A bi-weekly update for Baycrest staff, families, clients and volunteers November 5, 2014 — VOL. 10 NO. 18 Baycrest Global Solutions signs first major deal B Volunteer receives Ontario Senior Achievement Award 2 Apotex 4 aims to defend title in this year’s staff influenza vaccination rate competition 2 Provincial cabinet ministers tour Baycrest 3 Baycrest is an academic health sciences centre fully affiliated with the University of Toronto aycrest’s commercial arm Baycrest Global Solutions (BGS) has finalized a contract that will see our experts consult on the development of seniors residences and geriatric care facilities in China. The deal, valued at nearly $1 million, marks the beginning of a five-year partnership with Star Capital, a Chinese investment company that will build eight new seniors residences and a hospital specializing in geriatric care. Baycrest will send experts to China for training and consultation, host senior leaders of Star Capital for training programs in Toronto, provide videoconference lectures, and help organize an annual forum in China. Baycrest and Star Capital will also begin discussing a longer-term contract. “Sharing Baycrest’s expertise to maximize the age-related cognitive and mental health of older adults in our community and around the globe is one of our key strategic goals,” said Dr. Bill Reichman, Baycrest president and CEO. “This contract marks a significant milestone for BGS in gaining a foothold in the world’s second-largest economy where the healthcare sector and its related industries, including seniors’ supportive housing and geriatric care services, are www.baycrest.org Innovations in aging Baycrest president and CEO Dr. Bill Reichman, pictured here next to Premier Kathleen Wynne, travelled to China at the end of October as part of Ontario’s trade mission. poised for considerable growth in the years to come.” Dr. Reichman travelled to China to sign the contract, as part of Ontario’s trade mission to China. The delegation included Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, representatives of her government and Chinese and Canadian industry representatives who gathered for a bilateral contract signing and celebration of Chinese-Canadian business partnerships. During the trip, Dr. Reichman also renewed Baycrest’s agreement with Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) in Beijing. Baycrest has provided educational observerships to medical and nursing students from PUMC each year since 2012. The new agreement will extend the relationship through 2015. Baycrest Matters is published every second Wednesday by the Marketing and Communications Department. Send your feedback or submissions to Steph Parrott, editor, at [email protected] or call 416-785-2500 ext. 5724. All submissions will be edited for style, grammar, readability and length. The deadline for submissions is two Wednesdays prior to the publication date. Baycrest Matters A bi-weekly update for Baycrest staff, families, clients and volunteers November 5, 2014 — VOL. 10 NO. 18 Volunteer receives Ontario Senior Achievement Award B aycrest volunteer Evelyn Burns-Weinrib has become a fixture at the W.A. Café where she volunteers every day. On October 30, she was awarded a Senior Achievement Award in recognition of her volunteerism and her work as an advocate for seniors. The awards are presented each year by Ontario’s lieutenant governor and are the highest provincial honour for Ontarians over the age of 65. Burns-Weinrib, 81, is a retired teacher who now spends six days a week at Baycrest, logging more than 33,000 volunteer hours over the past 13 years. In addition to serving customers at the W.A. Café, she facilitates a discussion group for residents in the Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged; spends three afternoons a week with patients on the Shirley and Philip Granovsky Palliative Care Unit; helps out in the libraries and with weekly Sabbath services; and crochets items for patients who have cancer both at Baycrest and at Princess Margaret Hospital. Evelyn Burns-Weirib was back at the cash register in the WA Café on October 31 after receiving an Ontario Senior Achievement Award in a ceremony at Queen’s Park on October 30. suicide three years ago, she began courageously and candidly sharing her story to help others. BurnsWeinrib also helped to fund the creation of a website focused on seniors’ mental health, a project led by Dr. Robert Madan, chief of Psychiatry. The site is now online at www.baycrest.org/mentalhealth and Evelyn took on the role of spokesperson to help promote the site in the media. “This award represents what Baycrest has meant to me,” says Burns-Weinrib, “It’s a symbol of Baycrest and I working together.” Burns-Weinrib is also a vocal advocate for a cause that’s deeply personal: seniors’ mental health. After struggling with severe depression and attempting Apotex 4 aims to defend title in this year’s staff vaccination rate competition If you haven’t had the flu shot yet, now is the perfect time. Baycrest’s annual staff influenza vaccination rate competition is underway and this year, teams have the opportunity to win three different ways in. Either the early bird, grudge match or overall vaccination rate competitions. A pizza lunch is up for grabs in the early bird competition for the team with the top vaccination rate by November 15. In the grudge matches each team is paired with another team. In each pairing, the team with the highest vaccination rate will win “flu champ” badge stickers. The coveted Flu Champion trophy will be awarded once again this year in the overall vaccination rate competition. Of the Apotex unit teams, hospital unit teams, Food and Nutrition Services team and Environmental Services team, the team with the highest staff vaccination rate will with the trophy to display for the year. Kim Li, RPN on Apotex 4, last year’s Flu Champion, is not ready to give the trophy back to Nadia Boroja, manager, Occupational Health and Safety. “We’ll be keeping the trophy,” says Joe Ferreira, unit clerk, Apotex 4. Check the intranet for info about the flu, and the influenza vaccination as well as the teams, competition updates and the Flu Buggy and flu shot clinic schedule. 2 Baycrest Matters A bi-weekly update for Baycrest staff, families, clients and volunteers November 5, 2014 — VOL. 10 NO. 18 Provincial cabinet ministers tour Baycrest Two separate visits in October brought officials from the provincial government to Baycrest. Dipika Damerla, associate minister of health and long-term care, took a tour of the Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged and met staff and residents on October 14. On October 15, Reza Moridi, minister of research and innovation and minister of training, colleges and universities learned about Baycrest’s research, innovation and commercialization projects. Art show celebrates talent of Baycrest client O n October 22, The Samuel Lunenfeld Mountainview Club hosted an art show and reception for day centre member, Stanley Kane, who creates paintings as an expression of his mood. “He often paints for two to six hours each day – we have more than 200 paintings at home!” says his wife, Judith. He advised those who want to start painting to follow his technique. “I set up the easel, grab a pencil, close my eyes and just start doodling. Then I use the paint colours I have on hand!” Though Stanley is an emerging artist, the well-attended art show is evidence of his increasing following. As one fan put it, Stanley’s art is “astounding!” Candidates on the campaign trail visit Baycrest The Joseph E. and Minnie Wagman Centre was abuzz with activity ahead of October’s municipal elections as candidates stopped in to campaign to politically engaged seniors from the Terraces of Baycrest Retirement Residence, the Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged and the Joseph E. and Minnie Wagman Centre. Each mayoral candidate gave a short presentation, followed by questions and a meet-and-greet session. City council candidates for Ward 15 were also invited to an all-candidates meeting. Pictured here, John Tory, now mayor-elect drew a big crowd on October 6. 3 Baycrest Matters A bi-weekly update for Baycrest staff, families, clients and volunteers November 5, 2014 — VOL. 10 NO. 18 Staff announcements A warm welcome to Tonya Mahar, Baycrest’s new manager of Library Services. Tonya holds a master of information studies from the University of Toronto and brings to the role several years of library management experience in healthcare, most recently as the manager of the Health Information Resource Centre with The Scarborough Hospital, where she created a new consumer health and community information center and was involved in the adoption and implementation of a Learning Management System. Hosting an event? The Jacob Family Theatre at the Abe Posluns Auditorium is the perfect venue for: • Community and family gatherings • Concerts and film screenings • Conferences and seminars For more information visit www.baycrest.org/theatre or contact Daniela Teti at 416-785-2500 ext. 2645 or at [email protected] The people around us: A staff feature Fern Melnick Meet one of the friendly faces of Baycrest, Fern Melnick, cashier in Financial Services at the foundation. In 1984, she began working in a little bungalow on Baycrest Avenue for Baycrest’s Men’s Service Group. Over the years, as Baycrest has evolved, so has her role. She joined Financial Services in 1994 and has enjoyed it ever since. “I love my team, we have such a sense of camaraderie,” says Fern. She is responsible for processing donations in many forms, including over the phone. “Some donors call me directly to make their donations. It’s 4 nice to chat with the same families year after year, who contribute so much to Baycrest.” In her spare time, Fern loves travelling and going to the theatre. She recently started a walking group so she can stay active and spend more time with friends. Where to find her: Say hello to Fern in the Foundation’s Financial Services department or while she’s out for her daily lunchtime walk. 2
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