BC Care Providers Association presents four nominees for the 2025 BC Care Provider of the Year Award in the Long-Term Care category. Read about them below.
Asmeen Ramazn – Health Care Aide – Arbutus Care Centre, AgeCare
Asmeen’s commitment to quality, compassion, and excellence is woven into every step she takes within the home. With nearly 30 years of dedicated service, she brings not only experience but a rare and genuine warmth that touches every resident she encounters. Her presence alone has a calming effect—residents soften when she walks into the room, families breathe easier knowing she is caring for their loved one, and staff feel supported simply by working alongside her. To Asmeen, caregiving is not a task—it is a calling, and she honours it with her whole heart.
What makes Asmeen extraordinary is her ability to truly see people. She pays attention to the smallest details, noticing when a resident’s smile is a little less bright, when their hands tremble with unspoken worry, or when their mood shifts in ways others might overlook. She responds with gentleness, patience, and deep empathy. She kneels to residents’ eye level, speaks softly, and reassures them with a kind touch on the shoulder or a warm embrace when needed. Every interaction is intentional, filled with dignity, respect, and genuine care.
Above all, the most remarkable part of Asmeen’s work is the way she brings humanity into every corner of the home. She celebrates small victories with residents, laughs with them, prays with them, and mourns with them when needed. She treats each person with the tenderness, patience, and devotion of family.
“Working with Asmeen feels like working beside a guardian angel. She teaches us not just how to care, but how to care from the heart.” – Fellow staff member
“Asmeen is the kind of caregiver who gives peace to an entire family. When my mother was afraid to walk after her fall, it was Asmeen who helped her regain confidence. She held her hand, encouraged her, and celebrated every tiny step. I will forever be grateful for the safety and love she gave her.” – Family member of resident
Teresa Bagshaw – Health Care Aide, The Hamlets at Duncan
While many people see night shifts as a time to maintain processes and routine, Teresa sees it as an opportunity to build calm and safe environments for their residents. Her approach to care is proactive and personal: she makes it a point to check in on each resident and offers words of comfort or assistance with their nighttime routines. As a strong observer, she recognizes emerging patterns and can anticipate and respond to residents’ evolving needs in a timely manner. Harbouring deep knowledge of each residents’ personal history and preferences, she Teresa delivers care that is not only clinically sound but deeply respectful and dignified.
Outside of direct care, Teresa maintains the continuity of care through her operational work. Teresa is an advocate for enhancing care processes and has had the opportunity to develop effective nighttime routines as a contributor. She has also played a key role in refining communication between the day and night teams. Thanks to her contributions, there has been a reduction in nighttime incidents, an increase in overall resident satisfaction, and the continuity of care is preserved. Teresa’s work always has the safety of residents and team members at the forefront, making her an invaluable member of her team.
“We are so lucky that Teresa was assigned to the night shift for our mother. Teresa is extremely diligent and hardworking, taking her job seriously even during the quietest hours. It gives us immense peace of mind to know our mother is in such capable hands overnight.” – Family Member
“My father often gets confused and anxious during the night. HCA Teresa has a wonderfully calm and gentle manner that helps him feel safe and secure in his environment. Teresa’s presence and kindness are invaluable, providing reassurance that goes beyond basic care and making a difficult time much easier for our family.” – Family Member
Teresita Ames – Health care Aide, Oakwood Manor
Teresita “Teri” Ames has been a steady presence at Oakwood Manor for over a decade. Her approach to care is guided by the SPARK approach: seeing, pausing, acknowledging, responding, and keeping connected. She is known for her warmth, patience, and strong intuition among residents, families, and team members alike. When residents need extra comfort or support, Teri never hesitates to spend extra time by their side to share a moment of connection. Through her work with residents, Teri has consistently contributed to the positive resident satisfaction and family engagement feedback Oakwood Manor has received.
Her dedication to residents also extends to her colleagues. When new hires join, Teri is often the first to mentor them. She models safe care practices, infection control, and respectful communication that seamlessly integrates them with the rest of the team. Teri also has a track record of being reliable, stepping in without hesitation to assist with complex care tasks and provide extra coverage where there are staffing shortage. Her reliability, grace, and empathy are well praised by the community at Oakwood Manor and truly exemplifies excellence in caregiving.
“Teri is the truly the heart of our floor. Residents light up when she enters the room, and she brings calm even in the most challenging situations. Her presence radiates reassurance and joy. She inspires all of us to care not just with skill, but with soul, compassion, and tireless dedication every single day.” — HCAs on the floor and families
“Teri exemplifies the Optima Living values—Respect, Compassion, and Teamwork—every day. Her professionalism and heart elevate the quality of care we provide and the culture we strive to maintain.” — Roger Wells, General Manager, Oakwood Manor
Winnie Bawalan – Recreation Aide at Nicola Lodge
Winnie Bawalan exemplifies the spirit of community at Nicola Lodge through her creativity, compassion, and dedication to resident well-being. When two residents, Janice and Roy, expressed their wish to celebrate their love with a ceremony, Winnie embraced their dream wholeheartedly. She led the planning of a Love Commitment Ceremony that honored their relationship and enriched their emotional well-being. Every detail—from music and flowers to rings and cake—was thoughtfully arranged, transforming a simple wish into a joyful, dignified experience. This event showcased Winnie’s ability to turn ideas into meaningful moments, demonstrating the power of person-centered care.
Her efforts extended beyond the walls of Nicola Lodge. Winnie engaged the wider community by securing donated flowers and cakes from a local grocery store, adding a heartfelt touch to the celebration. She collaborated closely with the dietary team to prepare refreshments and worked alongside staff and families to ensure the day was perfect. Through her leadership and creativity, Winnie transformed a private wish into a shared experience that strengthened bonds and brought hope and joy to Janice and Roy. Her actions are an extraordinary example of going above and beyond expectations, reflecting quality, compassion, and excellence in care.
“Winnie is a Recreation Therapy professional who brings genuine joy and warmth into everyday life. Her presence is more than a role—it’s a gift to the people she serves. She has an intuitive understanding of her residents’ needs, meeting each person where they are with compassion, patience, and enthusiasm. Winnie brings happiness, purpose, and connection to our residents and we are so grateful to have her on our team at Nicola Lodge.” – Kayla Melo, Director of Resident Programs
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Thank you to our award sponsor for their generous support:
Click here to register for the 12th Annual BC Care Awards ceremony.
