Inside the Circle – July 15, 2025

We are proud to recognize and celebrate the incredible dedication of our team members through the Milestone Award. This award honours employees who have reached 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 years of service.

The following employees are celebrating their milestone anniversaries between April and June. To show our appreciation, each recipient will receive a one-time cash payout in the July 18 pay period:

5 Years of Service 

• Judeline Benoya
• Svitlana Shpit

10 Years of Service

• Ronnel Buenaventure
• Viengpheth Hok
• Mary Sue Canonigo
• Visatacion Delos Santos
• Gemma Felix
• Ada Iliabaev
• Yulia Kuzmicheva
• Svetlana Levina 
• Janiefer Mallari
• Ma Luisa Salvador
• Anzhela Tigranyan
• Evelyn Viduya
• Arlene Villanueva
• Imelda Walsiyen
• Karen Alicante
• Lucila Averion
• Kia Baptiste
• Magelin Cacal
• Evgenia Konikov
• Ethel Lapat
• Juliene Maunes
• Elsie Mencias
• Lorna Opena

15 Years of Service 

• Sheenel Mathurin

20 Years of Service 

• Emelda Alcantara
• Yulia Leikin
• Elena Telitsyna

25 Years of Service 

• Nataly Dunayevska

The HR team would like to host a 30-minute Virtual Lunch & Learn for newcomers to Canada during August, where we will discuss some tools, tips, stories, and more information on Newcomer Support Services.

Responsive behaviour refers to actions, words, or gestures that are reactions to a person’s environment, often seen in clients living with dementia, mental health conditions, or neurological disorders.

In dementia, changes in the brain can affect communication, understanding, and responses. Behaviours like agitation or aggression are not random. They are expressions of discomfort, confusion, or unmet needs.

Common triggers include:

• Unfamiliar or noisy environments
• Physical discomfort, such as pain or hunger
• Emotional distress

Recognizing these behaviours as communication is key to providing compassionate and effective care, as well as creating safer and more supportive environments.

Just a reminder that our GoodLife Fitness Corporate Membership is still going strong! Circle of Care employees can enjoy a 25% discount on any GoodLife Fitness membership with $0 enrollment fee.

When you’re ready to register, make sure you have your employee ID handy. Your employee ID number (not your voicemail or badge number) can be found in your Dayforce profile or at the top of your paystub. If you have any questions or need help, please reach out to our HR team HRDept@circleofcare.com for assistance. 

Ready to get started?

• Rewards & Contests | GoodLife Fitness
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | GoodLife Fitness

Circle of Care is now offering discounted home and auto insurance through our discount program, Perkopolis.

Being a caregiver can impact your health, energy, and relationships. Taking care of yourself is essential to caring for others.

Quick self-care tips:

• Eat well – Balanced meals help keep your energy up.
• Stay active – Even light movement can relieve stress and build strength.
• Get sleep – Aim for quality rest to stay sharp and resilient.
• Talk to someone – Connecting with others prevents burnout.
• Set boundaries – Separate work time from rest and personal time.
• Prioritize – Focus on what matters most each day.
• Look after your health – Don’t skip you checkups and care.

In Dr. Santos’ video, “The Science of Happiness,” she shares what often gets in the way of joy and how simple behaviours, such as savouring good moments, doing something kind, or connecting with others, can make a difference.

If you’re looking to make a small change, check out the video and if you’re looking to start tracking some of those good habits, here are a few tools you can try:

• Healthy Habit Log
• Habitify

We often carry emotional and physical tension in our neck and upper body. Gentle movement of the neck muscles can loosen and release this tension.

Steps for Neck Tension Release:

1. Sit or stand tall, with your spine upright and supported.
2. Gently drop your chin toward your chest. Slowly roll your head from one shoulder to the other.
3. Move at your own pace and range – small or large, fast or slow.
4. Notice what feels good. Breathe into any areas of tension.
5. Let your shoulders relax.
6. Continue for a few moments, then pause and notice how you feel.

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

• Tessa Williams
• Nakeisha Johnson
• Harnoor Kaur
• Lowell Jay Cervantes
• Annet Nabakooza
• Maricar Ballestros
• Precelyne Mariyappan
• Valvarie Mason
• Afsa Babirye
• Esohe (Sylvia) Osamwonyi
• Cinette Castellan
• Jane Mburu
• Happiness Akpan
• Komalpreet Kaur
• Leticia Tshimpanga
• Kenlyn Alexander
• Pushpinder Kaur
• Michelle Laude
• Ava Currie
• Cervantes, Lowell Jay

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.

Does the changing of my residential address affect the clients I am given, or does it have to follow the location on my contract?

Change of address will not make a difference as long as it is informed to us and it is changed in our system.

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.