Join the fun for Grandparents Day on September 9th!
It’s a free afternoon for the whole family! Join your loved one in the Menno Place courtyard on September 9th from 11am – 2pm for games, crafts, live entertainment and more!
Hymn Stories – August 2023
The beloved gospel hymn, All The Way My Savior Leads Me, written by Franny Crosby was the expression of gratitude to God after a direct and peculiar answer to prayer. Find out more about this hymn!
Click to listen.
Summer Update for Menno Apartments
I am grateful for every tenant living at Menno Place, and for every staff member who works here. I want to inform you of what is happening on campus.
We are building the Life Enrichment Team to continue to serve you and are excited for what lies ahead. Many familiar faces remain on our team (Darlene, Judith, Angela, Leonard). We’ve welcomed Kerry as the Apartments Chaplain. We’ve said goodbye to Trish, Tamara, and Claire. Many staff members have vacation time during the summer months. Change is often unsettling but know that we are excited for the future.
We are available to hear from you. Please continue to call the reception phone numbers and leave a message if no one answers. We will respond. We will continue to work with all our other departments to deal with your questions and concerns. Our building emergency line is available for after-hours building emergencies.
We are committed to communicating with you. We make announcements in the dining rooms. We broadcast the weekly Menno Forum on Tuesdays/Wednesdays – please tune in to Channel 10. We distribute memos. We put up posters. We are planning community meetings for each building in September. We want you to know what is happening.
We are upgrading the exterior of Terrace West. Terrace West is getting exterior upgrades over the next 3-4 months. The specifics will be shared with Terrace West tenants as the project begins. Thanks for your patience during construction.
Thank you for being such great tenants!
Leonard Klassen,
Interim Manager of Independent and Supportive Living
Terrace West Building Exterior Upgrades
We have some exciting news to share with you. We are going to do a major building exterior upgrade to Terrace West over the next 3-4 months.
What is included in this upgrade?
- New gutters (higher capacity)
- New decks and railings
- Replacing siding/painting stucco – updated colors for the entire exterior
- Replacing or repairing facia board and gable ends
- Repairing building band along first floor on ground level
What is the impact on tenants?
- Decks will need to be empty at certain times in the project
- Some noise and disruption from the ongoing work at various times
- There will be 1-2 lifts on site, along with a dumpster for old materials
What is the communication plan?
- Send out a memo about the project
- Communicate specific dates/requests to clear decks through lunch announcements, posters in building, weekly Menno forum, flyers
- Life Enrichment staff is available to answer questions
We expect work to start in early August. Look for posters and information about what is necessary for the first part of the project, which will be a wash of the upper floor walls (stucco).
Thank you for your patience during this project! And join me in thanking our maintenance staff for coordinating this project with several contractors. The building will look amazing when this project is complete!
Leonard Klassen, 604-851-4004
Interim Manager of Independent and Supportive Living
Welcome to Claire – Communications Coordinator
MBS Corporate (Mennonite Benevolent Society) welcomes Claire Colvin to the Communications Team! Click to read more.
Menno Place achieves Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada
July 17, 2023
When your aging loved one needs more care. QUALITY MATTERS.
When you see the Accreditation Canada seal, you can be certain that the healthcare organization is working hard to meet the Accreditation Canada standards to deliver safe, high-quality care.
Menno Place completes the Accreditation Canada on-site survey because better quality means better health.
Congratulations to the MBS Board, Menno Place Team and Accreditation Team for the successful on-site survey done in October 2022. Accreditation Canada has provided Menno Place with the decision on our Accreditation standing:
MENNO PLACE IS ACCREDITED WITH EXEMPLARY STANDING
This is the highest level of accreditation that can be obtained through Accreditation Canada.
We are proud of our Menno Place Team and this achievement of excellence!
Save the date for Grandparents Day – September 9th!
You’re invited to celebrate the role grandparents play in the lives of their grandchildren! Bring the whole family to Menno Place on September 9th for a free afternoon of fun and games! More details to come…
Hymn Stories – July 2023
Written and published in 1833, O Worship the King, is considered one of the finest hymns from the early nineteenth century Romantic Era. It has often been called a model hymn for worship. Find out more about this hymn and its author, Robert Grant.
Click to listen.
Canada Day Celebration!
Join us on Friday, June 30th from 11:00 am-2:00 pm, for our Canada Day Celebration! We will have a BBQ, antique car show, & music by Patsy Cline, performed by Alyssa Nielson. This will take place in the Menno Place Courtyard. Everyone is welcome to come!
Memo – Trish Giesbrecht, Transitioning to Executive Director at The Cascades, Chilliwack
MEMO
To: Residents, Families and Friends
Re: Trish Giesbrecht transitioning to new role at neighbouring care home
June 23, 2023
Trish joined the Menno Place Team in 2006 and has worked throughout our campus of care as an LPN (Home and Hospital), Nursing Manager (Home), Manager of Care and Quality Improvement Lead (Hospital) and currently Manager of Community Enrichment (Apartments). Trish is a vibrant and compassionate faith-based leader who has helped us to move forward to success in many areas, including the adoption of Point-Click-Care in Long-Term Care, the development of a robust Private-Pay Assisted Living program, the expansion of supportive services for Independent Living as well as leadership in our Assisted Living program to onboard residents with more complex needs. From 2019 – 2022, Trish took the opportunity to develop and teach a care aide program at Columbia Bible College.
Trish has been on a leadership journey throughout her time at Menno Place, achieving her Bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Master’s in Health Profession Education. We were pleased to assist her in this through the educational financial support program that is available to all staff at Menno Place.
Trish is a trusted team leader who lifts up the members of her team to thrive in their capabilities. She sets a vision and creates a plan forward. Most recently, Trish has been our Manager of Community Enrichment, providing leadership in the care and enrichment of our 350 residents in the Apartments.
With her experience and education, Trish is now preparing to transition to a new role as Executive Director with a neighbouring organization, The Cascades in Chilliwack, BC. Although we are sad and will miss her, we are very excited for her and wish her the very best in her new role. Her last day at Menno Place will be Friday, July 7th. We look forward to continued partnership with her in the care of seniors.
We are very grateful that Smitha Varghese, DOC at Menno Hospital, has accepted the opportunity to provide interim leadership for Assisted Living at the Apartments while we recruit. We are equally grateful for Leonard Klassen, who has accepted the opportunity to provide interim leadership for Independent and Supportive Living at the Apartments.