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Eden Awards demonstrate capacity for caring in our communities

October 27th, 2020

Points West Living and its operations company, Connecting Care held its fifth annual Eden Awards on October 22. Like the recent Annual Conference, due to COVID these awards were ‘virtual’ – produced in a near-empty studio and streamed online.

A year of Eden Moments

Participants logged in on their computers to watch the proceedings, co-hosted by Eden Educator and Mentor, Sarah Walker (general manager of PWL Lloydminster), and Marketing Manager, Mark Dixon. The program included presentations of Eden Moments submitted by PWL and Connecting Care communities over the past year, plus prizes and live entertainment.

Each entry was evaluated on whether the story met the following criteria: demonstrating best practice; promoting the Eden Alternative Philosophy of Care; supporting the culture and mission of Points West Living & Connecting Care; and challenging the three plagues of elders: loneliness, helplessness, and boredom.

Eden stories were amazing

“It was impressive to see how this event came together in our new virtual world,” says Mark. “The Eden stories were amazing, and we were able to include more residents and employee care partners in the event than we physically could have in the past.” There were about 70 separate log-ins to the program, some representing sizeable gatherings of employee care partners and residents watching the results.

And the award recipients are...

Recipients were announced in seven categories (most of which had up to ten finalists) and one selection for best overall:

  • Wellness (and overall choice of Best Eden Moment Story award): Celebrating 100 Years; PWL Lloydminster
  • Maintenance & Housekeeping: Colouring our World; (Connecting Care) Boardwalk Retirement Community Calgary
  • Recreation: Decorating Cookies; PWL Athens Creek
  • Hospitality/Food Services: Neil the Man of Steel; PWL Red Deer
  • Resident Appreciation: Shrove Tuesday; PWL Wainwright
  • Employee Care Partner Appreciation: ECP Multicultural Event; PWL Stetter
  • COVID-19: It Takes a Community; PWL Cold Lake

Photo: Edmonton’s ‘House Party Entertainer’ Doug Stroud, adds a party atmosphere to the October 22nd Eden Awards ceremony at a production studio in Edmonton, while groups of employee care partners and residents watch online from their Points West Living and Connecting Care communities.

More photos at Flickr: Eden Awards demonstrate capacity for caring in our communities

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