Inside the Circle – July 8, 2026

Hot weather can be hard on your body, especially when travelling between clients’ homes. Follow these tips to prevent heat-related illness:

• Drink water regularly throughout the day.
• Wear light, loose clothing and sunscreen.
• Take breaks when needed, especially after physical tasks or when working in homes without air conditioning.
• Cool down by running cold water over your hands.
• Spend breaks in a cool place, such as an air-conditioned building or cooling centre. (Find a cooling centre near you.)

Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke to help protect yourself and your clients.

A new online training course called “Dimensions of Diversity” is available in Dayforce Learning.

This 20-minute paid training is required for PSWs and must be completed by September 30.

The training will help you learn about diversity, gender, and sexual orientation. It will support you in providing respectful and person-centred care for everyone.

If you need help finding the training, email Learning and Development at Learning.Development@circleofcare.com.

Our updated Who To Contact – Quick Guide can help you find the right person for your questions and support needs.

What you can review: 

• Reporting high risk situations
• Urgent versus non-urgent situations
• Examples of when to call the office main line
• Visit verification checklist

FIFA World Cup Fan Festival (downtown viewing zone)

• When: June 12-July 19
• Details: Downtown area will be extra busy, so expect local traffic and TTC crowding.

Beaches International Jazz Festival

• When: July 3-26
• Details: More traffic around Queen Street East – east of Don Valley Parkway (expect TTC to be busier in this area).

Pine Valled Drive Closure

• When: July 3-August 3
• Details: Pine Valley Drive from Rutherford Road to Major Mackenzie Drive West (Vaughan), will be closed.

Festival of South Asia

• When: July 11-12
• Details: Gerrard Street East will be closed between Glenside Ave and Coxwell Ave. (Over 200,000 attendees.)

Salsa on St. Clair

• When: July 11-12
• Details: St. Clair Avenue West will be closed between Winona Drive and Christie Street (just west of Bathurst Street).

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:

• Full name

• Email

• Training location

• Preferred time

or call 905-272-9214 or register online using the button below.

Registration closes 7 business days before the session.

Important Reminders

• Arrive 15 minutes early.

• After booking, tell your Service Coordinator if you need schedule changes.

• Choose a time when you do not have client visits.

• Your schedule will be blocked as Unavailable for the training.

• You will be paid after completion:
  • CPR: 3 hours
  • Mask Fit: 1 hour

• Payment appears on your paystub as “Miscellaneous.”

We are committed to your safety and to creating a workplace free from violence and harassment. All incidents are taken seriously and are not acceptable.

The Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) has identified a medium risk level and is working to improve safety through training, safety checks, and clear communication.

Please review the related policies to learn more about keeping you safe at work: 

• Workplace Harassment and Violence Program
• Working Alone – SOP
• Client Aggression – SOP
• Workplace Violence
• Workplace Harassment
• Meeting Notes from Health and Safety Committee

This guide from the Alzheimer Society of Canada shares simple tips for caring for a person with dementia. Learn about daily care, safety, routines, and where to get support.

The CNE is back from August 21 – September 7, and if you are planning a visit this summer, you can save up to 41% on tickets!

• Admission Pass: $22
• Ride All Day Pass: $50

Just a reminder that our GoodLife Fitness Corporate Membership is still available! You can enjoy a 25% discount on any GoodLife Fitness membership with $0 enrollment fee. You can also add 2 family members to your plan!

When you are ready to register, make sure you have your employee ID. 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 help.

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

Want to learn more about budgeting, saving money, or protecting yourself from fraud?

Try free online courses with short lessons on budgeting, credit, saving, and fraud prevention. You can complete them anytime, anywhere.

How are you feeling at work?

Try a free, 5-minute survey that helps you learn more about your workplace well-being, including:

• Your mood and stress levels
• How connected you feel to coworkers
• Your sense of purpose at work
• Your energy and engagement
• Your overall happiness and health

When you finish the survey, you’ll get personalized tips to help improve your well-being.

Looking for a free activity in Toronto?

Heritage Toronto is hosting a community event about Toronto’s waterfront and how the city has changed over time.

• When: July 11, 2026 (10:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
• Where: Berczy Park

Activities include:

• Free walking tours at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM
• A special plaque unveiling at noon
• Community activities and history displays

The event is free, but registration is recommended for walking tours as space is limited.

Try simple and healthy recipes. Quick to make, great for sharing, and perfect for a summer snack.

• Chocolate Almond Bites
• Oatmeal Choco-Cranberry Cookies

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 July 5 – 11.

Congratulations to the following PSWs on their years of service with Circle of Care:

July 5

• 5 Years (Milestone Anniversary!): Julie Ann Cubos, Rebecca Gaitan

July 6

• 11 Years: Anjela Beyrami Tabrizifard, Carmina Rivera, Eloisa Vicente, Gemma Acosta, Halyna Herashchenko, Hazel Lizardo, Laylin Endaya, Lerma Alejo, Rowena Cerezo
• 28 Years: Gloria Osias

July 7

• 17 Years: Zoya Bessalnov
• 18 Years: Sharon Tate
• 23 Years: Yvette Spencer

July 8

• 13 Years: Camille Pelly, Criselda Jamilla
• 17 Years: Valentina Charapova
• 33 Years: Mary Ann Bignayan

July 9

• 14 Years: Chona Solde, Feruza Azizulla, Maria Cundangan, Sylvia Caburnay, Tatiana Temnicova

July 10

• 9 Years: Leonora Apelado, Theepa Srinanthan
• 29 Years: Rosemary Turner

July 11

• 10 Years (Milestone Anniversary!): Annabelle Oliva, Jennieve McKenzie, Jolie Ungenda, Julie May Duce, Marina Shtaynberg, Vick Ramjattan, Zenaida Lopez

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 Five for PSW Precious Dike

Precious provides amazing support and is always sweet, professional, and caring. I am extremely happy with her services. – Client

High Five for PSW Uyen Vu

Uyen is amazing, sweet, and efficient. We connected right away. – Client

Uyen is lovely. My mom smiles during every visit and really enjoys the care she provides. – Client’s Daughter

High Five for PSW Juliana Abajar

Juliana provides outstanding support. She helps me with housekeeping, prepares great meals, and keeps my apartment spotless. I truly appreciate her care and assistance. – 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.

PSWs should get extra pay for doing/helping our clients with their exercises. Physiotherapists get paid for every session they do with their clients, and when it is delegated to the PSWs, we have to do our regular tasks in half the time just to fit in time to do the exercises with our clients.

Delegated tasks, such as Range of Motion Exercises, are a required service that our trained PSWs must provide, if time allows, once all other required care plan tasks are completed. If there is not enough time to complete this required task, please inform your CSS so that they can advocate for additional hours if needed.

What are the plans to help workers on their transition from work permit to permanent residency through the new pathway launched on June 26th for healthcare workers? Especially now that TEER 4 and 5 jobs are added with minimum requirements. Is the company making efforts to help some of us in this situation?

At this time, Circle of Care is not participating in the PR pathway application process. However, should you require any support in verifying employment information, we are happy to assist. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the HR Department.

Why is Circle of Care sending only one PSW to a client who uses a ceiling lift for transfers?

This case requires further review to fully understand the circumstances. You should always discuss your concerns directly with your Client Services Supervisor (CSS). Your CSS will determine whether a one-person visit aligns with the client’s care plan and complies with organizational policies and procedures.

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.