Our Stories

I was raised by two moms.

“I acknowledge that we live and work within the ancestral, traditional, and unceded territories of the Secwépemc, Syilx Okanagan, Nlaka’pamux, Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Coast Salish Nations.” This is a land acknowledgement often used by Tamara Ross, Director of Operations at Sienna Senior Living and proud Cree-Métis women, before meetings and presentations.

While officially, Seniors Month comes around once a year, for us at Sienna, every month is seniors’ month! Over the last year-and-a-half, our teams have done an amazing job adapting programs to help keep residents active, engaged and entertained.

Each month, we’re pausing to recognize some of the outstanding team members who work with us. Thank you for the work you do each day. You are all truly heroes.

Born in England in 1919, John Beswick celebrated his seventh birthday at sea.

Forty years ago, Mary Jane Watson started her journey with Creedan Valley Care Community as a nurse’s aide. It was a time of new beginnings for both Mary Jane, who had a six-month-old son, and the community, which had just opened.

While this year’s Mother’s Day might be unconventional, it will be celebrated, just a little differently. In a world of social distancing, parties and physical gifts may be off the table, but that doesn’t mean your celebrations need to be cancelled. We’ve come up with a few ideas to help you make this Mother’s Day special, while keeping those you love safe.

Each month, we’re pausing to recognize some of the outstanding team members who work with us. Thank you for the work you do each day. You are all truly heroes.

In an inspiring show of unity, residents and team members at Mayfair Terrace Retirement Residence in Port Coquitlam, BC created care packages for the residents and team at a retirement residence in Burnaby, BC.

There are more than 3.3 million caregivers in Ontario who play a critical role in the delivery of physical, emotional or spiritual support to a family member or friend – Tami Calvert, is one of those special people. Tami’s father is a resident at Rockcliffe Care Community in Scarborough. During the first wave of the pandemic, Tami said, “knowing he was in such good hands was a relief.”

Each month, we’re pausing to recognize some of the outstanding team members who work with us. Thank you for the work you do each day. You are all truly heroes.

10,787 steps — one for each person living with dementia in the Niagara region. To honour the people living with dementia in their community, residents and team members at Lincoln Park Retirement Residence in Grimsby, ON, took 10,787 steps, and raised $4,000 for the Alzheimer Society of Niagara.

*Photos in this post were taken between 2016 and the present. Photos not following proper PPE and infection control protocols were taken prior to the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, pickle parties, carnivals, impromptu kayaking trips, and themed celebrations were a part of every-day life at Peninsula Retirement Residence in Surrey, BC. Even now, with the world in lockdown, Diane Toth does everything she can to bring imaginative and inspiring programs to the residents.