Family Council – Expression of Interest

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We would like to extend a huge thank you to all Menno Home and Menno Hospital families who were able to attend our recent Family Council Information Session on March 20th, 2025. We appreciate the enthusiasm expressed and look forward to supporting the start-up of a family-led Family Council here. For those who were not able to attend the Information Session, we encourage you to kindly take a moment to review the PDF linked below and consider participating in the start-up of a new Menno Place Family Council.

Family Council Information Session PDF

At this point, we are asking for an expression of interest from family members and friends who may be able to lend a leadership hand in getting the new family-led Family Council up and running. This initial process of kick-starting the council will only take about 1-3 hours of your time over the next month.

If you are interested in supporting our Family Council in this capacity, please reply directly to either Kim or Dan at the email addresses below by April 30, 2025. Lisa Dawson, Interim Chair of Fraser Coastal Association of Family Councils, will then reach out to this group to provide support and guidance. The next step will be to have the pre-inaugural family group meet with Lisa virtually to confirm structure, governance and promotion of the new council.

The involvement of Menno Home and Hospital family members and friends is crucial as we move forward, and we are excited about the potential of this Family Council! Thank you once more for your attention to this initiative. We look forward to hearing from interested parties!

Kim Wiebe kim.wiebe@mennoplace.ca (604)851-1361
Dan Janzen dan.janzen@mennoplace.ca (604)851-1350

Road Resurfacing on Primrose Street Starting March 24

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MEMO

To: All Menno Place Staff, Residents, and Visitors
From: Bas Kervel, Director of Support Services
Date: March 21, 2025
Re: Road Resurfacing on Primrose Street and Surrounding Area Starting March 24

__________________________________________

The city of Abbotsford will be in our area to complete road resurfacing from March 24 – 29, weather permitting.

The road works will affect Wildwood, Primrose, Wilerose, Brundige, Kay and Stevenson as marked on the map below. During the period of work the roads will be limited to local traffic only and NO STREET PARKING will be permitted.

Staff, residents, and visitors should expect delays and plan accordingly.  If you need to pick up a resident from Terrace East during this time it may be easier to enter through the main doors of Terrace West.

Please remember to keep a safe distance from equipment working on the road and follow all direction given by traffic control persons.

Reminder: It’s time to file your income taxes

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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 live in the apartments and would like help filing your income taxes help is available through the Community Volunteer Income Tax program sponsored by Revenue Canada. Forms are available at the LEA offices in Primrose Gardens, Terrace East and Pavilion. 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.

MEMO: TV and WiFi Upgrade for Menno Apartment Residents

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Date:               March 12, 2025
To:                   All Residents of Menno Place
________________________________________________________________________

Dear Menno Apartment Residents,

I am writing to inform you all of an upgrade coming to our TV and Wi-Fi system at MENNO Apartments. This upgrade is needed in order to ensure our system functions well.

What does this mean for you?

Over the coming weeks, a TELUS representative will enter each of your suites and replace some of the equipment. You will be getting a new TV cable box and a new remote.

We will also be changing our wireless network and be giving each of you your own password. This will improve the system so we can better connect your devices that require Internet connection.

Unfortunately, any of the recordings you have saved on your current PVR will be lost. The new boxes are also PVR enabled and so we hope you can re-record shows that you want to watch.

Some of you have added channels and/or a second TV box through TELUS top up program. We are waiting for final details on how this may transfer. If this situation applies to you, please let one of the LEA team members know.

Thank you. I appreciate your flexibility as we don’t have complete firm dates for all the installs. We will keep you updated as best we can via daily announcements.

Leonard Klassen, Manager of Community Enrichment

You can contact the Life Enrichment Team at 604-851-4004

A Prayer for Pandemic Observance Day – March 11

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March 11 is Pandemic Observance Day in Canada. For all of us who lived through the pandemic alongside seniors is it a tender time to remember. There was so much loss – lost loved ones, lost time, lost community. And now, years past that first fateful day, some things have gone back to normal and some things never will. In light of all of that we asked Kerry Dyck, one of our Chaplains, to write a prayer for the day. May these words bring you comfort.

Our Loving God,

On this day while taking time to look back and remember our experience during the Pandemic we admit that we’d rather not.

Those were hard days filled with long, difficult hours. But as we cast our gaze behind, we know that you are with us giving us strength, even as you were during the pandemic months of loss, disorientation and discouragement.

Lord, we lament what was lost.

Even though we had lots of time on our hands we lament the time we lost. We lament the missed opportunities caused by the pandemic. We grieve the relationships that suffered under the weight of strain whether due to physical separation or the separation that comes from seeing things differently.

Most of all, loving God, we are sad because we lost dear people to Covid. Oh, how we miss them! Our hearts are heavy. And yet even there you meet us and are with us.

Open our eyes and hearts to your comfort this day. Remind us that you were with us then and that you still are today. May your hope and love fill our minds and hearts with peace for you are the God of all comfort. Lord, we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but we know that you hold tomorrow in your loving and gentle hands.

This we pray by faith, even if its only a tiny bit,
in the name of Jesus,
Amen.

Staff Appreciation Tea – Honouring Staff Achievements in 2024

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From awards that marked 645 years of service to the nominations that poured in for outstanding achievements there was plenty to celebrate at this year’s Staff Appreciation Tea.

Read more

February is Therapeutic Recreation Month in Canada

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This month, we celebrate and recognize the amazing work of Recreation Team who make a lasting impact on individual’s lives. Through their passion, creativity, and commitment, they help people of all ages and abilities enhance their well-being and achieve their fullest potential.

Recreation Therapy isn’t just about fun and games; it’s about healing, empowerment, and improving quality of life. Here on campus, whether through physical, mental, or social activities, recreation therapists are at the forefront of promoting holistic health and inspiring positive change.

To the Recreation Team – thank you for your dedication, compassion, and tireless work. Your ability to bring joy, healing, and connection is a true gift, and we are so grateful for all you do! 💙

As a manager, I am incredibly proud to work alongside such an inspirational Recreation Therapy team. Their unwavering commitment to our residents, ability to bring joy, and create meaningful personal connections each day is truly remarkable, and it’s an honor to witness the positive impact they have on lives. ~ Linda Weatherly, Manager of Therapeutic Recreation and Volunteer Services

Did you know you can access the full recreation calendar for each apartment building or LTC Unit right here on the MennoPlaceLife site? Just click the RECREATION CALENDARS link at the top of the site and you can select the area where your loved one lives.

New Meal and Snack Options at Fireside Cafe

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What do ice cream, chicken biryani and fresh pizza have in common? You can get any (or all) of them anytime in the Fireside Café.

If you’ve been in Menno Hospital recently you might have noticed a few shiny, new machines located right across from the Fireside Café. We are trialing new vending machines – like NOTHING you’ve ever seen before! Come and try them out and let us know what you think.

You can select from:

  • Hot meals like chicken ginger gyoza, vegetable stir fry, butter chicken with rice and steamed pork buns ($7-$10)
  • Soft serve ice cream – choose your syrup and toppings
  • Fresh baked pizza (available soon)
  • Soft drinks and snacks

The machines are credit card only can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are available to staff, residents, families and visitors. There will be an official launch later in the year.

YUMM! One staff member tried the pork steam bun (bao) last week and said it was DELICIOUS – really great flavor, nice and hot.

Where’s the coffee?
Don’t worry caffeine lovers, we have not forgotten you. In March we’ll be adding a Smart Café in a Box machine that will serve fresh, customizable hot or iced coffees, lattes, and teas, along with a wide selection of pop and fruit juices.

What will you try first?

Menno Hospital Nurse Call Bell Replacement Project

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To: All Residents and Families of Menno Hospital
From: Smitha Varghese, Director of Care
Date: February 6, 2025
Subject: Nurse Call Bell Replacement Project

Dear Residents and Families,

We are writing to inform you about an important update at Menno Hospital. We are currently in the process of replacing the nurse call bells throughout Menno Hospital. This project is a part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of care and safety, in line with licensing and safety regulations. Targeted project completion date is April 30th 2025.

Please rest assured that we are taking all necessary precautions to ensure that the routines and comfort of our residents are minimally impacted during this process. Each resident’s room will be updated one by one to avoid any disruption.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this project, please do not hesitate to contact me. We are committed to keeping you informed and ensuring that the project runs smoothly without compromising the care and attention you or your loved ones deserve.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Sincerely,
Smitha Varghese
Director of Care
Menno Hospital

604 851 1337

Smitha.Varghese@mennoplace.ca

Snow for Abbotsford: Special Weather Statement

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We have received a Special Weather Statement from the Meteorological Service of Canada. This alert is issued for weather events that are unusual or cause general inconvenience or public concern.

Details of the Alert:

  • Type of Weather Event: Snowfall of 2 to 4 cm is expected, with local amounts exceeding 5 cm possible.  High Winds with accumulated snow drifts.
  • Expected Duration: Anticipate the inclement weather to persist through the weekend
  • Areas Affected:  Abbotsford and surrounding regions

Precautionary Measures:

  • Ensure you have adequate supplies at home.
  • Avoid unnecessary travel during the alert period.
  • Stay updated with the latest weather information through reliable sources.

Your safety is our priority. Please take the necessary precautions and stay safe. If you have any concerns or need assistance, do not hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.