Highlights from this week
- Happy Retirement, Alexey Victorov!
- Upcoming Events that May Impact Transit and Traffic
- Register for CPR Training & Mask Fit Testing
- Safe Travel Starts with Good Planning
- Workplace Violence & Harassment: Handling Responsive Behaviours
- Save on At-Home Healthcare with Maple
- Webinar: Learn About People Skills & Self-Awareness
- Register for Perkopolis and Start Saving Today
- Free & Confidential Support for Health Care Workers
- Take 5 Minutes to Check In on Your Well-Being at Work
- New Staff
- Work Anniversaries This Week
- High Fives
- Incident Reporting Form
Happy Retirement, Alexey Victorov!
On October 15, 2026, we said goodbye and thank you to Alexey Victorov as he retired from Circle of Care.
Alexey’s kindness, dedication, and support have made a positive difference in the lives of many clients and colleagues. We are grateful for his years of service and the care he provided to our community.
We wish him a happy, healthy, and well-deserved retirement filled with relaxation, family, friends, and new adventures.
Reminders & Announcements
Upcoming Events that May Impact Transit and Traffic
Line 1 – Early Nightly Closure
- When: October 19-22
- Details: Subway service will end at 11 PM between Eglinton and York Mills stations. Shuttle buses will run.
Line 2 – Early Nightly Closure
- When: October 19-23
- Details: Subway service will end at 11:59 PM between Kipling and Jane stations. Shuttle buses will run.
Line 2 – Full Closure
- When: October 24
- Details: No service on Line 2 between Kipling and Jane stations. Shuttle buses will run.
Line 2 – Full Closure
- When: October 25
- Details: No service on Line 2 between Kipling and Keele stations. Shuttle buses will run.
Halloween on Church Street
- When: October 31 (6:30 PM -12 AM)
- Details: Church Street will be closed from Carlton Street to Gloucester Street. Drivers are strongly advised to use Yonge Street or Jarvis Street as north-south bypass routes.
Health & Safety
Register for CPR Training & Mask Fit Testing
To support your safety and meet requirements, Circle of Care provides free CPR training and free N95 Mask Fit testing. Your CPR certificate is valid for 3 years, and your Mask Fit must be renewed every 2 years.
CPR Training Locations:
- North York: 700 Lawrence Ave, North York (The Career Foundation, Lawrence Allen Centre)
- Scarborough: 1533 Victoria Park Ave, Scarborough
N95 Mask Fit Testing Location:
- Head Office: 4211 Yonge Street, Suite 401, Toronto
How to Register
Text 647-496-5189 with:
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Full name
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Email
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Training location
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Preferred time
or call 905-272-9214 or register online using the button below.
Registration closes 7 business days before the session.
Important Reminders
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Arrive 15 minutes early.
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After booking, tell your Service Coordinator if you need schedule changes.
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Choose a time when you do not have client visits.
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Your schedule will be blocked as Unavailable for the training.
- You will be paid after completion:
- CPR: 3 hours
- Mask Fit: 1 hour
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Payment appears on your paystub as “Miscellaneous.”
Safe Travel Starts with Good Planning
Getting to your clients safely is important. Choosing a safer route, even if it takes a little longer, can help reduce risks.
Travel Safety Tips:
- Use well-lit, busy streets whenever possible.
- Avoid shortcuts through isolated areas, especially at night.
- Allow extra travel time so you don’t feel rushed.
Remember: A safer route can help make your journey less stressful and help you arrive safely.
Workplace Violence & Harassment: Handling Responsive Behaviours
Responsive behaviours are often a form of communication. Take a person-centred approach and look for possible causes before reacting.
Tips for success when clients have responsive behaviours:
Check physical needs
- Offer food, drinks, and toileting support.
- Ensure glasses, hearing aids, and dentures are available.
- Watch for signs of pain or discomfort.
Create a calm environment
- Reduce noise and clutter.
- Use signs, pictures, and calendars to support orientation.
Redirect and reassure
- Offer activities, music, or a walk.
- Speak calmly and validate feelings.
- Avoid arguing or confrontation.
Keep routines consistent
- Minimize changes to daily schedules.
Know the whole client
- Learn about the client’s life story, past roles, and experiences.
- Be aware of any history of trauma that may affect how they respond to situations.
- Respect their cultural, spiritual, and religious needs.
- Use what you know about the person to build trust and provide individualized care.
Reminder: There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Be a detective, look for clues, and use client specific problem solving for you and the client’s well-being and safety.
Save on At-Home Healthcare with Maple
Get healthcare anytime, anywhere with Maple, a virtual care platform that connects you and your family with Canadian-licensed doctors and nurse practitioners 24/7.
Perkopolis members save:
- 10% off monthly plans
- 30% off annual subscriptions
Wellness at Work
Webinar: Learn About People Skills & Self-Awareness
Join this webinar to learn how emotional intelligence (understanding and managing emotions) can help improve your well-being, build stronger relationships, and support success at work and at home
- Date: Wednesday, October 21
- Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Register for Perkopolis and Start Saving Today
As a Circle of Care employee, you have access to Perkopolis, Canada’s top employee savings program, with over 5,000 discounts and special offers.
Save on:
- Retail and shopping
- Attractions, events, and tickets
- Travel, hotels, and car rentals
- Home and auto insurance
- Shell gas and car washes
- And much more!
How to Sign Up
- Visit www.perkopolis.com
- Click Sign In/Register (top right corner)
- Select Register
- Enter your personal email address
- Check your inbox and click the registration link from Perkopolis
- Enter your Member ID Code: CC + your Employee ID (e.g., CC1234)
Important: Your Employee ID is listed on your Circle of Care employee badge. It is not your voicemail number.
Need help? Contact Perkoplis (416-236-4985 or customerservice@perkopolis.com)
Free & Confidential Support for Health Care Workers
Frontline Wellness is a free, confidential, virtual support program for health-care workers in Ontario.
Supports Available:
- One-on-one support from a mental health professional
- Help with stress, coping skills, and finding services
- Group sessions to connect, learn, and build resilience
How to Get Started:
- Complete a self-referral and book a time that works for you.
Questions? Email frontlinewellness@waypointcentre.ca or call (705) 549-5144 or 1-877-341-4729 ext. 5000
Important: This is not a crisis service. If you need urgent help, call 911 or Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566.
Take 5 Minutes to Check In on Your Well-Being at Work
The Well-being at Work Check-In is a free, 5-minute self-assessment that helps you reflect on your well-being at work, including stress, engagement, relationships, health, and overall happiness.
What the self-assessment will provide:
- A personalized well-being report
- Practical tips to support your well-being at work
Community Corner
Welcome to Circle of Care
We are pleased to welcome the following new PSWs to Circle of Care:
- Elizabeth Nyamekye
- Ganiyat Omotosho Olushi
- Anjol Verma
- Himani Singh
- Hongju Yang
- Kanchan Bayalkoti
- Leila Efendieva
- Anthonia Igboko
- Happiness Babalola
- Marian Rosal
- Bukola Oyewole
- Tenzin Choeden
- Emanuella Baba
Work Anniversaries This Week
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 October 18-24.
Congratulations to the following staff on their years of service with Circle of Care:
October 20:
- 17 Years: Janetta Krenzel
- 22 Years: Shirley Alvarez
October 21:
- 13 Years: Abeba Alemayehu, Evelyn Quisil, Josephine Panlilio, Lolita Dela Vega
- 24 Years: Olga Iskoldski
October 23:
- 1 Year: Aminata Conteh, Anne Ojieabu, Annette Danso
- 3 Years: Anjali Acharya, Remelie Dela Cruz
October 24:
- 2 Years: Deborah Badmus, Harka Maya Tamang, Viktoriia Shcherbakova
- 3 Years: Emelita Ragel, Marie Fernandez, Mary Cris Togonon
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 Fives
High Five for PSW Leah Njonjo
“Leah is fantastic and consistently goes above and beyond to provide exceptional care and service.” – Client
High Five for PSW Bibi Alaheem
“Bibi was amazing and phenomenal. She was very patient and made me feel comfortable, even with my dogs.” – Client
High Five for PSW Camilla Leon
“Camilla is amazing, goes above and beyond, and always does an excellent job.” – Client
High Five for PSW Cherisha Brown
“Cherisha was extremely helpful in assisting my father out of the car.” – Client’s Son
High Five for PSWs Denise Palmer, Yordanos Meresie, & Leticia Pardines
“Denise, Yordanos, and Leticia are all so caring and helpful. I’m grateful for their support and would love to have them visit whenever possible.” – Client
High Five for PSW Engracia Sabado
“Engracia was so helpful with my personal care and made sure I was prepared for my medical appointment.” – Client
High Five for PSW Antonieta Pajaron
“Antonieta consistently demonstrates compassion, professionalism, and dedication in the care she provides, always treating clients with dignity, respect, and empathy. She is highly requested by clients and trusted by her team, she goes above and beyond every day, making a meaningful difference in the lives of those she supports and exemplifying excellence as a PSW.” – Colleague
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.
Ask Us Anything
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.
In Case You Missed It...
Inside the Circle – October 21, 2026
Inside the Circle – October 14, 2026
Incident Reporting Form
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.