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

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

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

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.

Menno Place Observes Truth and Reconciliation Day

Linda Weatherly (L), Manager, Recreation and Volunteers and Bridget Findlay (R) MCCBC Indigenous Neighbours Coordinator share stories at the Menno Place Truth and Reconciliation gathering.

Menno Place hosted Bridget Finley, MCC BC Indigenous Neighbours Coordinator who gave a presentation for all residents, families and staff to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Bridget spoke with us about what Jesus taught us about what it means to be a good neighbour in Matthew 22:39, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Sharon Simpson (Director, Community Enrichment shows off a beautiful scarf with art by Indigenous artist, John Rombough, “Remember”. Purchased at the Stolo Gift shop in Chilliwack, BC

She explained the history of land acknowledgements and how they are a First Nations practice rooted in creating and maintaining relationships between groups. She spoke about the importance of listen to the stories of our Indigenous neighbours as part of the ongoing work of reconciliation. Bridget reminded us that the best way to understand and love our neighbors is to spend time with them, listening to who they are, where they have been and how they experience life. She reminded us that, “We tell our stories until we are healed.” It is a critical part of truth and reconciliation to listen to the stories of our indigenous neighbours.

“We tell our stories until we are healed.”

Timi Derbyshire (L) Recreation Aide and Leonard Klassen (R) Manager of Community Enrichment attend the presentation in Menno Hospital Chapel.

Taking Steps Towards Reconciliation

If you are looking for ways to join the work of reconciliation here are 6 things you can do today:

  1. READ about residential school history
    https://nctr.ca/education/teaching-resources/residential-school-history/
  2. EXPLORE the stories of the victims and survivors
    https://witnessblanket.ca/explore
  3. LISTEN to kids from the Sk’elep School of Excellence sing “We Won’t Forget You”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0YYkvIWbng
  4. WATCH stories of survivors:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJHR1STq_-s
  5. LEARN the right words to use when referring to our neighbors:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEzjA5RoLv0
  6. PARTICIPATE in the Stetís ímexstowx (“walk beside us”) Gathering at The Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford, Sept 30, 2025 at 10am
    https://thereach.ca/events/stetis-imexstowx-gathering/

Heat Warning Issued – Fraser Valley – Aug 11 & 12, 2025

Heat Warning Issued

We have received notice that a Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a Heat Warning for the Fraser Valley for Aug 11 & 12. Daytime high temperatures will reach 33C with overnight lows near 17C. A cooling trend is expected to arrive on Wednesday.

With elevated temperatures, the risk of heat related illness increases, particularly in seniors and those more vulnerable. 

Since 2022 Menno Place has made significant improvements the our air conditioning across our campus, especially in our long-term care buildings. Along with these improvements, what can friends and family members do to help mitigate the heat and minimize its impact on our seniors?

  1. FANS – Ensure your loved one in Menno Home or Menno Hospital has a fan that can bring cool air into their room from the common areas that are cooler
  2. WINDOW COVERINGS – Keep the curtains / blinds closed to keep the heat out.
  3. AIR CONDITIONER – The apartments  can have individual air-conditioners ]installed – Click for air-conditioner specifications
  4. HYDRATION – Ensure your loved one has fluids available for their hydration needs. Menno Place provides water in the apartment foyers and for all residents in Menno Home and Menno Hospital
  5. COMMUNICATION – Call your loved one to see how they are doing. Call Menno Place if you want to know how your loved one is doing in the heat.

To protect our residents and tenants, we pro-actively monitor for heat-related conditions, following our Heat Preparedness Plan.

We mitigate risk by:

  • ensuring hydration to all those who receive care services
  • providing water / hydration stations in all buildings for staff and tenants
  • providing cooling cloths to all who receive care services
  • closing blinds/curtains and ask tenants to do the same
  • ensure those in care are wearing light-weight clothing and reminding tenants to do the same
  • encouraging apartment tenants to seek out air-conditioned spaces or get an air-conditioner installed

As a reminder, fans may not effectively reduce body temperatures or prevent heat-related illness in people at risk. Fans should be used to move cool air around and not be used as a primary cooling device. In Menno Home and Hospital, staff will expose residents to air conditioned spaces whenever possible. Visitors and family members for those in the Apartments should do the same. Residents should move into common spaces which are air-conditioned in the Apartments in order to keep cool.

Does your loved one live in Independent Living Apartments (Pavilion, Terrace West, Primrose Gardens):

Call them daily during the Extreme / Heat Warning to ensure that they know how to keep cool and are following the recommended safety measures (below).

Quick Tips for Extreme Heat

How to keep your body cool and comfortable:

  1. Drink plenty of water
  2. Put on sunscreen when outside
  3. Wear loose fitting, light coloured, breathable clothing
  4. Avoid being in direct sunlight for too long
  5. Place a cold, wet towel around your neck
  6. Keep your apartment cool by closing the blinds, using AC, and limiting oven use
  7. Shower, bathe, or sponge off with cool water

How do I get air-conditioning in the apartments? What A/C unit should I purchase? CLICK HERE FOR ALL DETAILS

And if you experience symptoms of a heat stroke (high body temperature, dizziness or fainting, confusion, and very hot and red skin), call 9-1-1.

How to keep your apartment suite cool and comfortable:

  • Turn off the heat in your room on the thermostat
  • Turn on air-conditioning. Keep it on throughout the heat warning.
  • If you have air-conditioning, keep your doors and windows closed to keep the cold air in
  • Close your blinds or curtains in bedroom and living room to keep out the sun/heat
  • Do not go outside, or choose to take your walks early morning
  • Do not sit in a parked car or leave a pet in a parked car
  • Avoid using the stove to cook a meal
  • Take a break if your suite is hot, and spend some time on the 1st floor of your building in the air-conditioned common areas. Bring a book, or some knitting and relax.
  • If it cools down (below 26C) at night, open your windows and doors to let in the cool air
  • Make arrangements to stay at someone’s air-conditioned place, or hotel to cool down
  • Sprinkle clothing with water
  • Splash cool water on your face and back of neck

If you can’t get cool enough, call your family or support friends and check in. Let them know you could use some help. Try to plan a visit with your family who has air-conditioning.

Heat Exhaustion Symptoms

  • Skin rash
  • Heavy Sweating
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Rapid Heartbeat and breathing
  • Muscle cramps
  • Extreme thirst and/or dark urine or decreased urination

Anyone with one or more of these symptoms should move to a cool space immediately and let someone know they are not feeling well.

Heat Stroke Symptoms

  • High body temperature
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting
  • Confusion
  • Lack of coordination
  • Very hot and red skin

Anyone with any of these symptoms should call 911 immediately.

 

You’re Invited to Grandparents Day – Sat Sept 6

Grandparents Day at Menno Place is a special time for kids of all ages to enjoy a fun-filled and whimsical afternoon with grandpa, grandma, or a special friend!

May 28, 2025 – Menno Place Strategic Framework Open House

Thank you to all who attended the Menno Place Strategic Framework Open House on May 28th. Click to see photos!