Highlights from this week
- Staff Party Reminder: Tell Us if Your Plans Change
- Reminder: City Events in June & July
- Upcoming Events that May Impact Transit and Traffic
- PSW In-Person Hiring Event is Next Week (June 18)
- Register for CPR Training & Mask Fit Testing
- Safe Lifting and Transfers: Protect Yourself and Your Clients
- Learn How to Take Care of Your Health and Finances: Free Webinar
- Discover Ways to Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Month
- Join Us for an Indigenous Peoples Month Workshop
- Work Anniversaries This Week
- High Fives
Staff Party Reminder: Tell Us if Your Plans Change
Our staff party is going to be a great event! If you have registered for the staff party, please make sure that you will be attending, as we now have a waitlist, and there are no more tickets currently available.
If you find that you can no longer attend the party, please unregister by emailing Moon at mphan@circleofcare.com to cancel your ticket.
- When: Wednesday, June 24 | 5pm – 9pm
- Where: The Warehouse Venue | 35 Carl Hall Rd #2, North York, ON M3K 2B6
Reminders & Announcements
Reminder: City Events in June & July
As you may be aware, Toronto will be hosting several major events between June 11 and July 19, including six FIFA World Cup matches, the FIFA Fan Festival, Pride Toronto, and several arts and food festivals.
These events stretch across many neighbourhoods, and the highest impact areas will be:
- From Roncesvalles Avenue in the west to Church Street in the east, and from Lakeshore Blvd. up to Queen Street.
If you have clients within these areas, your CSS will reach out to you directly with any specific instructions or adjustments needed for your visits.
For everyone else, please note that traffic and TTC delays may still affect your day, as many people will be travelling in and out of the city for the events.
To help you stay on track, please take a moment to read the information below.
Transit Delays & Reminders
- TTC service and road traffic may be significantly delayed. Stay aware of route changes and closures. Check the City of Toronto’s lane closure and disruption updates for the latest information.
- Leave some extra time for travel, but please do not rush — safety comes first. We will inform clients to expect delays.
- Wear your staff badge at all times.
- Keep your cell phone ON and with you at all times.
Health & Safety
- Large crowds increase the risk of respiratory illness transmission. We recommend staying healthy with hand hygiene and PPE, as needed.
- Be mindful of your surroundings given that crowds are expected.
- Avoid carrying unnecessary items and keep your eyes on your path to avoid slips, trips, and falls.
Thank you — truly — for everything you do. We are here to support you, and if you have any questions or need help, please reach out to your CSS.
Upcoming Events that May Impact Transit and Traffic
Taste of Little Italy
- When: June 10-14, 2026
- Details: College St. between Bathurst St. and Shaw St. will be closed.
FIFA World Cup
- When: June 12-July 2, 2026
- Details: The FIFA World Cup will take place in Toronto for these dates, around the BMO fields at Exhibition Place, Lakeshore, Gardiner, and the Downtown Core. Expect spillover congestion and traffic into King and Queen St., as well as in the Downtown West area. (Look below for specific game days.)
FIFA World Cup Game Days
- Friday, June 12 – 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 17 – 7 p.m.
- Saturday, June 20 – 4 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 23 – 7 p.m.
- Friday, June 26 – 3 p.m.
- Thursday, July 2 – 7 p.m.
World Cup Fan Festival (Downtown Viewing Zone)
- When: June 11-July 19, 2026
- Details: Expect local road closures, crowds, and busy TTC subways, streetcars, and buses in the Downtown Core. Cars may not be allowed in certain zones, so plan alternative routes in case. (10k-20k person crowds per day.)
NXNE Music Festival
- When: June 12-14, 2026
- Details: Expect extra traffic around various locations around Queen Street West (South), Dupont St (North), Lansdowne Ave (West), and Church St (East).
South by Southeast Festival
- When: June 17-20, 2026
- Details: Nathan Philips Square and streets nearby will be congested and very busy.
PSW In-Person Hiring Event is Next Week (June 18)
We are hosting an in-person PSW hiring event on Thursday, June 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at our head office (4211 Yonge Street, Toronto).
If you know someone who may be a great fit, please share this opportunity with them.
Health & Safety
Register for CPR Training & Mask Fit Testing
To support your safety and meet requirements, Circle of Care provides free CPR training and free N95 Mask Fit testing through our vendor.
Your CPR certificate is valid for 3 years, and your Mask Fit must be renewed every 2 years.
How to Register
Text 647-496-5189 with:
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Full name
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Email
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Training location
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Preferred time
or call 905-272-9214 or register online using the button below.
Registration closes 7 business days before the session.
Important Reminders
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Arrive 15 minutes early.
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After booking, tell your Service Coordinator if you need schedule changes.
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Choose a time when you do not have client visits.
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Your schedule will be blocked as Unavailable for the training.
- You will be paid after completion:
- CPR: 3 hours
- Mask Fit: 1 hour
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Payment appears on your paystub as “Miscellaneous.”
Safe Lifting and Transfers: Protect Yourself and Your Clients
Lifting and moving clients can be hard on your body. Using safe techniques helps prevent injury.
Keep your back straight, bend your knees, and hold the client close to your body. Use your stomach muscles for support and lift with your legs, not your back.
Tip: If the client is heavy, unsteady, or hard to move, ask for help.
Wellness at Work
Learn How to Take Care of Your Health and Finances: Free Webinar
Join this webinar to learn how your finances can affect your health and well-being. You will learn simple ways to reduce stress and feel more confident about your money.
- When: June 11, 2026 (12pm-1pm)
- Where: Online
Discover Ways to Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Month
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is happening now in Toronto and online. This year is its 26th anniversary. The festival shows movies and stories made by Indigenous creators from Canada and around the world.
Online events are available from June 8 to 14.
Join Us for an Indigenous Peoples Month Workshop
Join Métis artist Billy Parrell for a hands-on workshop with storytelling and easy finger weaving.
Learn about Indigenous history along Lake Ontario and make your own bookmark while exploring Métis culture and traditions. No sign-up needed!
- When: Tuesday, June 23, 2026 (12pm-1:30pm)
- Where: Main Office – 4211 Yonge St (Boardroom A/B)
Community Corner
Work Anniversaries This Week
Each week, we’re proud to recognize the PSWs who are celebrating their work anniversaries. Every anniversary—no matter the number of years—represents the dedication, compassion, and commitment you bring to supporting our clients and community. Thank you for the important role you play at Circle of Care. This week’s list includes PSWs celebrating work anniversaries between June 7-13.
Congratulations to the following PSWs on their years of service with Circle of Care:
June 7
- 5 Years (Milestone Anniversary!): Ayi Mustapha, Michelle Refol
June 8
- 11 Years: Ronnel Buenaventura, Viengpheth Hok, Dechen Wangmo
- 35 Years (Milestone Anniversary!): Virginita Sancober
June 10
- 13 Years: Melinda Asiong, Tatiana Berman, Rachel Canoy, Jowelyn Curiba
June 12
- 9 Years: Maritesa Diamante
Individuals celebrating milestone anniversaries (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 years) will receive a one-time cash award to their pay cheque at the end of the quarter. Payment amount will depend on service length.
High Fives
High Five for PSW May Grantoza
“May is fantastic. I always feel confident when she’s providing care and would love to have her whenever coverage is needed.” – Client’s Family
High Five for PSW Annette Danso
“Annette provides exceptional care and support. We truly appreciate everything she does.” – Client’s Family
High Five for PSW Rachel Shalmieva
“Rachel is doing a phenomenal job. Our family is so grateful for her support and care.” – Client’s Family
High Five for PSW Lenora Ellington
“Lenora is exceptional. I feel very comfortable in her care.” – Client’s Family
High Five for PSW Michelle Ciego
“Michelle provides outstanding care. She is professional, compassionate, and always brings a positive attitude. We truly appreciate her dedication.” – Client’s Family
High Five for PSW John Carlo Perez
“I couldn’t be happier with the care John provides. I feel very comfortable with him and always recommend him to others.” – Client
High Five for PSW Danna Cowan
“Danna is always kind, professional, and a pleasure to have. I’m very happy with her support and always look forward to seeing her.” – Client
High Five for PSW Prakriti Gurung
“Prakriti is professional, patient, and always goes out of her way to help. I really appreciate her care.” – Client
High Fives for PSW Team
“Even on difficult days, their support lifts my mood and improves my well-being. I’m grateful for all of them.” – Client
High Fives for PSW Team
“I’m very grateful for all the help and support I receive.” – Client
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.
Ask Us Anything
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.