Tax time is coming! Follow the link below to learn about how to file your return and stay on top of important dates.

Filing dates for 2024 taxes

• February 24, 2025: Earliest day to file your taxes online
• April 30, 2025: Deadline to file your taxes and pay amounts owing
• June 15, 2025 (June 16, 2025, since June 15 is a Sunday): Deadline to file your taxes if you or your spouse or common-law partner are self-employed

As per Article 3.03 of the Collective Agreement, employees will need to work 1300 hours during the current calendar year (January 1-December 31, 2025) to qualify for or maintain full time status for the 2025 calendar year.

If you are interested in working more hours or expanding your availability, please contact your Service Coordinator.

Verbal communication skills can help keep you and your client safe when the client is angry or upset during your home visit. Here are some communications strategies to use if your client is upset or angry:

• Neutral – Make your first contact neutral and non-directive: for example, ask how you can help. By using neutral language, you will provide a sense of normal interaction for the client.
• Calm – Maintain a calm, courteous, and reassuring demeanor. Try to calm the client. Always be courteous to clients despite their behaviour. Introduce yourself and call them by their name.
• Simple – Use simple language. Avoid jargon or technical language.
• Active listening – Use active listening skills and do not interrupt when a client is expressing their feelings.
• Focus – Focus your attention on the client to let them know you are interested in what they have to say.
• Empathy – Empathize and acknowledge the client’s feelings. Confirm that you know they are upset or angry.
• Repeat – Confirm your understanding of the issue or problem by repeating what the client has told you.

Circle of Care’s Workplace Hazard Management Tool outlines various workplace hazards, including Slips, Trips and Falls (STFs), Musculosketal Disorders (MSDs), Workplace Violence, and more. For each workplace hazard, we have established Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs) which outline how our employees can reduce the risk of these hazards and reduce chance of illness/injury.

Our SOPs and Hazard Management Tool are reviewed and updated regularly by our JHSC. Employees are strongly encouraged to review and follow these procedures to prevent workplace injuries and accidents.

Check out these 6 surprising facts about your heart!

1. Clean teeth are good for your heart.
   Here’s another reason to brush and floss your teeth every day: gum disease nearly doubles your risk of heart disease! Inflammation caused by gum disease may also cause inflammation in other areas of the body, including the arteries, which can lead to heart disease. Plus, mouth bacteria can enter your bloodstream through damaged gums, where they may get caught in fatty build-ups on the arteries, increasing the chances of a blood clot, which could lead to a heart attack.
2. You really can have a “broken heart.”
   Broken heart syndrome, also called stress cardiomyopathy, is a real medical condition where people suffer symptoms similar to a heart attack after experiencing severe physical or emotional stress. People may have chest pain, shortness of breath, or an irregular heartbeat. But unlike a heart attack, the arteries are not blocked. Instead, it’s believed that stress causes the body to release hormones that temporarily damage the heart or narrow the blood vessels.
3. Your heart beats about 100,000 times a day.
   The average heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. That adds up to 86,000 and 144,000 beats per day! Your heart may beat even more frequently. For example, if you have atrial fibrillation (also known as AFib, a common type of irregular heartbeat), the average heart rate is 100 to 175 beats per minute, for an astonishing total of up to 252,000 beats per day!
4. Living an active lifestyle may help prevent atrial fibrillation.
   Research shows that adults who participate in moderate physical activities such as biking or brisk walking for at least 150 mins each week have a lower risk of AFib. So find a way to get active today!
5. Not all heart problems cause symptoms.
   Not all heart problems cause symptoms – some are silent. For example, while some people with AFib may have symptoms such as heart palpitations or dizziness, others do not experience any symptoms at all. You can also suffer a “silent heart attack” with no noticeable symptoms. Nonetheless, if you notice unusual chest pain with shortness of breath, be sure to seek medical attention immediately. A silent heart attack can increase your risk of another heart attack in the future.
6. A good laugh is great for your heart!
   Researchers have found that laughter really can help your heart. They believe that it works by helping to counteract the negative effects of stress on the blood vessels. So go ahead, take a daily laugh break! Your heart will thank you.

Did You Know? Most people don’t get the recommended 25g of fibre per day in the standard North American diet.

• Why It Matters: Fibre keeps your digestion regular and helps prevent heart disease.
• Check Your Intake! Track how much fibre you eat today – are you meeting the 25g daily goal?
• Boost your intake with whole grains, fruits, veggies, and legumes!

Join RBC Wealth Management & Global Asset Management for a market update and learn about key investment principles to maximize your investment strategies.

Guest Speakers:

• George Tsvetanov, CFP, RBC Financial Planner
• Fandi Kamran, Regional Manager, RBC Global Asset Management

Next session: February 12th, 2024 – 12:00 PM EST

On February 4, our three Spotlight Award winners – Aniko Horvath, Edith Brown-Hinds and Natoya Currie – joined us at our main office for a special luncheon with our CEO Carey Lucki!

This was a wonderful opportunity to thank and honour our three award winners for the outstanding care and dedication they each showcase in their roles.

Clickon the link below to visit our website to read more about them and the awards that they won!

Each February, during Black History Month, we take the opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Black Canadians in every facet of our lives, from education, medicine, art, and culture to public service, economic development, politics, and human rights.

This video highlights significant people and events, exploring the contributions that Canadians of African descent have made to their communities and to Canada.

Upcoming Events

• KUUMBA, Toronto’s largest Black Futures Month celebration, offers an exciting lineup of dance, music, workshops, visual arts and more, centring the contributions of Black creators.
• Toronto Black Film Festival illuminates major cultural, social and socio-economic issues affecting Black people and their communities by showcasing films that explore Black experiences and identities around the world.
• The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century exhibition at the AGO brings together contemporary artists, musicians, designers and stylists to tell the story of the art form and its global impact on visual culture. Don’t forget to check out the Spotify playlist curated to accompany the exhibition!