Knowledge Centre

Welbi Heroes

Our users inspire us every day. We want to highlight the unsung heroes of senior living communities, life enrichment professionals, and tell their stories!

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January 3, 2024
With Thanks: Introducing the Latest Welbi Heroes

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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August 3, 2023
How Leanne Hus Encourages her Team to Create Meaningful Connections with Every Resident at Princess Court

Leanne was nominated for Welbi’s Hero of the Month by a colleague who appreciated how hard she was working to help the team get set up with Welbi. She has been holding teaching sessions to ensure that her team is getting the most out of the platform!

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March 3, 2023
How Dawn McKirdy Creates Connections With Residents at Meadowlands

Dawn is a dedicated and passionate Lifestyle Manager who loves working with seniors. She finds her job very rewarding and enjoys creating a positive impact on the lives of the residents she works with. She is committed to delivering high-quality services to the seniors at Meadowlands Retirement Community.

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August 23, 2022
How Jolan Taylor Brings his Passion for Wellness into his Career at Crescent Park Lodge

This month, our Welbi Hero is Jolan Taylor, Director of Therapeutic Recreation Services at Crescent Park Lodge. Jolan discusses how he prioritizes resident and staff wellness and keeps up with changing resident interests at Crescent Park Lodge. 

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July 6, 2022
How Nancy Venema has helped generations of seniors regain confidence with life enrichment activities

This month, Nancy Venema, Life Enrichment Coordinator at Holland Home, explains how activity programs have changed over time and why she’s still passionate about her career after more than thirty years in the field.

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June 2, 2022
How Rebekah Jakimczuk makes a difference with recreation at Middlesex Terrace

Rebekah has worked at Middlesex Terrace, an APANS Health Service long-term care community in Delaware, Ontario, for fourteen years. This month, she shares how she plans her activity calendar to keep residents engaged and boost program attendance. 

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May 9, 2022
How Travis Bruntz Adapts Programming to Fit the Needs of New Residents at Healthwin

This month, Director of Life Enrichment Travis Bruntz shares how he revamped his activity calendar to meet the needs and interests of a new resident population at Healthwin. Travis worked in education for twenty years before he began his career in senior living. He has now been a Director of Life Enrichment for about one year. 

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March 29, 2022
How Lisa Moorhead Innovates to Create Award-Winning Recreation Programming

This month, Lisa Moorhead explains how she develops innovative activities for Comox Valley’s award-winning recreation program. Comox Valley, a Berwick retirement community in BC, has been an important part of Lisa’s life in the sixteen years she’s held her position.

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February 28, 2022
How Jill Kelly is Boosting Resident Engagement and You Can Too

For Therapeutic Recreation Month, Jill Kelly shares her advice as a Recreation Therapist on how you can boost resident engagement in your community. Jill got her start in senior living working as a health care assistant. She wanted to spend more quality time with the residents, so she made a career change.

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January 18, 2022
Bringing Joy to Senior Living — Why Melissa Milford Chose Her Career in Recreation and Why You Should Too 

We’re happy to introduce you to Melissa Milford, our first Welbi Hero of 2022! Melissa is an Activation Aide at Algoma Manor. She started at Algoma as part of the housekeeping team, but as she got to know the residents better, she was inspired to improve their lives.

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December 9, 2021
Sharing Smiles at Shepherd — An Interview With Christina Branch

Christina Branch is a resident assistant at Shepherd Village, a seniors’ community in Toronto, Ontario. Christina got her start in the senior living industry when the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a career change. Thanks to the chance she took, Christina found her calling.

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November 9, 2021
Recreation’s Incredible Benefits — An Interview With Robyn Heaney

Robyn is the Activity Coordinator at Marina Point Village, an Autumnwood community in North Bay, Ontario. Before she got her start in senior living, Robyn had always worked with children and youth. She started out as a PSW but found herself intrigued by the activity department.

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October 13, 2021
Meaningful Moments at the Crofton Manor — An Interview With Jennifer Nash

Jennifer is a Director of Recreation at The Crofton Manor, a Revera retirement community in Vancouver, B.C. She has fifteen years of experience working in Revera communities, and she’s held her position at Crofton Manor for five years.

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September 14, 2021
Making Memories at Sunridge Gardens — An Interview With Jennifer Wasden

Jennifer Wasden, recreation manager at Sunridge Gardens, has devoted years of her life to improving the health and wellness of older adults. With an impressive twenty-one years of experience, Jennifer is an industry veteran.

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August 11, 2021
Every Day a New Adventure — An Interview With Jacqueline Siemens

Meet Jacqueline Siemens, active living manager at Berwick on the Park and Welbi's Hero of the Month! Find out how Jacqueline is making every day an adventure for her residents in beautiful Kamloops, B.C.

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July 14, 2021
Every Wrinkle Has a Story — An Interview With Rachelle Rowland

Welbi is excited to introduce Rachelle as our first Hero of the Month as part of a series we’re launching to shine a spotlight on recreation professionals who go above and beyond for their residents.

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