Inside the Circle – December 16, 2025

Respiratory infections can spread easily, especially in your work, where you are often close to other people.

Health Canada has created a short guide that explains how germs spread and the simple actions you can take each day to reduce the spread of infection. The guide includes reminders about washing your hands, wearing a mask, good air flow, staying home when you are sick, and cleaning surfaces that are touched often.

Please read the full resource below.

After ten years of devoted service, Lilia Bugantev, Personal Support Worker, will be retiring from Circle of Care as of December 16, 2025.

Since joining our team in 2015, Lilia has been a steady source of compassion, professionalism, and support for our clients and their families. Her dedication to enhancing the comfort, dignity, and quality of life of those she cared for has left a lasting difference in our community. Colleagues and clients will remember her warmth and commitment with great appreciation.

As Lilia moves into this well-earned new chapter, we offer our sincere gratitude and warmest wishes for a joyful, healthy, and rewarding retirement.

Southbound Off-ramp of the DVP Closed to Richmond Street

• When: Until Spring 2026
• TTC/Traffic Changes: The southbound off-ramp of the DVP to Richmond Street remains closed until spring 2026.

To support your safety, we provide free, required CPR training and free N95 Mask Fit testing through our vendor. Your CPR certificate is valid for 3 years. Your Mask Fit must be renewed every 2 years.

Please check the upcoming training dates you can register for:

CPR Training – Upcoming Sessions

• 09:00–12:00
• 13:00–16:00

Mask Fit Testing – Upcoming Sessions (Head Office)

• 11:00–11:30
• 11:40–12:10
• 12:20–12:50
• 13:00–13:30

How to Register

• Full name
• Email
• Training location
• Preferred time

You can also call 905-272-9214, or book through First Aid Care on the Circle of Care Training Hub, using the button below.

Important Reminders

• Arrive 15 minutes early.
• After booking, tell your Service Coordinator if you need schedule changes.
• Choose a time when you do not have client visits.
• Your schedule will be blocked as Unavailable for the training.
• You will be paid after completion:
  • CPR: 3 hours
  • Mask Fit: 1 hour
• Payment appears on your paystub as “Miscellaneous.”

As a reminder, you should direct any payment-related inquiries to our Payroll team (payroll@circleofcare.com). This includes any questions about pay stubs, pay codes, T4 or other tax documents, RRSP contributions, and the CPP.

Please take a few minutes to complete the Global Workforce Survey. This is your chance to share your thoughts about your workplace anonymously. Your feedback helps us learn what’s going well and what we can make even better for you.

Note that the survey is anonymous (your name will not be shared). Thank you in advance for your participation!

Please complete the survey as soon as possible.

Caring for others can be rewarding, but it can also be overwhelming for you at times. Frontline Wellness is a free, confidential, and virtual program created just for health care workers in Ontario.

With Frontline Wellness, you can:

• Talk 1:1 with a professional for support, coping strategies, CBT tools, or system navigation (services also available in French).
• Join group sessions in a safe space to share, learn new skills, and strengthen resilience.

• frontlinewellness@waypointcentre.ca
• (705) 549-5144 | 1-877-341-4729 x 5000

Learn winter safety tips to help you manage the cold. By taking the right precautions and steps, you’ll be able to safely enjoy the weather outside.

Watch the video and tap the button below to learn useful winter safety tips that’ll support you through the snowy season.

As you travel around the community, it is always important to stay alert and protect yourself wherever you go.

• Remain alert and walk with a purpose. Even if you are on a route you take every day, be aware of your surroundings.
• Trust your own instincts if a situation seems “wrong”. It can be the best personal safety tool you have.
• Make sure to zip all your pockets and to check on your bag or backpack. This can help prevent things from falling out or being stolen.
• Avoid isolated areas such as parking lots, garages, and alleyways. Try to stay in well-lit, high-traffic areas, especially as it gets dark in the evening or night.

For more tips, click the button below to read the full personal safety pamphlet created by the Toronto Police.

Right now, Perkopolis is offering 20% off regular price items from Baffin, a Canadian brand known for warm boots and winter gear.

If you have been thinking about upgrading your winter boots or adding something cozy for the colder months, this might be a good time to take a look.

How to Register for a Perkopolis Account

We are pleased to welcome the following PSWs to Circle of Care:

• Sajina Shrestha
• Pratima Dhakal
• Afokeoghene (Joan) Mukoro
• Purnima Tamang
• Veronicah Munyua
• Mirza De Vera
• Eldah Omwenga
• Jhadeja Shortridge
• Carren Boreland
• Dorothy Nakikome
• Mary Adegboye
• Hewan Beshashe

High Five for PSW Nonna Slutsker

“I would like to express my deep appreciation for an exceptional Personal Support Worker, Nonna Slutsker, who played an extraordinary role in my mother’s life and continues to do so even now. From the very beginning, Nonna demonstrated outstanding professionalism, organization, kindness, and attention to detail. She consistently went above and beyond to support my mother. My mom always said that when Nonna arrived, ‘it was like sunshine coming into the home.’” – Client’s daughter

High Five for PSW Brenda Baetiong

“I’m very happy with my PSW Brenda, and I’d like her to visit more often.” – Client

High Five for PSW Daniel Priscilla

“Daniel is wonderful and very helpful.” – Client’s spouse

High Five for PSW Osayanmon Ogie

“Osayanmon is completely amazing, did exactly what was needed, and has ‘hands of gold.’ I’m pleased with the careful way my parent was weighed each morning.” – Client’s daughter

High Five for Stella, Maria, Janice, Sefa and Irish

Has someone gone above and beyond at work? Give them a High Five!

The High Five program lets you publicly recognize staff members for their outstanding work. High Fives will be posted in your weekly Inside the Circle newsletter.

To give a high five, just click on the button below or use the link in the rotating banner on the Portal home page.

Please note: We do not accept anonymous submissions for this program. High Fives must be submitted by an individual person, whether they are a staff member or member of the community.

I have worked part-time as a PSW at Circle of Care for 2 years. How many days of vacation can I take per agency policy?

Thank you for your question. As per the Collective Agreement, an employee with one (1) or more years but less than three (3) years shall receive two (2) weeks’ vacation with vacation pay equal to four percent (4%).

Can I request for IT to install the TTC Tracker on our phone?

Thank you for your suggestion. The IT team will work on adding this app to PSW phones in January 2026.

Have a question? Submit your questions or feedback anonymously below!

Please note that it may take us longer to provide some answers. If your question hasn’t been answered yet, we will get back to you as soon as we can.