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PWL Peace River celebrates fifth anniversary

September 24th, 2018

September 11 was a very special day for residents and care partners who have been at Points West Living Peace River since the community opened in September 2013. They were showered with appreciation for the five years of service and contribution. There was great food, great music and a crazy photo booth that got everyone smiling.

Welcome

The formal part of the afternoon began with General Manager David Haastrup welcoming everyone to the gathering, and introducing the many local and regional dignitaries including the Deputy Mayor and two councillors, MLA and clergy. Dana Laliberte, whose father Bob Lefebvre is a longtime resident, spoke on behalf of residents and family members. Then George Rath (Chief Operating Officer for Points West Living and Connecting Care), along with David Haastrup, began the five-year presentations.

There from the start

Recreation coordinator – office administrator Bernadette Harris (centre in above photo) has been at PWL Peace River since it first opened. “At first it was new and quite challenging. It was a wonderful brand new place – like a hotel and such hospitality! Having lived in the area for so many years, the majority of residents and care partners and people coming on tour were people that I knew, so it was hugs all around.”

"We were just pumped"

“There were lots of different personalities at play among all the new care partners, but we all seemed to gel into a great team. We’d had two weeks of intense learning about the Eden Alternative approach to care; it was fabulous! We were just pumped; it was so new for us.” Bernadette had to get up to speed quickly on the computer and is still learning. “It keeps my brain busy and healthy,” she says.

Key role continuity

The people in a number of key employee care partner roles are celebrating their fifth anniversary at PWL Peace River as well, including Food Services Supervisor Kenneth Ceniza, and maintenance man Curtis Karpiak. They, along with other employee care partners and 5-year residents, each received a beautiful floral bouquet, a PWL mug brimming with treats, and a certificate to mark the milestone.

Congratulations to...

Five-year Residents: Benjamin Ellis, Anne Kuran, and Theresa MacNeil
Five-year Employee Care Partners: Kenneth Ceniza, Michelle Fernandes, Bernadette Harris, Curtis Karpiak, Melody Managtag, Candice Paluk, and Janeth Ramos

GM David also expressed his thanks to the volunteer care partners who continue to add such richness to the PWL Peace River community.

Photo: Bernadette Harris (centre) receives congratulations and thanks from Georg Rath (left, COO of PWL-Connecting Care) and David Haastrup (GM PWL Peace River) at the PWL Peace River fifth-anniversary celebration on September 11.

More photos, including many crazy photo booth shots, at Flickr: PWL Peace River celebrates fifth anniversary

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