BC Care Providers Association presents the final five nominees for the 2024 BC Care Provider of the Year Award in the Long-Term Care category.
Read about them and their inspiring work below.
Stella Joiner – Cook, Menno Home at Menno Place
Stella has been a dedicated member of the Menno Place team for over 20 years, exemplifying quality, compassion, and excellence in resident-centered care. As the lead in the Menno Home kitchen, she ensures every meal is crafted with care, knowing food is essential to residents’ well-being. Stella’s preference for preparing meals from scratch — from birthday cupcakes to Thanksgiving stuffing — creates a sense of home, evoking cherished memories and belonging. She also learns and prepares special-request recipes to honor residents’ preferences.
Stella goes beyond her role, often staying late or returning on her days off to support her team. Despite preparing meals for nearly 200 residents daily, she makes each individual feel as though their meal was crafted just for them. Her understanding that food is more than sustenance — it’s joy, connection, and routine — drives her commitment.
“Stella’s team knows how much she cares about them and the each and every resident knows it too.” – Manager of Dining Experience
“The dining team all know that they can always go to Stella with their questions and concerns, and she will hear them out and help them find a solution.” – Manager of Dining Experience
Tammie Genge – Health Care Aide, The Hamlets at Westsyde an Optima Living Community
With 40 years as a healthcare aide, including 17 at The Hamlets at Westsyde, Tammie exemplifies compassion, reliability, and excellence in resident care. She ensures residents feel valued by maintaining a clean, comfortable environment and supporting their personal grooming, such as shaving, to promote dignity. Tammie builds trust with residents through attentive listening and personal connection, fostering a sense of belonging and comfort.
Her dedication is unmatched, highlighted by an impressive 13-year streak without a sick day, providing residents with consistent, familiar care. She never cuts corners, ensuring daily laundry is completed and residents’ personal needs are met. Tammie’s ability to offer emotional support, lend a listening ear, and respond to residents’ individual preferences makes her an indispensable part of the care team, enhancing residents’ quality of life every day.
“When Tammie is around, I know my loved one is in safe hands, and I can rest easy.” – family member
“Tammie’s co-workers also appreciate her reliability and consider her a vital part of the team, consistently relying on her support and dedication to ensure a smooth workflow and consistency for the residents.” – Director of Care
Taryn Noizadan – Director of Care, Valleyhaven Retirement Community
Taryn joined Valleyhaven in 2012 as an LPN and quickly stood out for her nursing excellence and natural leadership. On the Behavioural Support Transition Neighbourhood (BSTN), she built trust with residents with advanced dementia, using compassion and de-escalation skills to support their well-being. Her advocacy for polypharmacy reduction and commitment to ongoing education underscore her dedication to quality care. Taryn also serves as a mentor, guiding and inspiring her peers.
Her leadership shined brightest in 2021 when both the Administrator and Director of Care were suddenly absent. Taryn stepped into a senior leadership role, overseeing staffing, clinical operations, and cross-departmental communication. Her calm decisiveness kept the home running smoothly, earning respect from colleagues and senior management. This pivotal role led to her promotion to Director of Care, where she continues to lead with integrity and excellence.
“Her commitment to care is evident in moments like when, long after most of the leadership team had left for the day, she was near the front desk, looking over the nursing schedule and didn’t hesitate to respond to a family member’s request for help with a warm, “Of course, how can I help you?” – Cite Administrator
“She exhibits very high professional standards and expects the same from others, all of this leads to Valleyhaven continuing to be a great facility to work in.” – Medical Director
Cameron Harvey – Resident Care Aide, AgeCare Monashee Mews
Cameron is known for providing compassionate, individualized care to residents. He takes the time to understand each resident’s unique needs and maintains a calm demeanor that fosters a sense of safety and well-being. Cameron goes beyond routine duties, offering companionship to residents who feel lonely, engaging them in conversation, and ensuring they feel seen and valued. His thoughtful approach, such as explaining each step of care as he works, promotes trust and comfort.
In addition to his caregiving, Cameron also helps maintain the residents’ quality of life by assisting with recreational activities, like organizing games or social events, ensuring that everyone feels included and engaged. As a team player, he supports his coworkers and is always the first to volunteer for training. His proactive spirit, empathy, and commitment to high-quality care make him a vital part of the Monashee Mews community.
“I love having Cam provide care because he is so respectful and detail oriented. I’m always confident that he will do a good job and know that my family member is safe and well looked after when he is around.” – AgeCare Monashee Mews family member
“I’m always impressed by the way that Cameron’s calm presence helps residents to stay calm themselves.” – Coworker at AgeCare Monashee Mews
Lauren Baltazar – Director of Care, AgeCare Harmony Court
Lauren exemplifies exceptional leadership and dedication as a nursing manager, consistently prioritizing the well-being of residents. For example, she promptly addressed a family’s concern about a resident’s wheelchair use by increasing mobility time and involving a physiotherapist for staff training. This improved the resident’s comfort and provided reassurance to the family. Lauren’s leadership also contributed to a recent Fraser Health Quality Report, where the clinical environment was rated excellent, reflecting her adherence to policies and commitment to quality care. She builds strong relationships with residents, creating personalized care plans based on their unique needs. Lauren fosters a compassionate, respectful atmosphere, making both residents and staff feel valued. Her proactive approach, open communication, and unwavering support for her team highlight her dedication to providing the highest standard of care.
“Lauren is dedicated and gets things done. She is a supportive nursing manager, listens and helps whenever she can. She is easy to reach and approachable.” – Coworker, AgeCare Harmony Court Estate
“Lauren is compassionate and hardworking. She is always going above and beyond for her team, residents, and families.” – Coworker, AgeCare Harmony Court Estate
Thank you to our award sponsor for their generous support:
