Inside the Circle – February 24, 2026

At Circle of Care, you are eligible to participate in the Group RRSP Matching Program under the Collective Agreement. Full-time employees may receive an annual employer matching contribution of up to $300, and part-time employees may receive up to $150. To qualify, employees must have 12 months of seniority by December 31 of the contribution year.

Participation in the plan is voluntary. Learn more using the button below.

If you’re interested in joining, please contact Payroll at payroll@circleofcare.com.

DVP to Richmond Street

• When: Until Spring 2026
• Details: The southbound off-ramp of the DVP to Richmond Street remains closed until Spring 2026.

Lake Share Boulevard On-Ramp

• When: Until May 2026
• Details: The westbound Gardiner on-ramp from Lake Shore Boulevard will be fully closed. The Westbound Gardiner Expressway will be reduced to two lanes from the Lake Shore Boulevard on-ramp to Grand Avenue. 

St. Patrick’s Day Race – Annual 5K and 10K Race

• When: Sunday, March 15
• Details: St Patrick’s Day Race – Annual 5 and 10K fundraising race will take place.
  Full road closures along stretches of Bayview Ave and Rosedale Valley Rd starting around 9 a.m. as the course runs through those neighbourhood streets.
  Access for vehicles will be limited during the event — alternate transport like TTC or avoiding the area earlier in the day is recommended

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

• When: Sunday, March 15
• Details: Key downtown streets (e.g. Yonge St. and surrounding areas) are affected during mid-day.

At Circle of Care, we are committed to fostering a workplace where kindness, respect, and inclusion thrive. On February 25, Pink Shirt Day is a reminder to stand against bullying and promote a culture of empathy and support.

Bullying—whether in person or online—has no place in our workplace. As part of our commitment to a safe and respectful environment, we encourage all you to review our Anti-Bullying Policy, which outlines how we prevent, address, and respond to workplace bullying.

As Black History Month ends, this week invites us to pause, reflect, and then move forward with intention.

Throughout the month, we’ve explored topics such as history, identity, racism vs. prejudice, and Black excellence. These conversations remind us that understanding the past helps us create more inclusive and respectful spaces today.

Most importantly, this work doesn’t end in February. Black history, Black voices, and equity work are relevant every day of the year. What we’ve learned this month can guide how we listen, support one another, and challenge bias in our day-to-day work.

Please take a few minutes to complete the Global Workforce Survey. This is your chance to share your thoughts about your workplace. 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 below:

Although stress is a normal part of life, too much stress can affect your heart. Chronic stress can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and sugar levels, raising the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also make healthy habits harder to maintain, leading to overeating, smoking, or excessive drinking.

Stressors can be major life changes, daily pressures, or ongoing struggles. Simple strategies like staying active, eating well, practicing relaxation techniques, and seeking support can help you manage stress.

Learn more about the link between heart disease and stress using the buttons below.

Black Mental Health Canada has launched BREATHE (Black Response for Empowerment, Advocacy, Trauma-Informed Healing & Equity), a free 24/7 national support line dedicated to the mental health and well-being of Black Canadians.

BREATHE provides:

• Immediate support: 24/7 emotional support and crisis response
• Culturally responsive care: Healing rooted in Black lived experiences
• Trauma-informed support: Professional, emotional first aid
• Direct links to ongoing counselling, advocacy, and community supports

How to connect (starting March 2, 2026):

• Call: 1-800-917-0BRC (0272)
• Use the button below to learn more

Join Sun Life for a special International Women’s Day webinar focused on building financial resilience through life’s changes.

Monday, March 9, 2026
12:00 PM ET

This session will explore practical strategies to help you:

• Build a flexible financial roadmap that adapts to life’s changes
• Use scenario planning to strengthen financial confidence
• Combine emotional well-being with long term financial security

Take this opportunity to strengthen your financial knowledge and plan with confidence.

The Human Library is a chance to meet real people and hear real stories.

Instead of borrowing a book, you borrow a person— “a Human Book”. You’ll have an honest conversation about their life and experiences. It’s a safe and welcoming space to ask questions, listen, and see people in a new way.

Why join?

• Have open conversations that help you understand others better

• Hear powerful stories from people with different life experiences

• Learn something new and walk away seeing things differently

Cost: Free

Location: Online

Upcoming Dates

• February 24, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

• March 24, 2026 | 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

If you drive to work, Perkopolis has a great offer through Shell. Members save 3¢ per litre on fuel and get 10% off car washes and in-store purchases at participating locations.

For a limited time, you also get an extra $8 off an Ultimate car wash after your first fuel purchase through the Shell App.

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

High Five for PSW Frederick Bartolome 

“Very empathetic and respectful of boundaries. Frederick conducted himself professionally.” – Client’s daughter

High Five for PSW Florinda Omari

High Five for PSW Angelie Roboredo

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.

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.