"We're One Big Family" - Lakeridge Gardens Long-Term Care Home Celebrates One Year of Growing Together

A recent one-year anniversary celebration at Lakeridge Gardens included many smiles, hugs, and even some dancing as “The Pepper Shakers” a senior’s band from the Greater Toronto Area serenaded residents and staff in the home’s Great Room.

“Celebrating our first anniversary here, in the Great Room is significant,” said Nicole Round,Program Supports Manager at Lakeridge Gardens. “We gather in the Great Room with the residents each week. We come together, we leave our personal challenges behind and we can just express ourselves in a room together. We’re just a very tight-knit group, throughout departments, throughout floors, with the residents and their families - we are all one big family.”

As Lakeridge Gardens celebrated their one-year anniversary, the Branton family celebrated their parent’s 60^th wedding anniversary in a private room.

“We’re so thrilled that our mother is here at Lakeridge Gardens,” said Shane Branton, son of Bonnie and Frank Branton. “The staff is so friendly and patient, and the home is very clean. The care she receives is really second-to-none.”

His mother, Bonnie, has lived at Lakeridge Gardens for about a year. Frank, his father and Bonnie’s husband, lives independently in the community. So being together, at Lakeridge Gardens, celebrating the couple’s sixtieth wedding anniversary made for a special and happy occasion.

For Bonnie and other residents, the family-like approach from staff and the compassionate care they provide is noticed and greatly appreciated.  

“I came here after being in the hospital for a year,” said Kristen Feasby, a resident since February 2023. “This really is a blessing. I feel like I have a new family here because everyone is so caring. It’s a good place to be.”

Lakeridge Gardens was first announced in July 2020 as part of the Ministry of Long-Term Care’s Accelerated Build Pilot Program, construction of Lakeridge Gardens was completed in just 13 months and at its peak, hosted more than 600 skilled workers on site daily. The long-term care home welcomed its first resident on March 29, 2022 and is now fully occupied with 320 residents, and over 500 Lakeridge Health staff have become one big family over the home’s first year in operation.

The anniversary celebration also included a specially made cake for the anniversary.

For Lisa McVety, Director of Operations, the one year milestone provided a moment of reflection. She helped to officially open the home last year, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s been an emotional day,” acknowledged Lisa. “Because you remember our first residents, remember those who are no longer with us, and remember our families and commitments for great care. We honour every resident coming through the door. We honour every staff plus our volunteers and our students. We honour our small successes because they can snowball into this great win. I think today was that ‘aha’ moment that we made it.”