Announcing Kevin Svoboda as the winner of the 2023 Ed Helfrich Long-Service Excellence Award

After careful consideration amongst the Events and Recognition Committee, BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is pleased to officially announce Kevin Svoboda as the winner of the 2023 Ed Helfrich Long-Service Excellence Award.

Since obtaining his first homes in Armstrong and Vernon in 1999, Kevin has made a lifetime commitment to providing quality care and services to seniors across B.C. Remarkably, he has had the privilege of working alongside Ed Helfrich, whom the award is named after, as a BCCPA board member.

Kevin celebrates his 25^th year as President and CEO of Kaigo Senior Living this year, marking a milestone in the level of extraordinary growth he has brought the organization since its early beginnings. Under Kevin’s guidance, the organization has experienced substantial growth, from 57 beds in 1999 to a total of 734 beds encompassing long-term care, assisted living, and independent living, and is set to reach a grand total of 872 with the Mission Creek Landing expansion by the summer of 2024.

Within the organization, Kevin has also fostered constant growth and improvement. This growth has facilitated an enhanced focus on quality improvement and standardization across the organization, ensuring consistency in care delivery and helped share the collective knowledge of team members with expertise in specific areas across each site. It has also allowed Kaigo to invest in technologies and leadership training that helps support quality improvement effort, as well as a CPHR certified Human Resources team and an organizational wide Quality Improvement Coordinator to help move the organization’s strategic plan forward. Kevin’s hands-on approach and regular presence within the homes provide him with meaningful insight into improvement across the organization.

Under Kevin’s leadership, Kaigo has garnered recognition and numerous accolades. These include superior quality reviews by health authorities, ‘low risk’ licensing ratings across sites, ongoing positive feedback from residents and their families, and Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada. In addition, two Kaigo sites received praised following last year’s wildfire and flood events. Notably, Kaigo’s Creekside Landing home was chosen last year as one of nine care homes across Canada to present a quality improvement project at a Healthcare Excellence Canada event.