Our Stories

I guess that one would have to go all the way back to 1936; the year when the Royal Canadian Navy first called out to me. I was only 12 at the time, so I had a few years to wait. At 16 I filled out all of the required application forms, including my parents' consent and several letters testifying as to my character and moral conduct. Alas, the Navy replied that they were no longer enlisting Boy Seamen, so just wait and try again. At 17 I tried again, but received the same reply. At 18 I received a reply to the effect that, because I wore glasses, they turned me down again. Now by this time it was 1942; the war had been going on for a bit over two years, and I was getting desperate.

Ken was born in Sunderland, England in 1925. When he was 15 years old, Ken’s father enlisted him in the Air Training Corp in the hopes that it would give him some structure. Ken can remember riding his bike up the hill as a kid and watching the trainee pilots. Occasionally they’d take him up with them, even though they weren’t supposed to.

Ronald first joined the military in 1952, when he was only 17 years old. He served during the cold war, and was deployed to the Middle East from1960-1961. During that time, he was part of the Special Forces unit. He drove a large tractor truck and transported supplies between Egypt and Israel, driving across the large Sinai Desert, which is 61 thousand square km and separates the two countries. He stayed with the military for 20 years.

Residents and team members had a spook-tastic time coming together to celebrate Halloween. Look below to see some of the best moments!

Bill Hopkins loves horses.

Orpha Macasa, RAI Coordinator at Silverthorn Care Community in Mississauga, Ontario, was recently honoured with a Nursing Leadership Award from the OLTCA. She has worked as a nurse at Silverthorn since 2006, and has consistently grown in her leadership capacity. She was promoted to an MDS nurse position, MDS Coordinator and then into a managerial position as RAI Coordinator. “Orpha is a leader who will identify a gap, offer solutions to trial and takes accountability for seeing those trials through. Because of her history working on the floor, she always includes the care team’s perspectives when problem-solving,” says Justine Welburn, Silverthorn’s Executive Director. “She has earned trust from the team because of the way she supports them. She is transparent, follows through on commitments and is generous with her time.”

Janet has been the Executive Director at Bloomington Cove Care Community in Stouffville, Ontario, for 10 years and is a passionate advocate for residents with dementia.  Janet recently recognized by the OLTCA for Leadership Excellence. The home is devoted exclusively to dementia care and since Janet joined, she has made it her mission to implement a person-centred approach to caring for this population. Her goal is to balance the combination of medical and personal care, based on the unique needs of each resident. Janet and her team have implemented impactful forms of therapy for residents with dementia, including the use of personalized playlists on iPods, lavender therapy to support sleep, doll therapy, cranial massage and many more.

Isma Besic has been a Personal Support Worker at Granite Ridge Care Community in Stittsville, Ontario, since 2002. She was recently recognized with a PSW Leadership Excellence Award from the OLTCA. She has an amazing ability to communicate with resident with dementia, stemming from both her incredible passion for these residents, and her continued drive to learn. She participates in any educational opportunity she can, including G.P.A., P.I.E.C.E.S., and several leadership workshops. She has also been a mentor to many new team members and students, who have always spoken highly of her professional, patient and respectful way of teaching.

Ermias Abraham started his career at St. George Care Community in Toronto, Ontario, as an RPN more than 12 years ago, and has grown personally and professionally in that time. He grew to become a Nurse Manager, and later, when he received his RN designation, was promoted to become Associate Director of Care. Ermias was recently recognized by the OLTCA with a Nursing Leadership Award for his exemplary leadership qualities.

Residents at Nicole Lodge Care Community in Port Coquitlam, BC, and children from a local daycare, Bright Star, got together for a day of crafts, games, and fun. Everyone involved enjoyed the intergenerational program. Look below to view some of the highlights of the day!

Lion dance, dragon dance, magic, face changing, zither music, and kung fu filled the piazza with an array of splendor and colour at Villa Da Vinci Retirement Residence in Vaughan, ON. Students and their parents from Appleby College and Fern Hill School in Oakville came to give a complimentary performance for the residents and team members.