MEMO: Office Hours Update

MEMO

Date: November 13, 2025
To: All Apartments Residents
Re: Office Hours Update
_____________________________

Dear Menno Apartments Residents,

Effective November 15th, we are implementing regular office hours in each apartment building. I want you to know what time of day you will find a Life Enrichment Associate (LEA) at the office.

Primrose 9:00-10:00am, 1:30-2:00pm
Terraces 9:00-9:30am, 11:00-11:30am, 1:30-2:00pm
Pavilion 9:30-10:00am, 2:00-2:30pm

At other times, there is a good chance you may find an LEA at the office, but no guarantees. All the LEAs have tasks that require them to be away from their desk (for example, coordinating moves, fixing TVs, team meetings, etc.).

As always, if you need something, please call the Life Enrichment Team phone number: 604-851-4004.

This number rings in all the buildings. If no one answers, please leave a message. This number is monitored on workdays between 9:00am-4:00pm.

I am very appreciative of Ange, Angela, David, and Noucky. Any of them can assist you regardless of what building you live in. We are here to serve you as best we can.

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

Let’s rise to lift others this #GivingTuesday

Your #GivingTuesday donation will be matched while matching funds last, doubling your impact!

MEMO: Resident Lounge Spaces

MEMO

Date: October 31, 2025
To: Terrace East and Terrace West
Re: Resident Lounge Spaces
_____
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

MEMO

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

____

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

Date:   October 24, 2025
To:       Terrace West/Terrace East/Primrose Gardens
Re:       Planned BC Hydro Power Outage
________________________________________________________________________

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 – Menno Hospital

Date:   October 23, 2025
To:       Menno Hospital Residents & Families
Re:       Planned BC Hydro Power Outage
________________________________________________________________________

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

Date:          Sunday, October 26, 2025

Time:          9:30am – 4:00pm

*Please note the times are approximate

During any power outage, our on-campus backup system will supply electricity to all essential services. Resident care will not be interrupted.

Staff are reminded to ensure that all oxygen concentrators are plugged into the backup power supply. Backup power will also maintain essential lighting. Phones and the nurse call bell system will remain operational.

Please note that the menu for the day has been adjusted. Heating may be affected, so staff are asked to ensure residents are dressed in layers and that warm blankets are available for their comfort.

Menno Home is on a separate power supply and will not be affected by this event.

If you have any questions, please reach out to staff on your unit.

MEMO: Planned Power Outage TW/TE/PG

Date:   October 22, 2025
To:       Terrace West/Terrace East/Primrose Gardens
Re:       Planned BC Hydro Power Outage
________________________________________________________________________

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

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

The Great British Columbia Shake Out – Oct 16, 2025


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

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