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.
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.
LTC Family Council Virtual Meeting – Oct 20, 2025
Menno Place Long Term Care (LTC) Family Council invites you to our upcoming meeting!
WHEN: Monday, October 20, 2025 7-8pm
Join us online to be a voice in decision-making that affects our loved ones and all residents. Lend your observations, experiences, ideas, and work together to improve the resident experience at Menno Home & Menno Hospital.
How to join :
Send an e-mail to the Family Council (mennoplacefamilycouncil[at]gmail.com) to request a meeting invitation. All Family Members and Friends of a long-term care resident at Menno Place are welcome to join and participate in the Family Council.
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:
- READ about residential school history
https://nctr.ca/education/teaching-resources/residential-school-history/ - EXPLORE the stories of the victims and survivors
https://witnessblanket.ca/explore - LISTEN to kids from the Sk’elep School of Excellence sing “We Won’t Forget You”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0YYkvIWbng - WATCH stories of survivors:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJHR1STq_-s - LEARN the right words to use when referring to our neighbors:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEzjA5RoLv0 - 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/
Join Us as we Honour Truth & Reconcilation
Please join us as we honour Truth & Reconciliation with a presentation from Bridget Finlay, MCC BC Indigenous Neighbours Coordinator. We will meet in the Menno Hospital Chapel on Thursday, September 25th at 1:30pm. Residents, families, friends and staff of Menno Place are welcome to attend.
The Mennonite Church of British Columbia’s website explains the importance of the work of reconciliation this way:
Reconciliation as a core value is the work that God is doing in Christ and that we are called to do both individually and collectively. The call prompts us to embrace the practice of redemptive listening, learning, and advocacy in the interests of reconciliation between settler and Indigenous peoples. Reconciliation as the core value guides our actions and holds us accountable.
For followers of Jesus, reconciliation is a core foundational value.
Primrose Gardens Gets a Sustainable Upgrade
Crews were onsite last week to install an array of solar panels on the roof of the building.
