Welcome Jasreen Kaur Sandhu – Payroll Business Partner!
We are excited to have her join the Menno Place family and look forward to the many contributions she will bring.
MEMO: Absence Reporting for Evening and Night Shifts UPDATE – Please Read
UPDATE:
There was a change to this procedure effective July 25. See new details here: https://mennoplacestaff.com/july-25-update-absence-reporting-for-evening-and-night-shifts/
Apartments, HOME, Important Update
Effective immediately, employees who need to report an absence for the HOME or APARTMENTS only, for an evening or night for the current day must contact the Staffing Office directly at:
778-982-0036
When reporting an absence, please provide:
- Your name
- Department/work area
- Scheduled shift
- The anticipated duration of your absence, if known
All other absences, including all absences requests for the HOSPITAL can be made using the regular phone number for the Hospital staffing office, and follow the instructions.
Please continue to follow this process until further notice.
Thank you for your cooperation.
People & Culture / Staffing Office
Staying Safe in Hot Weather
With elevated temperatures, the risk of heat related illness increases, particularly in seniors and those more vulnerable.
Since 2022 Menno Place has made significant improvements the our air conditioning across our campus, especially in our long-term care buildings. Along with these improvements all staff are reminded to work together to keep residents and buildings cool and take extra care to stay safe during these hot days.
Temperatures in excess of 26 degrees can result in increased physical strain in seniors, particularly if those temperatures continue over a period of days.
To protect our residents and tenants, we pro-actively monitor for heat-related conditions, following our Heat Preparedness Plan.
We mitigate risk by:
- ensuring hydration to all those who receive care services
- providing water / hydration stations in all buildings for staff and tenants
- providing cooling cloths to all who receive care services
- closing blinds/curtains and ask tenants to do the same
- ensure those in care are wearing light-weight clothing and reminding tenants to do the same
- encouraging apartment tenants to seek out air-conditioned spaces or get an air-conditioner installed
Staff can help keep the residents cool by:
- Offering residents lots of water and other fluids
- Monitoring residents, especially ones with ‘sun stickers’ often for heat related illnesses
- Disposable cooling pads are available at the nursing stations
- Gel packs for residents are located in the Home & Hospital kitchen freezers. Use for resident heat emergencies only.
- Relocate residents to cooler areas if their rooms get uncomfortably hot.
- Fans may not effectively reduce body temperatures or prevent heat-related illness in people at risk. Therefore, fans should be used to move cool air around and not be used as a primary cooling device.
Staff, keep the buildings cool:
Ensure air conditioners are ON at all times. (report any problems to maintenance right away)
Windows and blinds closed in the hot day times. Open windows in the cooler evenings (if safe to do so)
Quick Tips for Extreme Heat
How to keep your body cool and comfortable:
- Drink plenty of water
- Put on sunscreen when outside
- Wear loose fitting, light coloured, breathable clothing
- Avoid being in direct sunlight for too long
- Place a cold, wet towel around your neck
- Keep your apartment cool by closing the blinds, using AC, and limiting oven use
- Shower, bathe, or sponge off with cool water
And if you experience symptoms of a heat stroke (high body temperature, dizziness or fainting, confusion, and very hot and red skin), call 9-1-1.
Heat Exhaustion Symptoms
- Skin rash
- Heavy Sweating
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rapid Heartbeat and breathing
- Muscle cramps
- Extreme thirst and/or dark urine or decreased urination
Anyone with one or more of these symptoms should move to a cool space immediately and let someone know they are not feeling well.
Heat Stroke Symptoms
- High body temperature
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Confusion
- Lack of coordination
- Very hot and red skin
Anyone with any of these symptoms should call 911 immediately.
Upcoming Door Access Changes to Enhance Resident Safety
Dear Team Members,
Resident safety remains our highest priority. Over the past several months, we have experienced incidents where residents have exited the building and entered potentially unsafe environments despite staff vigilance, reminders, and existing safety measures.
To further strengthen our resident safety practices and reduce the risk of unsafe wandering, we will be implementing additional access control measures at selected exits in both Menno Hospital and Menno Home.
The following doors will be updated with keypad-controlled exit access:
Menno Hospital
- W1 Hospital Hallway – door located near Staffing and the Communications Office leading to the exterior.
- Door opposite the face scanner and Maintenance Room leading to the parking area.
Menno Home
- W1 Employee Exit located next to the Laundry Room.
How the new system will work:
- Employees will continue to use their swipe cards for entry through these doors.
- A keypad code will be required for exit through the designated doors.
- Keypad codes will be provided to employees closer to the implementation date.
These changes are being introduced to support resident safety while maintaining employee access to the building. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement these important safety enhancements.
Further details, including implementation dates and keypad codes, will be shared in advance of the changes taking effect.
Thank you for your continued commitment to the safety and well-being of our residents.
Memo: Staff Appreciation – Name or Site Changes
To all team members,
As we prepare for our upcoming Staff Appreciation event, we want to ensure everyone is recognized accurately and respectfully.
If you have had a legal name change or a site/location change (Home/ Hospital/ Apts/ MBS) on or before 2021, please let us know so we can update our records ahead of the event.
Kindly send an email with your updated information to People & Culture at pandccares@mennoplace.ca.
Thank you for helping us keep our records current and for everything you contribute to Menno Place.
Employee Memo – Absence Reporting for Evening and Night Shifts
Effective immediately, employees who need to report an absence for an evening or night for the current day must contact the Staffing Office directly at:
📞 778-982-0036
When reporting an absence, please provide:
- Your name
- Department/work area
- Scheduled shift
- The anticipated duration of your absence, if known
All other absences and requests can be made using the regular phone number for the staffing office.
Please continue to follow this process until further notice.
Thank you for your cooperation.
People & Culture / Staffing Office
July 7, 2026 – BCNU Job Action Memo
July 7, 2026 – BCNU Announces Job Action
Following the British Columbia Nurses’ Union (BCNU) announcement of job action at worksites across the province, we want to reassure residents, families, and loved ones that Menno Place has an Essential Services Plan in place to ensure the continued delivery of safe, compassionate, and consistent care. This plan was built in collaboration with the union and is designed to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all those who call our campus home.
Essential Services Plan ensures continuity of care
Residents and families can be confident that care services will continue across our entire campus, including Long-Term Care, Assisted Living, and Independent Living. Essential staffing levels and care priorities have been established to ensure residents continue to receive the support they need. Our focus remains on providing a safe, stable, and well-coordinated environment where the dignity, comfort, and well-being of residents remain at the centre of every decision.
Menno Place has a long-standing commitment to operational readiness, emergency preparedness, and service continuity. Our leadership team is actively monitoring developments and working closely with union representatives and health system partners to ensure plans remain responsive to the circumstances.
Normal Operations
Residents and families should expect normal operations, including visits, activities, and care routines.
Communication on www.MennoPlace.ca
Should any significant changes occur, we will communicate promptly and transparently on the www.MennoPlace.ca website.
Invitation to join us in prayer
As a faith-based community, we invite residents, families, team members, volunteers, and supporters to join us in prayer for everyone involved and for a positive resolution to the job action. We take comfort in knowing that we are in the Lord’s hands and trust in His guidance, peace, and provision for our community during this time.
Accreditation 2026 – The Five Ws
WHY
We want to BEE the best! Being accredited allows Menno Place to be measured against world class evidenced based health care standards. The goal is to provide the best healthcare and services to our residents so we can do what we do best: care for and improve lives.
WHEN
Save the Date: Oct 26th to Oct 29st, 2026.
These are the dates the Accreditation surveyors will be on site. Stay connected by attending your team huddles, reading the https://mennoplacestaff.com/ updates, and participating in the fun events to come.
WHERE
Onsite at Menno Home and Menno Hospital in all areas of care, services, and support.
WHO
Accreditation Canada develops evidence-based standards, assessment programs, and quality improvement solutions. People-centered care philosophy and approach to setting its standards and guiding the accreditation process.
WHAT
The Accreditation Tool is organized into eight chapters:
Chapter 1: Governing LTC Home’s Strategies, Activities, and Outcomes
Chapter 2: Upholding Resident-Centred Care
Chapter 3: Enabling a Meaningful Quality of Life for Residents
Chapter 4: Ensuring High-Quality and Safe Care
Chapter 5: Enabling a Healthy and Competent Workforce
Chapter 6: Enabling Infection and Prevention Control Practices
Chapter 7: Maintaining Safe Medication Management Practices
Chapter 8: Promoting Quality Improvement
CV Pharmacy Services Transition – Effective July 1, 2026
We would like to inform all staff that, effective July 1, 2026, CV pharmacy services will transition from CareRx to Apex Pharmacy.
Families and Convalescent (CV) residents have already been notified of this change. All required consent forms and transition documentation have been completed.
Important Reminder for Nursing Staff
- Effective July 1, please ensure that all medication orders, prescriptions, and requisitions are directed to Apex Pharmacy.
- During the transition period, if you encounter any medication-related discrepancies, delays, or concerns, please follow the established reporting process for prompt tracking and resolution.
Thank You
Thank you for your cooperation and support in ensuring a safe and seamless transition of pharmacy services.
If you have any questions or require clarification, please connect with Nurse Manager, Menno Hospital or Director of Care.
Scent-Safe Workplace for staff, residents and visitors
Scent-safe means eliminating exposure to scented products on the Menno Place campus.
At Menno Place, we are committed to eliminating health concerns arising from exposure to scented products by maintaining a scent-safe environment for all employees and visitors on the Menno Place campus.
Menno Place ensures the health and well-being of employees by preventing exposure to scented products that can cause environmental chemical sensitivities. The goal is to:
- Eliminate the use of perfume, cologne, aftershave, scented air fresheners and scented candles from the workplace, lit candles are not permitted on-site;
- Eliminate the use of heavily scented personal hygiene products such as hair products, lotions, creams and deodorant;
- Eliminate the use of non-personal products with a distinct scent or fragrance such as industrial cleaning products, air fresheners and building materials (paint), as the scent may remain on your skin and cause irritation to you or others. There is also a higher risk of staining clothes with these products; hence, making them inappropriate for the work setting.
- Reduce heavily scented flowers in the workplace such as lilacs, hyacinths, lilies, etc.
When scented products adversely affect a person’s health, i.e., allergies/asthma, some or all of the following symptoms are to be reported to your manager, or first aid attendant on duty: headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, difficulty breathing and skin irritation.
Do not use or bring scented personal or non-personal products to the Menno Place workplace.
Policy Name: AP 2.16 Dress Code Mar 2025 found in Surge Learning: Policy Professional
