Dear Family and Friends,

We are happy to announce that the garden at Villa Colombo Toronto (VCT) is now officially open. With the arrival of the spring/summer weather, it is the perfect opportunity to step outside, get some fresh air and enjoy our beautiful grounds. Please note that outdoor garden gates from the parking lots are locked and access to the garden is from inside of Villa Colombo Toronto. For our residents’ safety, we kindly request that you do not attempt to gain access to the garden from the outside gates. A reminder that masks are not required when visiting with residents outdoors. Please remember to help us maintain the cleanliness of the garden so that everyone can enjoy this lovely space to the fullest.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all those family members who participated in our Nurses’ Week celebrations during the week of May 8th to May 12th, 2023. The entire week was dedicated to honouring, recognizing and celebrating our dedicated nurses and care team, who work tirelessly to care for our residents. We especially thank those family members who took a moment to send a special note of thanks and appreciation for the staff. Your kind words and gestures were very much appreciated.

Villa Charities Inc. (VCI) has provided the Ministry of Long Term Care (MLTC) with the Preliminary Plan Submission for the Villa Colombo Toronto revitalization project. The Ministry has provided its initial feedback and requested some adjustments be made, which were included and subsequently submitted. The next step will be the preparation of the Working Drawings submission, post the Ministry’s response to the revised Preliminary Plan Submission. In the meantime, VCT staff is working on a decanting plan for the Fusco Wing and other operational logistics to ensure a smooth transition for our residents and staff.

All families as key stakeholders have been invited to attend a consultation related to the revitalization of Villa Colombo Homes for the Aged. The consultation will take place on May 26th, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. This meeting is an opportunity for you to bring any comments or opinions to the attention of the MLTC. Details of the consultation and options for participating are included in the Public Consultation Notice that was sent to families on May 11th, 2023. The information is also available on InTouch link. If you would like to submit a letter of support for the project please email to my attention at info@villacolombo.on.ca.

Villa Colombo Toronto has engaged LBCG Consulting for Impact to lead VCT through the strategic planning process. If you are interested in participating in the resident and family stakeholder focus group session scheduled on Friday, June 9th, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., please email us your name and phone number to info@villacolombo.on.ca. Your input and participation in this process are key to ensuring that VCT will be best positioned to navigate and excel in the years ahead.

On Wednesday, May 31st, 2023, the Villa Colombo Toronto Auxiliary will be holding its 32nd Annual Golf Tournament. All the funds raised come directly to Villa Colombo Toronto and are used for special projects and equipment to benefit our residents. Further information is available on InTouchLink or contact the VCTA directly at vcla@villacolombo.on.ca.

Vaccinations against harmful diseases and illnesses are a safe and effective way to proactively protect our residents against any potential harm from exposure. VCT provides vaccinations against influenza, pneumonia, and now COVID-19. This year, the immunization program at VCT will be expanded to include tetanus/diphtheria, shingles and Prevnar 20 which is the newest single dose vaccine against pneumonia. In the upcoming weeks, the VCT nursing staff will be contacting residents and their substitute decision makers (as applicable) to obtain consent to receive one or more of the available vaccines.

The next Family Town Hall meeting is scheduled for Wednesday June 21st, 2023 at 5:00 pm. Please send your questions to info@villacolombo.on.ca by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday June 20th, 2023. To access the Family Town Hall, please click here (Passcode: 529923) or dial +1 438 809 7799. The webinar ID is: 852 2836 1126.