friday, July 7th. We look forward to continued partnership with her in the care of seniors.
We are very grateful that Smitha Varghese, DOC at Menno Hospital, has accepted the opportunity to provide interim leadership for Assisted Living at the Apartments while we recruit. We are equally grateful for Leonard Klassen, who has accepted the opportunity to provide interim leadership for Independent and Supportive Living at the Apartments.
Violence Prevention Workshop
Learn practical applications to identify risk factors of violence and de-escalation techniques at a Violence Prevention Workshop on Friday, July 7, 2023 (NEW DATE). Space is limited. Register soon!
Memo – Menno Hospital Team Members – Staff Rooms and Lockers
Memo: June 20, 2023
To: Menno Hospital Team Members
Re: Staff Rooms and Lockers – Retuning to pre-COVID practice
Now that the pandemic is over, we are moving back to the staff rooms and locker rooms as they were before COVID. You are no longer required to have your break in a specific staff room unless your unit is on outbreak or required by your direction of your supervisor to cohort.
Fireside Café – the café (inside and out) will be a public space that can be used by families, residents, customers from ARH and elsewhere as well as staff.
We will have a grand re-opening in July.
Upstairs Staff Room
The staff room between W2 and E2 Hospital will be available to be used by any staff who work at Menno Hospital.
W1 Administrative Hall Staff Room
This staff room has a sink and fridge. Please use this staff room’s amenities if you need water to wash your dishes. There is also a TV and 2 computers for staff use. The staff room is available for all staff who work in the Hospital.
Lockers
Lockers are available for use during your shift (only). Please bring a padlock to secure your items and remove the padlock and personal items at the end of your shift. These lockers are for all staff to use. There are 2 locker rooms – one for women in the W1 Admin hallway and one for men across from the Maintenance shop.
What will happen during outbreak?
You will be advised of what to do for your breaks by your supervisor.