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New GM welcomed in Peace River

October 26th, 2021

The new general manager of Points West Living Peace River, Maegan Smith has been filling the role solo for the past month, and is excited by what she learning, and the people she’s getting to know. There are lots of challenges, mostly related to COVID, but Maegan says that’s exactly what she signed up for.

Looking for a challenge

Maegan Smith applied for the position when David Haastrup who served for four years as GM left to take on the position of Quality Assurance Auditor and Educator for PWL’s operations company, Connecting Care. She says she was looking for a challenge to grow her career as a nurse.

Trained and experienced as a Licensed Practical Nurse, Maegan worked part time in two continuing care homes in town, before taking a supervisor position with the occupational health and substance testing services company CannAmm, a job she held for 7½ years. She is already appreciating her new resident-centered role.

This is the residents' home

“A couple of weeks after I started on my own here, I was fortunate to be able to take part in a three-day Eden training session,” says Maegan. “I love the philosophy; this is the residents’ home and community. We need to ask ourselves, what can we do to make residents feel more comfortable, less helpless, and making every individual resident feel they are needed.”

A high priority for Maegan right now is to counter the isolating effects of ongoing COVID rules and regulations. She has some ideas, but is still in the process of consulting with residents and family members to ensure residents are the ones making the decisions.

Warm welcome

Maegan is very grateful for the warm welcome she has received at PWL Peace River. “When I walked into the community for my first day, there was an amazing array of employee care partners to greet me,” she says. “They gave me a plant and a card; I felt so welcome. David had set it up so I met employee care partners one day, and on another I met families and residents.”

Born and raised in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Maegan moved to Peace River in 2012. She is married with five children (three boys, two girls) ranging in age from two-year-old twin boys to a 14-year old daughter. When they get the chance, the family enjoys camping at nearby Shaw’s Point Resort.

Photo: Maegan Smith is the new general manager of PWL Peace River

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