Lakeridge Gardens earns Readers’ Choice recognition and celebrates with community partners
Lakeridge Gardens has been named a 2026 Ajax News Advertiser Readers’ Choice winner in the Best Nursing Homes/Long-Term Care Centre category. Thousands of nominations and votes were cast in this year’s Readers’ Choice program, with members of the Ajax community choosing Lakeridge Gardens for the recognition.
The award reflects more than the care provided within the home. It recognizes the residents, families, staff and community partners whose voices and contributions help make Lakeridge Gardens a strong and caring community.
“Being chosen by members of the Ajax community is especially meaningful because it reflects the relationships Lakeridge Gardens has built beyond our walls,” said Jeanette Dindial, Director of Operations at Lakeridge Gardens. “This recognition belongs to our residents, families, staff and community partners, whose voices and contributions help make Lakeridge Gardens a strong and caring community.”
Those relationships were also at the heart of the Ontario Long Term Care Association’s (OLTCA) Community Engagement Day, held at Lakeridge Gardens on September 18.
A celebration of connection
OLTCA Community Engagement Day is a province-wide initiative that creates opportunities for long-term care homes to strengthen connections with their communities and showcase the people and partnerships that contribute to life in long-term care.
At Lakeridge Gardens, the event brought residents, families, community partners, staff and guests together for resident and family stories, opportunities to connect and an Essential Partners in Care Awards presentation recognizing individuals whose dedicated partnership has made a meaningful difference.
But the gathering was less about a single day than what it represented: togetherness and relationships being built throughout the year.
“Togetherness is more than physical proximity,” said Kristen Feasby, Lakeridge Gardens Resident and President of the Resident’s Council. “It is a shared sense of belonging, support and unity. It reminds us that we are stronger and more resilient when we are connected to others.”
For residents like Kristen, those relationships create opportunities to have a voice in the home and contribute to making it stronger. For staff and leaders, they offer the opportunity to learn directly from residents and families. For community partners, they provide another way to remain connected to and support people living in long-term care.
This collaborative approach also reflects Lakeridge Health’s 2026–2031 Strategic Plan, Care Closer to Home. Listening to residents and working alongside families and partners help bring its commitments to Exceptional, Equitable, Connected Care and Great People. Strong Culture. to life.
“As residents, we know how important it is to feel heard, respected and included in the decisions that affect us,” Kristen said. “We want to feel like partners in our home, not simply recipients of care.”
Building a home together
That philosophy of partnership is woven into the culture at Lakeridge Gardens, bringing residents, families, staff and community partners together to build a stronger home.
Programs such as Essential Partners in Care are another way Lakeridge Gardens creates opportunities for residents, families, staff and partners to work together.
Kristen serves as an ambassador for the program in addition to her role as Residents’ Council President. For her, the value of partnership is straightforward. “When residents, families and staff work together and listen to one another, we can create a stronger community and a better experience for everyone.”
The Readers’ Choice recognition and Community Engagement Day tell two sides of the same story. The award reflects the connection between Lakeridge Gardens and the wider Ajax community, while the event offered an opportunity to celebrate the relationships that strengthen the home from within.
The sunflowers shared with guests as a parting gift offered a fitting symbol for that work. Often associated with warmth and resilience, they reflect a community rooted in belonging and strengthened when people turn toward one another.
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