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