Inside the Circle – September 16, 2026

Need help but not sure who to ask?

The Office Contact List has been updated with the latest contact information for payroll, Human Resources, CSSs, supplies, and other supports.

Use this list to find the right person to contact when you need help or have a question.

Subway Line 1 Early Nightly Closures

• When: September 14 – 18 & 21-25
• Details: Line 1 will close early each night starting at 11:59 p.m. between St. Clair and College stations for maintenance work. Shuttle buses will operate during the closures.

Toronto Ukrainian Festival

• When: September 18-20
• Details: Bloor Street West from Jane Street to Kennedy Road will be closed. 

RBC Race for the Kids

• When: September 19 (5:30am-11:30am)
• Details: Yonge St will be closed from Drewry Ave to Cummer Ave. (Nearby side streets will also be closed for the race.) Due to the closures on Yonge Street, surface transit around North York Centre will see morning detours between 7:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Subway Line 1 – Weekend Closure

• When: September 19-20
• Details: St. Clair to College subway stations will be fully closed. Shuttle buses will run.

Roncesvalles Polish Festival

• When: September 19-20
• Details: Roncesvalles Avenue between Queen Street West and Dundas Street West will be closed.

Constantine Yorkville Run

• When: September 20 (5:30am-11:30am)
• Details: Bay Street – Southbound lanes closed from Yorkville Avenue to College Street. College Street – Westbound lanes closed from Bay Street to Spadina Avenue. Spadina Avenue – Northbound lanes closed from College Street to Bloor Street West. Bloor Street West – Eastbound lanes closed from Spadina Avenue to Bay Street.

Subway Line 1 – Weekend Closure

• When: September 26-27
• Details: St. Clair West to Sheppard West stations will be fully closed. Shuttle buses will run.

Taking care of your health is important, especially when work and daily life can be hard on your body and mental health. FitOn is a free fitness and health app that offers short workouts, stretching routines, yoga, and guided meditation that you can do anytime, anywhere. No gym or equipment is needed.

The app includes:

• Stretches to help relieve sore backs, feet, and shoulders
• Low-impact workouts for all fitness levels
• Yoga and breathing exercises to help reduce stress
• Guided meditation to support relaxation and better sleep

Whether you have a few minutes before work, after a shift, or on a day off, FitOn offers simple ways to support your overall health and well-being.

Taking care of others is important, but so is taking care of yourself. If you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or in need of support, free and confidential help is available through the Health Care Worker Assist Program.

Support is available for:

• Managing stress
• Speaking with a trained mental health professional
• Connecting with more supports and services

Ways to get support:

• Call: 1-877-767-9642
• Email: CentralizedReferral@ontarioshores.ca
• Sign up online

Back-to-school time can bring new routines, changes, and stress for children and families. The CAMH Foundation is offering a free webinar with a child psychiatrist.

The session will help parents and caregivers:

• Learn the signs of anxiety in children
• Support children through change and new routines
• Understand when extra support may be needed

When:

• Date: September 25, 2026
• Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Sometimes it can be difficult to talk about how we are really feeling. Many people try to handle mental health challenges on their own, even when they could benefit from support.

This short video above shares common signs that you may need help and reminds us that asking for support is a sign of strength.

Looking for a reason to get outside this fall? Cooler temperatures and beautiful fall colours make this a great time to explore local trails and parks around the Toronto area.

Whether you enjoy a relaxing walk, pretty views, or spending time in nature, there are many trails to discover close to home.

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 September 13-19. 

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

September 13

• 5 Years (MILESTONE!): Jovie Elevazo
• 23 Years: Lyudmyla Mishchenko

September 14

• 17 Years: Irina Afiouni
• 32 Years: Daisy Cork

September 15

• 17 Years: Rima Avshlomov

September 16

• 7 Years: Angelyn Segui, Annie Morillo, Brianna John, Cherry Britana, Cindy Palaganas, Shayesteh Razavion
• 11 Years: Xue Gu
• 13 Years: Angelika Vasilivetsky, Hanna Gizaw, Mary Anne Reginold

September 17

• 8 Years: Leticia Pardines, Ma Elena Sardanas, Oluyemi Ojo, Sally Torralba, Shirley Alferez
• 19 Years: Reca Harrison

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 Rachael Alexander Williams

Rachael was professional, compassionate, and took the time to understand exactly what was important to the client. She was also very kind and supportive throughout her visit. – Client’s Son

High Five for PSW Jocelyn Gammad

Jocelyn provides excellent care and is a wonderful match for my needs. I am very happy with the support she provides and would love to have her visit more often. – Client

High Five for PSW Maria Teresa Lagdaan

Maria Teresa is attentive, conscientious, and organized in everything she does. I am grateful for the excellent care and support she provides during her visits. – Client

High Five for PSW Norma Maceda

Norma is efficient, dependable, and a pleasure to have around. I appreciate how competently she assists with tasks and would love to have her visit more often. – Client

High Five for PSW Jeanny Remocal

Jeanny provides remarkable care and support. I truly value her visits and would love for her to continue working with me. – 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.

What is the appropriate process for a staff member to request reassignment from a client when there have been repeated concerns regarding the client’s behaviour toward the staff member?

In situations where you feel that a client or their family is not treating you with respect, or if you feel that they are verbally abusing you, you should reach out to your Client Services Supervisor (CSS) for support. Your CSS will investigate the situation and work with you and the client to resolve the situation.

What is the process when a Service Coordinator is repeatedly unavailable or does not respond? It may be helpful to conduct a survey to understand PSW satisfaction with communication and responsiveness from their assigned Service Coordinator.

Thank you for your feedback. We will share your feedback with the managers that oversee the Service Coordination team. If you are continuously having problems reaching your Service Coordinator and they are not responding to you, even when you leave voicemails, you can reach out to one of the Supervisors who oversee the Service Coordinators: please contact either Tariq Shafi (extension 256) or Zarana Kansiyawala (extension 232). 

What is the process of getting a new Circle of Care scrub?

Our employees are able to order 2 free Circle of Care branded scrub tops each year – if you would like to request another uniform top, please speak to our Reception/Administrative team.

I noticed that my vacation pay balance, which was previously showing an accumulated amount, is now showing as $0. Is this a technical issue, or has something changed?

As per the Collective Agreement, Circle of Care pays out all accrued vacation pay on an annual basis. This was paid out recently. On your most recent pay stub, you will notice your vacation accrual has started again.

How do I get my vacation money?

Vacation is a benefit available to all employees. Employees accrue a percentage of vacation pay on each pay cheque based on their seniority.  This is paid out on an annual basis every August or September. If you would like to request this earlier, you can email Payroll@circleofcare.com. 

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.

If you experience violence, harassment, discrimination, or hate at work or during working hours, please report it to your Supervisor or Human Resources.

If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you can submit a report using the Anonymous Incident Reporting Form by clicking the button below.

You may choose to include your name to help with the investigation, but it is not required. Anonymous reports will still be reviewed and investigated.