Tullamore’s executive director, Astrida Kalnins, opened the event to a garden full of residents, employees, community partners and stakeholders, as well as many other guests.
Sienna Senior Living’s CEO, Lois Cormack, attended and spoke at the event.
“Tullamore has a very proud history in this community,” she said. “This business has changed considerably over the past fifty years, and it’s unbelievable the new skills and requirements that employees have had to learn and adopt.”
She explained that as residents’ needs have changed, employees try and make every day as meaningful as possible.
“It’s about the warmth of human connection. It’s about the relationships, and knowing that your needs are going to be met when families leave their loves ones in our care.”
A representative of Kyle Seeback, Conservative MP for Brampton West, presented a certificate and read out a personal message from the Prime Minister of Canada. Other community leaders also spoke at the event, including the Mayor of Brampton Linda Jeffrey.
Throughout its fifty years, Tullamore has had only four executive directors. Someone who knows the home extremely well is Dr. Brian Thicke, who started working there as a physician when it opened in 1965. He still continues looking after the residents today along with Dr. Simon Cheung, who has been serving residents at Tullamore for the past 36 years.
“This place keeps rising and rising,” said Dr. Thicke. “I have never seen such fluorescent staff—so caring, so committed and dedicated. You are really great, and I want you to know that when I’m in here… I want you to look after me!”