Celebrating Our 2020-2021 Champions of Care Winners

Celebrating Our 2020-2021 Champions of Care Winners

This week, Circle of Care was thrilled to celebrate the nominees and winners of our employee recognition program – Champions of Care – for 2020-2021. 

The program was launched in February 2018 with the intent of highlighting the big and little ways our employees go the extra mile – whether for a client, a family member, a colleague, or a health care partner.

Over the past fiscal year, we have received more than 100 nominations for employees who have gone above and beyond their day-to-day duties to ensure our clients and caregivers receive high-quality care. Among those nominations, there were a handful of people that stood out by the way the examples align with our organization’s values. 

Here are our 2020-21 Champions of Care award winners:

Award for Innovation

The Award for Innovation goes to Tara S., Client Services Supervisor. Tara received multiple nominations for this award from her colleagues for her hard work, commitment, and dedication to helping her team and Circle of Care clients, including this nomination from her colleague Anna:

“Tara was the first Client Services Supervisor to engage in our interval care project and has demonstrated unwavering commitment and dedication to making this project a success in one of our congregate settings. Tara has worked with community partners and service coordinators to maximize efficiency and provide outstanding service to our clients and ongoing support to her PSW team.”

Award for Excellence

The Award for Excellence goes to Alla I., Holocaust Case Manager. Alla was nominated for this award by one of her clients and a client’s family for always going above and beyond the call of duty.

“I particularly want to thank Alla for helping me to get a new walker for my mom her old one broke apart. It was her lifeline, and I needed to get one to her as soon as possible. Alla stepped in and not only gave me all the information I needed, but she also called LHIN which definitely sped up the process.” – Client’s daughter

Award for Collaboration

The Award for Collaboration goes to Aditya M., IT Help Desk Support. Aditya was nominated for this award by seven different colleagues for his quick response, patience, and positive attitude. Here’s what his colleague Madeline had to say:

“Every time Aditya helps me, or anyone in the ADP, all we do is speak in volumes of how amazing he is. First, in his expertise in IT, resolving all of our concerns in the most efficient manner. But, he is also so caring and never makes us feel silly with any of our questions or concerns.”

Award for Accountability

The Award for Accountability goes to Kai S., Health, Safety, & Wellness Specialist. Kai was nominated for this award by her colleagues for her kindness and quick responses.

“Since Kai started working with us, I always receive immediate responses to my emails, and she always resolves all problems. Now we don’t need to be worried about problems coming up. We always feel we are in good hands because of Kai.” – Julia, colleague

Award for Equity

The Award for Equity goes to Elena B., Homemaker. Elena was nominated for this award by a client’s daughter for her professionalism and kindness.

“In the most difficult times, Elena has always been there for my mother. Even in times when my mother was moody and would say harsh things, Elena never lost her patience but instead, showed more kindness and understanding.” – Client’s daughter

Award for Person-Centred Care

This year, we selected co-winners for the Award for Person-Centred Care. The two winners are Analyn O, and Adeline C., who are both Personal Support Workers.

Analyn was nominated for this award by three different clients for her positive attitude and dedication. The daughter of a client had this to say:

“What makes Analyn so special is her wonderful spirit, great humour, intelligence, her perceptiveness, and her initiative. Analyn is an incredibly hard worker and she thinks of things that need to be done to support our mother for any of us, and immediately sets to work on any task she identified as important for mother’s care.”

Adeline was nominated by a client’s daughter for demonstrating such professional and selfless care each day. She wrote:

“Adeline was able to build a connection with my mother who had extreme anxiety, and a reluctance to accept workers into her home. My mother looked forward to her visits every week and said very highly of how compassionate and patient Adeline is.”

Champion of the Year Award

Our Champion of the Year award goes to an employee who consistently demonstrates all of Circle of Care values on a daily basis.

This year, there are two nominees who stood out and won the Champion of the Year award: Theodros A., and Shan Z.

Both winners are Personal Support Workers who were nominated by their Service Coordinator, Valentina, for their bravery and support during a terrible fire that took place last winter, near the holidays.

“Theodros came to the building for his overnight shift at 10:30 pm and helped take clients out of the building and cover them with blankets. He was assisting clients to the TTC bus shelter and stayed with clients outside until 2:30 am. When the fire department told him it was safe to go inside, he assisted all night. Despite the elevator not working, he went twice up to the 14th floor to assist a client. He is a champion of care with his performance!”

Shan took extra efforts during the fire to take a bedridden client out of her apartment into the hallway. She knew that the client had no one to look after her. Shan put blankets on the client and supported the client and ensured that the client was taken care of.

Her shift finished at 11 p.m., but she stayed well into the night to support her clients.

“She is a real Champion of Care in any situation, and throughout the year. But especially for her help during this terrible fire in the building that occurred last December,” wrote her colleague Valentina.