Inside the Circle – April 15, 2025

Circle of Care is proud to offer access to exclusive discounts on tickets, hotels and various other products and services to employees through our discount partner Perkopolis.

Perkopolis is a free, easy-to-use, exclusive benefit program designed to enhance your well-being by granting you access to over 5,000 unique perks. These perks span various categories, including:

• Retail & Shopping: Enjoy discounts on everyday items, luxury goods, and more.
• Attractions & Tickets: Get exclusive savings on tickets for theme parks, museums, concerts, and sporting events.
• Travel: Save on travel-related expenses, including hotels and car rentals.
• Home & Auto Insurance: Access discounted insurance options.
• Shell Fuel Savings: Save on fuel, car washes, and in-store purchases at participating Shell locations.
• …and much more!

How the Program Works

• Create an Account:
  • Go to https://www.perkopolis.com/and click on ‘Sign In/Register’ at the top-right hand corner.
  • Click ‘Register’ on the right hand screen. If you already have a registered account, you would need to click ‘Sign In’
  • Enter your personal email address
  • Monitor your inbox for an email from Perkopolis and click on the link to complete registration
  • Insert your member ID Code (this will be CC+your employee ID), example CC1234
• Browse & Shop: Explore the perks available on the website. Add your desired products to your ‘shopping cart’.
• Easy Payment: Process your payment online, and your tickets or vouchers will be delivered directly to you.

We’re excited to share that Conestoga College is offering a free course called CRADLE+ (CanadianRemote Access for Dementia Learning Experiences). This is a free online certificate program that covers the important topics of dementia and responsive behaviours. This course is available in multiple languages (English, French, Mandarin and Tagalog), and takes approximately 5 hours to complete. If this is something that you would be interested in, you can register below. 

The Champions of Care Awards are open to nominations until Wednesday April 30, 2025.

Don’t forget to nominate a colleague for an award!

With spring officially here, now’s a great time to take advantage of longer days and brighter skies. Even just a few minutes of sunlight can help:

• Boost your mood
• Improve sleep quality
• Support physical and mental well-being

Take a moment to soak in some sunshine – it’s a simple way to feel a little better every day.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the March 2025 Nutrition Month Challenge! We loved seeing all your amazing recipes.

Congratulations to our prize draw winners: Francisca Selibio and Teresa Bryson!

We’ve compiled all the delicious submissions into a mini recipe book for you to enjoy and revisit.

Mumps spreads mainly through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through direct contact with their saliva—like sharing drinks or utensils. Common symptoms include swelling on one or both sides of the face (parotitis), fever, headache, earache, feeling tired, muscle aches, trouble talking, chewing or swallowing, and loss of appetite.

Tetanus is a serious infection caused by bacteria that can enter your body through even the tiniest cut. Once inside, it can affect your nerves and muscles. That’s why it’s important for all adults to get a tetanus booster every 10 years to stay protected.

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that usually hits the nose and throat. It can cause a thick, grey coating in your throat or on your tonsils, along with a sore throat, hoarseness, swollen neck glands, trouble breathing, nasal discharge, fever, and chills. It’s serious—but preventable.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection. If you haven’t been vaccinated or haven’t had it before, you’re at risk. The virus lives in the nose and throat of an infected person and spreads through coughs, sneezes, or even just breathing nearby. You can also catch it by touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Hepatitis A is a short-term liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). It can bring on symptoms like fever, tiredness, nausea, and stomach pain.

Hepatitis B affects the liver too, but it can become long-term. Symptoms often look like the flu—fever, muscle aches, and fatigue—along with stomach pain, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), and dark urine.

If you, or a family member, are experiencing any of these signs and symptoms – you should remain off of work and consult your family doctor.

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.

A High Five for Josie Medranda

Josie does her job well. She is kind, lovely, soft spoken, and she always find a way to solve any problems that may arise. Even though she’s busy, if you leave her a message consider it done! Cheers Josie for a job well done!

Neil Quito, PSW

Welcome to the following new employees at Circle of Care:

• Manisha Khadka
• Charity Ben-Oparaocha
• Rowena Amahit
• Godbless Entsuah
• Alice Mallillin
• Marvelous Oluwafemi
• Flora Okoro
• Lynnet Nakibuuka
• Sophia Camacho
• Joy Usman
• Oluchi Onwuama
• Doris Onu
• Karen Joy Pamine
• Shakeeba Frederick
• Paula Smith
• Tracey Matthews
• Helen Weldeyes
• Analyn Novencido
• Sima Weig