MEMO: Resident Lounge Spaces

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MEMO

Date: October 31, 2025
To: Terrace East and Terrace West
Re: Resident Lounge Spaces
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Dear Residents of Terrace East and Terrace West,

I am writing to inform you about the reconfiguration of the 1st and 2nd floor lounges in Terrace East. Our goal is to make these changes by November 1st. We are committed to providing resident space in the building for you to use and enjoy.

Terrace East 1st Floor Lounge will be reconfigured as a lounge. We have a large-screen TV with cable available. We encourage residents to visit and hang out in this space. As part of this, most chairs will be removed from the front entrance lobby to ensure safer movement of people through that small space. Please, make yourself at home in the 1st Floor Lounge.

Terrace East 2nd Floor Lounge will become our primary recreation activity room. Looking for bingo? It will take place here. Watch your recreation calendars for all the events that will happen in the 2nd Floor Lounge. When there is no scheduled activity, please feel free to use the room. Why not invite another resident to play a game?

As a reminder, there is a lounge space on every floor in Terrace East, along with the Terrace West Bistro and the Terrace West Puzzle Room on 2nd Floor. These spaces are for you to enjoy and use. Your visitors, of course, are welcome to join you in any of these spaces.

Many of you have asked what spaces we have for staff. We have two staff rooms, centrally located between Terrace East and Terrace West that are available for our staff to take their breaks.

I also would like to encourage you to interact with other residents. I was recently asked if residents could self-organize a time to play games, or organize a book club. The answer is a resounding YES. We encourage you to interact with each other and build community.

To summarize, here are the common resident spaces in the Terraces:

  • Terrace East 1st Floor Lounge/TV Room
  • Terrace East 2nd Floor Activity Room
  • Terrace East 3rd Floor Activity Room / Craft Room / Pool Table
  • Terrace East 4th Floor Exercise Room
  • Terrace East 5th Floor Puzzle Room and Outside Patio
  • Terrace East 6th Floor Library
  • Terrace West Bistro with Coffee and Juice Machine / Shuffleboard
  • Terrace West 2nd Floor Puzzle Room

I also want you to be aware that we are in the process of getting more furniture for these areas. Thank you for your patience as we properly plan for what is best suited in our building. Pass along any ideas you may have.

I’m looking forward to seeing these resident spaces used and enjoyed. I’ll look for you when I walk past.

Leonard Klassen,
Manager of Community Enrichment – Life Enrichment Team 604-851-4004

MEMO: Bus Trips

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MEMO

Date: October 31, 2025
To: Apartments Residents
Re: Bus Trips

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Dear Residents of Menno Apartments,

We are informing you of an important update regarding our bus trips.

Starting November 1st, a 72-hour cancellation policy will be in effect. This means the following:

  • If you cancel your reservation more than 72 hours in advance, there will be no charge.
  • If you cancel your reservation less than 72 hours before the trip, you will be charged the trip fee.
  • You may transfer your spot to another resident if you are unable to attend.

This change is intended to reduce last-minute cancellations and ensure trips have enough participants. Please continue to sign up for any bus trips as soon as possible. Each trip requires a minimum number of participants. If we don’t meet that number, we will cancel the trip 48 hours before the scheduled departure. In this case, you will not be charged.

Our recreation team organizes these trips and welcomes your ideas and suggestions. Feel free to speak with any team member or contact Linda Weatherly, Manager of Recreation, at 604-851-1352.
If you’ve never joined a bus trip before, we encourage you to give it a try!

Leonard Klassen,
Manager of Community Enrichment – Life Enrichment Team 604-851-4004

MEMO: Update to Lunch Service During Power Outage

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Date:   October 24, 2025
To:       Terrace West/Terrace East/Primrose Gardens
Re:       Planned BC Hydro Power Outage
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Dear Residents of Terrace West, Terrace East, and Primrose Gardens,

As a reminder, BC Hydro has scheduled a planned power outage.

Date:          Sunday, October 26, 2025

Time:          9:30am – 4:00pm

*Please note the times are approximate

*We do not know how long the outage will be

Further to yesterday’s memo, I’m announcing an update to our meal plan.

Morning Break – served in the dining room as usual. Please plan to be back in your suites by 9:30am.

Lunch Meal – will be served door-to-door in your suites. Dietary staff will knock on your door, ask what you want, and provide you with your meal. Drinks will not be served.

Supper Meal (Terrace only) – served in the dining room as usual.

Thank you for your understanding as we make this last-minute change to our plans out of concern for everyone’s safety.

MEMO: Planned Power Outage TW/TE/PG

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Date:   October 22, 2025
To:       Terrace West/Terrace East/Primrose Gardens
Re:       Planned BC Hydro Power Outage
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Dear Residents of Terrace West, Terrace East, and Primrose Gardens,

BC Hydro has scheduled some system upgrades in our area of Abbotsford. They have informed us that there will be a power outage impacting your building.

Date:          Sunday, October 26, 2025

Time:          9:30am – 4:00pm

*Please note the times are approximate

During any power outage, our back-up system provides power to essential services. At least one elevator in each building will be operational. The garage door will work. There will be some lights in all hallways. Meals will be served in the dining room as usual.

Your individual apartments will likely have no power. TVs will not function. Any food in your fridge should be fine, just leave the fridge closed as much as possible. Be aware that any lift chairs you have will not function without power.

Menno Place Staff will monitor the situation; please only call the building emergency line for something out of the ordinary during this time – you do not need to call to inform us of the power outage.

This outage will not affect Pavilion as they are on a different power supply.

Learning Opportunity: Webinars for LTC Caregivers

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Menno Home & Hospital Family Council would like to inform family and friends of 2 upcoming educational webinars

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The Great British Columbia Shake Out – Oct 16, 2025

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Menno Place will practice our earthquake preparedness safety drill  – the Great British Columbia Shake Out – on Thursday, October 16th at 10:16am. DROP, COVER AND HOLD ON. All staff and residents at Menno Place will be participating with practice drills.

Drop, Cover, and Hold On when the earth shakes.

Taking the proper actions, such as “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”, can save lives and reduce the risk of injury. Everyone, everywhere, should learn and practice what to do during an earthquake, whether at home, work, school or traveling.

If you’re at Menno Place on Oct 16th, please prepare to participate in this drill.

At 10:16am you will hear an announcement: “Earthquake drill STOP, DROP, COVER, HOLD ON”

  • You are required, if safe to do so, stop current activity, drop to the floor and take cover under a table or desk.
  • You should count out loud for the duration of the simulated earthquake. This will help keep you focused and calm, as well as providing an indication of how long shaking can last.
  • When the shaking portion of the drill stops, stay in place and count to 60, giving displaced objects a chance to settle.

Some education tips:

  • Residents in beds, recliners, wheelchairs should not be transferred until after the shaking stops. Stay put. Cover your head and neck with your arms or a pillow until the shaking stops.
  • Wheelchair users: lock the wheels, cover your head and neck.
  • A safe place for residents who cannot drop is next to an inside wall away from moving/falling objects
  • Do not use doorways

For those who use adaptive equipment:

 

We Want to Hear From You – Family & Friends Satisfaction Survey 2025

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Please take the survey by October 19, 2025 and let us know how we’re doing.

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Free Online Cyber Security Workshop Series for Older Adults During Cyber Month

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MediaSmarts, Get Cyber Safe, the Canadian Network  for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, in line with Cyber Security Awareness Month and Media Literacy Week 2025, invite Canadians of all ages to three free virtual workshops to help you learn how to be safer online.

Join one or all of our workshops and invite your friends, loved ones and colleagues to join us, too. You do not have to take one workshop to take the others. For more information about these workshops, please contact communications@mediasmarts.ca.

Please note that these workshops are designed for Canadian individuals to help raise their cyber security awareness and to help them feel more empowered online. These workshops are not meant as formal or certified training sessions for organizations nor for insurance purposes.

Discover Online Safety Workshop – Thursday, October 16, 2025

Designed for individuals with beginner technical knowledge, this workshop will help equip you with the information and tools to:

  • create strong passwords and passphrases
  • download apps safely
  • help you avoid online scams

Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025
Time: 1 pm EDT
Location: Presented on Zoom

Register for the Discover online safety workshop

Navigating Online Privacy and Security Workshop – Thursday, October 23, 2025

Designed for individuals with beginner to intermediate technical knowledge, this workshop looks at how to keep your devices and your personal life secure online. Topics will include how to:

  • secure your accounts and devices
  • keep your devices safe from malware
  • prevent and deal with cyberstalking

Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Time: 1 pm EDT
Location: Presented on Zoom

Register for the Navigating online privacy and security workshop

Navigating Online Information Workshop – Wednesday, October 29, 2025

The internet is full of information—but how do you know what to trust? This hands-on workshop teaches you how to find reliable online information, check sources and avoid misinformation. Learn practical strategies for using search engines, Wikipedia, social media  and sharing sites like YouTube more effectively and safely. Participants will leave with tools to make smarter choices about what they read, watch, and share online.

Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Time: 1 pm EDT
Location: Presented on Zoom

Register for the Navigating online information workshop

New Menu Options at the Fireside Café

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Looking for a quick and delicious option for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a hearty snack? Come and see the new offerings in the bento machine at the Fireside Café (located in Menno Hospital just off the lobby).

Hot breakfast options now include:

  • Bacon, egg and cheese on an English Muffin
  • Spinach and egg white wrap
  • Egg, sausage and potato breakfast wrap

We’ve also added savory and satisfying vegetable noodles along with these favorites:

  • Shrimp fried rice
  • Chicken souvlaki
  • Roast beef
  • Butter chicken
  • Dal curry rice
  • Chicken biryani
  • Lamb curry
  • Chicken fried rice

Prices start at $6.99. Items can be heated at time of purchase, or served cold to reheat at break time. Grab yours today! Coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks and ice cream are also available.

Mail Delays: Giving Alternatives During the Canada Post Strike

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Thank you for the many ways you support Menno Place and help us care for our seniors with compassion and dignity. We know that some of you prefer to mail your donations, but with the ongoing Canada Post strike that began on September 25, mail delivery is currently delayed. If you were planning to give by cheque, we invite you to consider alternate ways of giving during this time.

You can make a secure donation online at mennoplace.ca/give, call us at 604.851.4000, or drop off a donation in person at the front desk of the Menno Hospital entrance. Cash or cheques are gratefully accepted in person—please place them in an envelope addressed to Garry Janzen. If you’d like to include details with your gift, you can print and fill out our donation form and bring it with you.

We’re so grateful for your continued kindness and generosity.