Happy Mother’s day from all of us at Menno Place!

There are so many women who can act as mother figures in our lives – from our actual mothers, to step-moms, grandmothers, great grandmothers, god-mothers, aunties, close friends, friends’ mothers, mothers-in-law, neighbours, sister-in-laws and many, many more!

Today we celebrate all the women who have made positive impacts on our lives through the love and support they give.

Whether you are spending time with loved ones or reflecting on the memories of those who are no longer with us, we hope that you have a blissful day. We’re so thankful for you, moms!

We will share the Menno Place 2025-2026 Strategic Framework update with our community and stakeholders.

Wednesday, May 13th
Menno Hospital Chapel
Drop in 12 – 2pm | Short program at 12:30

Join us at the Open House to:

  • Learn about what we’ve done  in advancing our Strategic Framework Objectives in 2025-2026
  • Connect with others to hear and celebrate how we will work strategically together across our campus and in the community

This is your opportunity to see all that we’ve done as we move forward with our Strategic Priorities!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you to all our amazing volunteers, you make a difference every day!

Every year on Mother’s Day our campus is flooded with beautiful floral arrangements that bring joy to residents all over Menno Place. If you’re thinking about gifting flowers this year we wanted to remind you of a couple of guidelines.

Natural hazards may be beyond our control, but there are ways to reduce the risk and the impact of whatever emergency we might face.

Emergency Preparedness Week (May 3-9, 2026) encourages people in Canada to take concrete actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their household during emergencies. This special week is a national effort lead by Public Safety Canada, provincial and territorial emergency management organizations, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector.

By taking a few simple steps, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere. It is important to:

  • Know the risks – Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to our community and our region can help you better prepare
  • Make a plan – It will help you and your family know what to do
  • Get an emergency kit – During an emergency, we will all need some basic supplies. We may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in an emergency

Visit Canada.ca (or your EMO or local website – the Abbotsford site is here) for more resources to help you and your family prepare for all types of emergencies.

This week, take concrete actions to be better prepared. Please do your part! Experience has shown that individual preparedness goes a long way to help people cope better – both during and after a major disaster. Get an emergency kit now – it can make a world of difference.

Emergency Resources

The following pages go to canada.ca where you’ll find specific instructions and helpful links to help you get prepared and stay prepared. Click on the type of disaster below to go to the safety information.

Ignite Volunteerism is a year‑long, international initiative that celebrates the power of civic participation and the meaningful impact volunteers have in our community. In recognition of National Volunteer Week, April 19–25, 2026, we proudly celebrate the generosity of our volunteers who dedicate their time, skills, and energy to serving the residents of Menno Place.

Our 150 volunteers support our recreation, rehabilitation, and pastoral care programs, and their commitment enriches lives every day. We extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every volunteer for their dedication, compassion, and unwavering service.

“I’m so thankful for our volunteers, whose heart and compassion are evident every time they engage with and support our residents. I’m always inspired by their commitment and care for our community” – Audrey Mazzei, Volunteer Coordinator

If you would like more information about how to volunteer at Menno Place  please go to: mennoplace.ca/volunteers/

Fraser Valley Fire Protection will be on our campus April 13 – 17 to conduct our annual fire equipment inspection as required by code.  For residents in the apartments a technician will need to enter each apartment. The technician will be wearing a uniform shirt with the Fraser Valley Fire Protection logo on it. Residents do not need to do anything during the test and can stay in their apartment while the test takes place. The test is brief but it can be loud. Residents are asked to remain seated during the test and keep out of the way of the technician.

Please note these tests will cause the fire alarms to sound briefly. They may also cause the fire panels to beep. The bells will turn on and off quickly. In the event of an actual fire alarm the bells would sound and keep ringing.

Announcements will be made in each apartment building at lunch to remind the residents. Each day that the technicians are here they will begin around 8am and work their way through each building floor by floor. We are not able to predict when they will reach each room. For the apartments the testing usually lasts most of the day.

The schedule for 2026 is:

  • Monday, April 13, 2026, starting at approximately 8:00 a.m. – Menno Hospital
  • Tuesday, April 14, 2026, starting at approximately 8:00 a.m. – Pavilion
  • Wednesday, April 15, 2026, starting at approximately 8:00 a.m. – Terrace East and West
  • Thursday, April 16, 2026, starting at approximately 8:00 a.m. – Primrose Gardens
  • Friday, April 17, 2026, starting at approximately 8:00 a.m. – Menno Home

If you have any questions for Menno Home and Menno Hospital please contact Garry Janzen. For the apartments please contact Leonard Klassen.

This video be explains what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount and why it still matters today.

If you’re curious about the life of Jesus, the TV series, The Chosen, can be a great introduction to him.

Income tax returns are due April 30th. This deadline is especially important for any residents who receive government funding – either in Funded Assisted Living or Long-Term Care – as rates are calculated annually using information from the Notice of Assessment.

For Residents Living in the Apartments

If you or your loved one live in the apartments and would like help filing your income taxes, help is available through the Community Volunteer Income Tax program (CVIT) sponsored by Revenue Canada. This program is available to seniors who have a simple tax situation and meet the following restrictions:

1 Person – total family income under $40,000
2 People – total family income under $55,000

To participate in the program:

  1. Fill out the CVIT consent form. This form gives the volunteers permission to file taxes on your behalf. You can download the form here: CVIT Consent Form  Printed forms are also available from any of the LEAs.
  2. Bring the completed form along with copies of all tax slips and hand them off to one of the LEAs.
  3. The LEAs will keep your documents secure and hand them to the CVIT volunteers who will prepare your tax return.

If you have any questions you can contact the LEA team at (604) 851-4004.

For Residents Living in Long-Term Care

All primary contacts for residents living in long-term care received a letter via email with tax information in January. If you have questions about how to do taxes for a resident in LTC please contact Garry Janzen Garry.Janzen[at]mennoplace.ca .

Residents in long-term care often qualify for the Disability Tax Credit. To apply for this credit you will need to fill out form T2201.