As we start 2024, we wanted to start the year with some heartwarming stories of four Welbi Heroes nominated over the last few months. These individuals truly went above and beyond to have a positive impact on their communities. Thank you for all the work that you do!

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Welbi Hero: Debra Peters for her initiatives with a gift-giving program 

Activity Aide from Port Perry Place (Southbridge Care Homes) 

Debra has made a lasting impact and tradition on her community for years to come with her Christmas stocking program for residents. Her nominator, Leslie Kowalek, shares Debra’s impact below:

"The gift-giving program is making sure every resident in the home gets a large stocking stuffed with blankets, cookies, toiletries, socks, or gifts. So, each resident has something to open on Christmas morning. We have a volunteer who works with the community and with Debra’s help, she assists her to make sure every resident receives this stocking. Following diet and preferences. Since Debra is retiring this new year, I thought it would be a lovely gesture to show how much we appreciate this kind gesture. We will be carrying this into the coming years as we always have. But Debra has gone above and beyond to make sure the co-ordination of this gesture will last for years to come." 

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Welbi Hero: Pamela Cashmore for her innovative ideas for all residents

Recreation Therapist from Niagara Long-Term Care 

The next Welbi hero is Pam, a Recreation Therapist who goes above and beyond for her team members and each resident. Here’s what her nominator, Cody Cowbrugh, had to say about Pam:

"Pam is an excellent resource and an amazing Recreational Therapist. She is always thinking of new ideas to provide residents with meaningful programs and ensure all residents receive meaningful care. Pam is a great team player and is always willing to help and pass her knowledge to new team members. Without Pam, our team would not be the same! Her efforts do not go missed!" 

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Welbi Hero: Emilie Miljan for her initiative on an pandemic outbreak program

Recreation Manager from Responsive Group Management

Emilie is a Welbi Hero who took the initiative to create a pandemic program calendar to use when an outbreak is happening in her community. She took a tough and isolating situation and made the best out of it for her residents. Sandy Croley, her nominator, describes the effort below:

"Emilie piloted our pandemic calendar and is the trailblazer for when an outbreak is happening... We all know that isolation and lack of emotional well-being were expressed by residents during the outbreaks. Responsive Management Inc. wanted to ensure we were continuing with fulsome emotion-based programs during outbreaks and a calendar specific to outbreaks was created. The idea is that once an outbreak is confirmed, the recreation team goes into Welbi and switches regular programs to a more suitable library of outbreak programs.  We didn't just want to have 1:1 visits during an outbreak and we didn't want to have the same programs over and over again in the outbreak.  We still wanted to provide a well-balanced outbreak calendar. So the modified programs are geared to residents in an outbreak situation.  Emilie was the first to trial the outbreak calendar and said she now feels like she has more meaningful programs during an outbreak situation". 

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Welbi Hero: Renee Wright for continually going above and beyond for her residents 

Active Living Assistant from Parkwood Place (Optima Living)

Our last (but certainly not least) Welbi Hero is Renee. Her work goes above and beyond her job description as she leads with empathy and care. Read Renee’s truly inspiring and heartwarming story below from her nominator, Terrence Wong:

"I would like to nominate my assistant Renee. She is a true hero in this industry. Renee used to be a care worker and still provides care to our residents if they are in a bind. She does so many different activities with the residents, from exercises to culture clubs, art classes, baking, and a lot more. Renee often stays late to help deliver trays to those who aren't feeling well and comes in on her day off to help cover shifts for staff who are ill. Renee even provides some of her materials for her DIY program where she teaches the residents how to make their own ointments, soaps, deodorants, etc. out of all-natural materials. I cannot say enough good things about Renee (even if I wanted to, I'm sure I would surpass the character limit) but on top of all the great things she does, she is a cancer survivor and this fact allows her to be even more empathetic to the health concerns of our residents. Renee is a delightful mother, assistant, person, and is a hero in my books." 

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Do you know an outstanding co-worker? Nominate them as Welbi Hero here to show them their hard work does not go unnoticed!