Our SHN workplace family would not be complete without our team of volunteers, who help us to provide exceptional care for patients and families across our health network. We appreciate our volunteers’ commitment to SHN every day ” and especially during National Volunteer Week, we thank them for the choice they have made to give back to their community.
For a first time, this National Volunteer Week (April 19 to 25), we are missing our volunteers’ smiling faces and friendly voices at our hospitals. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, our volunteers are staying at home to protect themselves, our frontline staff, and our patients. However, not only does the spirit and dedication of our volunteers still echo through our hospital lobbies, halls, clinics, and units ” many of our volunteers continue to contribute from their homes through initiatives such as virtual pre-screening for our hemodialysis program, and crafting, sewing, and donating fabric supplies for staff.Over the last year, volunteers have been a true force of compassion and commitment in SHN’s journey to transform the health experience. We can never acknowledge and thank our volunteers enough for their amazing contributions, commitment, and dedication.Almost 1,600 volunteers at SHNOver 85,000 hours of serviceMore than $25,000 in fundraisingIn 2019-20, we had approximately 1,600 volunteers across our three hospitals and supporting satellite and regional programs in the community. Through their generous gift of time, skills, and talents, volunteers contributed over 85,000 total hours of service.
Volunteers helped with greeting patients and families; assisting with registration and way finding; staffing our information desks and gift shops; providing patient support and education; filing, data entry, and other administrative support; sharing their experiences and insights as patient family advisors to support hospital programs and initiatives; and fundraising just over $25,000 for the Foundation.SHN is pleased to acknowledge our 2020 Ontario Service Awards volunteer recipients. We are honoured to join Ontario in applauding these compassionate and courageous individuals for their dedication. We commend our volunteers for their contributions to excellent patient care at SHN. The awards ceremony was postponed, but will be held later in the year when it is safe to do so.
Award recipients: Sheila Cannata, Kailin Chu, Hilda Fay, Dagmar Freelan, Fatima Gentle, Shirley McDonald, Betty McBride, Shradha Patel, and Peter VanderyagtWe would also like to acknowledge some of our long-standing volunteers who have each contributed over 30 years of service to SHN. We will be honouring all the extraordinary community members at our Volunteer Recognition Dinner for all volunteers that will be held later in the year when it is safe to do so.
McDonald, Shirley “ 60 years
Betty McBride “ 45 years
Barbara Anderson “ 35 years
Joyce Dorman “ 35 years
Gerry Haldenby “ 35 years
Marilyn Reix “ 35 years
Thelma Tappin “ 35 years
Marion Tyrrell “ 35 years
Joan Rodgers “ 35 years
Melville Collie “ 30 years
Rosabelle Jeevaratnam “ 30 years
Honouring our longest serving volunteer
Shirley McDonald is our longest-standing volunteer, who has provided service to SHN for the last 60 years. Shirley began her volunteer journey at our General hospital on May 5, 1960. She has volunteered in numerous assignments, such as clinical units, information desks, executive roles with our volunteer auxiliary, volunteer office, archive committee, and countless fundraising initiatives. Additionally, Shirley is currently the Chair of our Social Committee and she previously held the title of Chair of Candy Stripers and the Director of the Volunteers Auxiliary.
The theme for National Volunteer Week 2020 is: It’s time to applaud this country’s volunteers. Join us in cheering for all of Canada’s volunteers, and loudly and proudly thanking each and every one of our volunteers at SHN!
On behalf of our health network, I would like to say thank you to our team of volunteers, who generously put their time, talents, and hearts into supporting our patients and hospital community.
It’s been said, “Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.”
This is the true spirit of what it means to be a volunteer. And here at SHN, we are fortunate to have almost 1,600 volunteers who show up at our hospitals wanting to do more ” wanting to make a difference in the lives and health experiences of our patients and their families. What a special gift that we are grateful for every day at SHN.
As greeters, you are the welcoming face of our health network. As way finders, advisors, and comforters of patients and families, you are the helping hands of our hospitals. As fundraisers and supporters, many of whom have given years and decades of service, you bring the heartbeat of our community to SHN.
“Despite the current crisis and the changes we’ve gone through together, we remain connected. There is not an area at Scarborough Health Network that has not been touched by the work of our volunteers.
We thank you, and we miss you. Be well and stay safe.
As we reflect on the service of our incredible team of volunteers over the last year, I am struck by how your steadfast commitment to our hospitals, to our patients, and to our Scarborough community has never wavered.
Together, as we have grown as one connected health network, we have seen changes and new opportunities that truly have been once in a generation. Through it all, our volunteers have not only continued to give of themselves, you have also been champions for our vision, mission, and values at SHN.
Now the global COVID-19 pandemic brings new changes and uncertainty. As volunteers, you are staying at home to not only protect yourselves, but also to protect SHN staff and patients, who all miss having you at our hospitals.
Despite these recent challenges, once again your commitment as volunteers has been resolute. In fact, you’ve taken up the mantle and dove ahead into finding new ways to be there for your hospital community. Through virtual volunteerism, many of you have continued to provide compassionate and inclusive care that extends from beyond our hospital walls. It is simply amazing. Some of you are chanelling your creativity to make “scrub bags’ for staff to use to carry their uniforms, hair bonnets and mask mates to make the wearing of masks a bit more comfortable for our staff.
We appreciate our volunteers’ dedication to SHN every day, and yet acknowledging the work of our volunteers during this year’s National Volunteer Week is even more significant in the world we find ourselves today.
To all of our SHN volunteers who give of their time to support our health network: thank you for your continued work and service. We cannot express deeply enough how much you are appreciated and valued!
To our amazing SHN Volunteers!
My heartfelt thanks and congratulations to all of you as we celebrate National Volunteer Week!
Your time, commitment, and passionate care for others helps those that need it most.
Individuals, families, young and old alike benefit from your caring, compassionate generosity of spirit that truly makes a difference for all in the Scarborough community.
With grateful thanks for all that you do! Kind regards!
Our world is a better place because of volunteers like you! With your time and effort, you supported your community hospital with compassion, commitment and dedication.
Over the years you have made a significant impact in every area of SHN: clinical, customer support services, and fundraising. Having connected with many of you over the years, you are the volunteers who are thankful for the opportunity to help others and give selflessly to the patients and staff at SHN. I hope I can convey to you how much you are missed, and truly appreciated by everyone for your contribution to their departments. By choosing to volunteer at SHN, you have proven that your time and talents are priceless.
You continue to make remarkable contributions to Scarborough Health Network even in the midst of one of the most challenging times in health care ” during this COVID-19 pandemic. The overwhelming responses from you to help and assist with the virtual projects in support of our frontline staff at SHN is nothing short of remarkable. Many of you are still relentless in your efforts to help and give because you are truly an amazing caring, courageous, and innovative group. This is a testament of your love and care for your community.
While we join with other organizations across Canada to appreciate and applaud our nation’s volunteers this week, our volunteer services team wishes you a happy, safe and healthy Volunteer Appreciation Week. Thank you for staying home as an important measure to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in our community. Most importantly, thank you for all you have done and continue to do for the SHN community.
Spiritual and Religious Care wishes a happy Volunteer Week to all the SHN volunteers.
All of you add invaluable service and commitment to the excellent patient and family experience we provide at SHN.
Stay safe and happy. Thank you for everything you do for our hospital community.
SHN is proud to have a strong and active Patient Family Advisor (PFA) partnership program. Our robust program of 60 PFAs, participated on 16 committees, five councils, and dozens of initiatives and short term working groups across the hospital ” all in an effort to help us continually improve the quality, safety and experience of our care.
Thank you to our Patient Family Advisors who so graciously share their stories and experiences with us to help transform the care we deliver ever day!
Kristy Macdonell
Manager, Health Equity, Patient and Community EngagementThe Cardiovascular Rehab team would like to acknowledge the dedication, commitment and enthusiasm the Cardiovascular Rehab volunteers bring to the program each and every day.
Our volunteers are a key part of the Cardiovascular Rehab program success. The team would like to say a big thank-you to all of our volunteers for the work they do supporting staff in the Cardiovascular Rehab classes and the role they play in a patient’s recovery.
We appreciate all of our volunteers who dedicate their time to help support others and provide encouraging words to our patients.
Adam Pierce
Manager, Regional Cardiovascular RehabDear all,
It gives me great pleasure for SHN Pharmacy team to acknowledge the incredible support of our SHN Pharmacy volunteers at Birchmount, Centenary and General sites!
Our pharmacy department is so proud of the commitment that these volunteers have consistently demonstrated to our team and the hospital.
Although we cannot celebrate in person this week, we will have a rain check on our celebration when we can all be together once again!
Thank you,
Shelley Dorazio
Director, PharmacyHi SHN Volunteers,
Wanted to wish you all a happy Volunteer Appreciation Week!
We soooo appreciate the work of our Nephrology Volunteers and the Volunteer Services team who coordinate them especially in this difficult time!
On behalf of Nephrology and Diabetes (who counts on its Volunteers and are thankful for them), we want to extend a big thanks to you!
Hope you are all safe at this time.
Thank you to all.
Ethel Macatangay
Director, Nephrology and Chronic Disease ManagementHello
National Volunteer Week 2020 is: It’s time to applaud this country’s volunteers
We would like to extend a big thank you to our Birchmount Day Surgery Volunteers!
Honorable mention to Alice, Alecia, Apdiya, Christiana, Dave, Diya, Effream, Ian, Jerry, Joan, Kaavinna, Peter, Rachel, Simon and Vivian.
We miss our Volunteers “ stay safe and take care!
Kind regards,
Lori and the Birchmount team
Lori James
Clinical Manager, Operating Room, Day Surgery and PACU
Birchmount hospitalWe are so grateful for the Gift Shop Volunteers who consistently display compassion, loyalty, and kindness in representation of SHN. They provide a welcoming and friendly face to all who visit the shops, and build relationships with those staff, visitors, and patients of the hospitals. They make a lasting impression on everyone by sharing stories, laughs, and extending grace and kindness through all interactions.
The Gift Shop Volunteers often go above and beyond expectations in support of the hospital. Outside of the gift shop responsibilities they help with fundraising sales selling: books, knitting, seasonal merchandise, flowers arrangements, and more. They also volunteer their time and resources outside of the hospital to create knitwear and flower arrangements in which 100% of proceeds support patient care.
This special group of volunteers allow for the Gift Shops to operate smoothly and support SHN, we are so thankful for the time and service they provide.
Joyce Lien Teresa Gatti, and Claire Isip
Gift Shop Staff