FERGUS – Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Homes Limited’s Fergus location is helping celebrate 50 years of service in Ontario communities.
“Caressant Care was created in 1975 and it was created [and] dedicated to support families and enrich the lives of our residents,” said Caressant Care Fergus executive director Alero Eyewuoma-Eke.
“We have dedicated staff, we are trusted community members.”
The first Caressant Care facility was built in Woodstock in 1975.
The company has since expanded to 15 homes across Ontario, including the Fergus location, built in 1986.
To celebrate the company’s 50 years of service, the Fergus home has hosted several staff appreciation and resident engagement events over the last week.
The celebrations began on Sept. 29 with a Caressant Care-a-berry mocktail social for residents, employees and family members.
Sept. 30 saw a special award ceremony recognizing staff members for five, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service.
Staff were also treated to a pancake breakfast as a thanks for their efforts.
“Myself and our business manager came in at [5am] just so we could make breakfast for the night staff that are leaving at [6am],” said Eyewuoma-Eke.”
On Oct. 3 Caressant Care held its annual fall fair, with a few added activities to help celebrate the 50th anniversary. One such event was a pie to the face of resident care coordinator Gwen Fairley.
The fall fair also included a musical performance by John Borton, a petting zoo provided by Little Hobby Hill Farm Petting Zoo and a virtual reality experience by Help Mobility.
The event featured a buffet table, games and prizes as well as a visit from Centre Wellington councillor Lisa MacDonald and representatives for Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Joseph Racinsky.
Plans for later this week included a taco bar for residents and staff as well as an Oct. 10 visit from Racinsky.
