Village Green getting ready for 30th anniversary celebrations
Celebration serves as opportunity to show what long-term care is all about
Tuesday September 2, 2008 -- Deron Hamel
SELBY, Ont. - Village Green is gearing up for the Selby long-term care home’s 30th anniversary celebrations in September. Administrator Linda Pierce says engaging the local community has been vital in helping to showcase Village Green’s highlights for three decades.

“I really love celebrating years of service because, to me, it speaks well to what we’ve done at Village Green in the 30-year window of time, and all of the great staff and people, because it isn’t just a building, it’s a home, and it is a legacy and we take great pride in that,” says Pierce.

Some of the key highlights Pierce has seen in her 20-year career at Village Green include the expansion and renovation, which happened a few years back, the progress of staff deployment in different areas, and the various OMNI educational initiatives brought to the home, most notably supportive measures.

The local media — which has been supportive of Village Green over the years — will be attending the Sept. 25 tea the home is hosting to celebrate the milestone.

Pierce, who advertises Village Green in the local media on a monthly basis, says the local newspaper plans to do a story on the home’s journey over the past 30 years.

This will serve as an opportunity to share the stories of the people living in the home, as well as to recognize staff members for their efforts over the years, notes Pierce.

She explains the importance of engaging the local media.

“If we want to change the way people feel about long-term care, we can do that but we have to be consistent with the messaging,” Pierce says. “In order to do that I need (the media) and (the media) needs me.”

As part of the celebration, Pierce has been networking with the home’s community partners. For example, in preparation for the tea, she has contacted a local woman who runs a cake shop to help support her business, while providing refreshments for attendees.

As well, one of the staff members has an entertainment business which will be utilized for the event.

If you have a story you would like to share about your home reaching a milestone, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051 ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at 800-294-0051, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.