H
V icky Florio, Director of the
Norfolk Hospital Nursing
Home had the great honour of presenting the Norfolk Hospital
Nursing Home’s Employee of the Year award during the Staff Christmas Open
House. This award is reserved for a very special individual who not only cares for the residents of the nursing home, but one who is seen to go above and beyond.
NGH-NHNH OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER Winter 2016
The 2015 recipient is a natural caregiver. She performs her duties with ease, true kindness and compassion.
Her passion is palliative care and
NHNH takes pride in the consideration and respect she provides to the residents and their families.
Always striving to do that little bit extra, she can be seen inviting, sometimes coaxing, a resident to come down to the dining room for a cup of tea, or using just the right phrase, or singing the right song to encourage residents to complete tasks. She has been known to bring movies or special treats in on the weekend that she thinks the residents will enjoy. These acts of kindness do not go unnoticed.
“Her common sense approach is very much appreciated. She is known for her strong work ethic and problem solving skills - for this reason, she is one, who other staff turn to for advice and assistance when looking for ways to enhance or improve resident care, myself included” said Florio at the presentation. “We are privileged to have this employee as a part of the
NHNH team and I am honoured to present her with the NHNH
Employee of the Year Award for 2015.
Congratulations, Cathy Vandesompele.”

NHNH
Anna Marie Maxin
Judy Kowalsky
Nicole Brown
Rebecca Rust
NGH
Amanda Sonnenberg
Amy Willson
Angela Miller
Brent Weber
Brodie Vecero
Bryan Kennedy
Dan Bergen
Elizabeth Butler
Emmaris Dixon
Glen Power
Karoline Sroka
Kelly Haupert
Krystal Vilaca
Monique Lecuyse
Nicole Chapple
Rebecca Chudyk
Sharon Dresser
NHNH
Brenda Hammond
Kerry Tulpin
NGH
Andrea Bilger
Anita Anderson
Barbara Brunning
Jason Begin
Julie McLaren
Mary Deelen
Mary Jean Ferket
Melissa Murtland
Robert Lee
Shari Manto
Starr Phibbs
NHNH
Nancy VanPaassen
NGH
Connie Dumanski
Lisa Potts
Maria Leito
Sandi Dezainde
Sara Block
Sara Cooper
NHNH
Julie Robinson
NGH
Caroline Banarz
Kenneth Wray
NGH
Deanna Carl
Gloria Sinnesael
Joanne Kiefer
Linda Heffernan
Linda Klesch
Patricia Youngberg
Rose Barber
Ruth Driedger
Sandra Tucker

NHNH
Deneen Cronmiller
NGH
Anabela Damota
Anne Ferrie
Anne Atkinson
Barbara Stoepker
Brenda Fekete
Cheryl Golding
Cheryl-ann Robinson
Christa Oatman
Kimberly Turvey
Lynne Mathews
Mary Ellen Wedow
Mercedes Pereira
Sandra Boughner
Sandra Keveryga
Walter Schull
NGH
Patricia Ferris
Steven Egan
NGH
Carol Baker
Kimberley Schaefer-Smith
Robbert Winter
D ear Emergency Staff- the words “thank you” seem so inadequate, for the care you provided my husband on the evening of Nov 16th. He arrived by ambulance from the Curling Club in a life threatening situation. You worked quickly to assess him in a professional, kind and caring manner, informing us as you went as to what was happening. He was stabilized by morning and transferred to the third floor for further investigation. He is presently home waiting for an appointment with the Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton. We thank each of you that helped us that very long night. You are doing a wonderful job of caring for us in the community and we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. We wish you the very best of the holiday season.
Sincerely,
Burns and Gail Stephen
Y our donations to the Christmas
Campaign have reached more than $81,000! The proceeds from this campaign will assist The
Norfolk General Hospital Foundation in the purchase of many important instruments on the Operating Room’s wish list and several new vital signs monitors for use throughout the hospital.
“Thank you for generosity.
Year after year this community demonstrates through giving, how important they see this hospital is to local health and quality of care” said
Julie Powell Foundation Director of
Development.
The Foundation would like to express a special thank you to
Volunteer Irene Livingstone who takes special care each year to hang your ornament on the tree.
To make your donation, any time, please visit the Foundation office or visit www.ngh.on.ca

T he Dr. George Marshall award is presented to an outstanding employee in honour of Dr. Marshall who practiced at NGH for many years and acted as our Employee Health
Physician for much of that time.
His caring approach prompted the Hospital to create this award in his honour. Kelly Isfan
NGH CEO had the pleasure of announcing the 2015 Award recipient: Dan Bergen from the
Maintenance Department.
Dan’s nomination listed Dan’s qualities: friendly and welcoming, always makes time to listen, is a real team player and loves to bring joy to our residents, patients and employees and their children as he plays
Santa Claus each year at our children’s party. He has even gone out of his way to brush snow off employee’s vehicles during snow storms.
Dan Bergen is currently President of the Norfolk Shriners Club and
Chaplain of the Fredrick Masonic Lodge. He has chaired and assisted with numerous fundraising committees; his favourite is the Masonic blood donor committee. He has been a regular blood donor for the past
28 years.
“Perhaps this story” said Kelly Isfan, “speaks to who Dan is as a person: He was having his own Affiliation Ceremony at the Norfolk
Masonic Lodge and that night on his way he noticed an elderly man pushing a bicycle with a flat tire. He loaded the bicycle on his truck and began to drive this man home but then realized this man was totally disoriented. Dan called the police to help in locating this person’s address. Dan stayed with this gentleman until the police were able to get him home. That night Dan missed his own affiliation Ceremony at the Masonic Lodge.”
“Anything where you get involved with people and the community – it’s not work, it’s fun!” said a grateful Bergen in accepting the award.
Congratulations Dan Bergen, 2015 Dr. George Marshall award recipient!
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2
015 marks the 2nd year we celebrate this event without our dear friend John
Race – husband of Hazel Race for whom this bursary is named.
A video made before John’s passing was played at the
NGH NHNH
Staff Christmas
Open House explaining why the bursary was created. John and
Hazel believed in and encouraged lifelong learning to stay on top on of our ever changing health care.
This year 7 staff applied to this fund and the committee was able to provide money to all 7 applicants. Sherri Schira-Ladosz, Committee
Chair and Dan Bergen Committee member presented each recipient with a cheque and the special gift of a spoon once belonging to Hazel which she collected on her extensive travels around the world with John. 2 recipients were present to accept their bursary and gift. Robin Varnes (3B) and Nancy VanPaassen (NHNH) are pictured above. $3150 was shared by all the recipients.
The fund is supported by staff who contribute
$1 per pay to keep the fund going. Information about the fund is available through Human
Resources or the NGH Foundation office.
If you would like to submit content to this newsletter, please contact
Gerry Hamill, Communication Specialist ghamill@ngh.on.ca • 519-426-0130 x 2454