BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is proud to celebrate the exceptional passion and commitment of those who provide the best quality of care for B.C. seniors at the 12th Annual BC Care Awards. Below we highlight 2025 Workplace of the Year nominees who demonstrate staff engagement, recognition, and a significant change in workplace culture.
Good Samaritan Canada
Good Samaritan Canada has undertaken a meaningful and sustained transformation of its workplace culture, grounded in its vision of “Being and Belonging – Every Person, Every Home.” Rather than introducing isolated initiatives, the organization implemented a coordinated strategy that strengthens engagement, recognition, equity, diversity and inclusion, and Truth and Reconciliation. This people-centered approach has created a more supportive and culturally safe environment across all sites, ensuring staff feel valued, included, and equipped to thrive while delivering exceptional care.
The impact of this work is both measurable and deeply felt. More than 80 percent of employees have completed Indigenous cultural competency training. This has strengthened not only cultural safety but assists in shaping everyday care practices. Standardized online orientation, refreshed recognition practices, and EDI micro-learning have improved early engagement, confidence, and connection for staff. Events like the Employee Wellness Conference reinforced psychological safety, well-being, and ensures that care providers are seen and heard.
What truly sets Good Samaritan Canada apart is its commitment to sustaining this progress. This culture shift is woven into its policies, learning programs, leadership expectations, and daily interactions. Promoting belonging, clarity, and pride in the workplace has resulted in the enhancement of employee well-being and resident experience. This comprehensive transformation demonstrates what compassionate and inclusive workplace culture in continuing care can be.
Wisteria Place
Wisteria Place has spent the past year reshaping its workplace culture into something vibrant, collaborative, and deeply people centered. With 123 residents and more than 70 staff, the community has created an environment where everyone truly feels at home. Improved communication, daily “welcome home” practices, and meaningful staff recognition have turned team members into active partners in resident life. Many of them share their talents through music, fitness, and cultural celebrations. This approach has sparked new energy throughout the community, leading to higher staff engagement, stronger retention, and a warm, connected atmosphere that residents feel every day.
What makes this transformation exceptional is the way staff from more than twenty cultural backgrounds have woven their traditions and passions into the fabric of daily life at Wisteria Place. Employees are no longer defined solely by their roles; they serve as volunteers, teachers, cultural ambassadors, and companions. They are enriching programs with authenticity and heart. This inclusive model has strengthened teamwork, deepened relationships, and elevated dignity and respect from simple values to lived experiences. Residents have become more active and engaged than ever joining in dance, tai chi, meditation, and community outings that reflect the diversity and creativity of the team.
The results speak for themselves: an exceptionally long waitlist, some of the region’s highest resident satisfaction scores, and consistent praise from families who feel the warmth of the culture shift. Wisteria Place has become more than a workplace or a residence: it has become a flourishing, multicultural community where people genuinely connect, support one another, and create a shared sense of home.
Optima Living
Optima Living is a leading senior living organization that brings its mission: “Let us welcome you home,” to life across 39 communities in Western Canada. Offering a full continuum of care, the organization has built a culture centered on dignity, respect, and authentic connection. Even amid rapid growth, Optima Living has remained committed to nurturing environments where residents feel supported, employees feel valued, and communities feel like family.
What makes Optima Living’s workplace culture transformation remarkable is the way the organization has turned expansion into an opportunity to deepen engagement and strengthen shared purpose. Signature initiatives such as the Shining Star Program, which celebrates team members who embody core values, and the Rising Star Program, which provides structured pathways for learning and career advancement, have created a culture of recognition, pride, and growth. Clear and consistent communication through community newsletters and the company-wide OWL newsletter ensures staff across all sites feel informed, connected, and part of a united team.
These cultural investments have translated into meaningful, measurable outcomes. Staff morale and collaboration have risen, retention has strengthened, and residents benefit from care teams who feel supported, inspired, and equipped to lead engaging programs like the innovative Spark wellness initiative. Families consistently note the warm, welcoming atmosphere that defines every Optima Living community. By pairing people-centered values with organization-wide initiatives that support both staff and residents, Optima Living has created a workplace culture that is inclusive, inspiring, and deserving of recognition.
Rosemary Heights Seniors Village
The transformation at Rosemary Heights Seniors Village has created a workplace where trust, collaboration, and genuine care shape every interaction. Leadership made a deliberate effort to invite staff into open conversations, giving them a real voice in decisions that affect their work and their residents. As staff began to feel heard and valued, a renewed sense of purpose took hold. What was once routine evolved into a culture of innovation, where employees felt empowered to bring their best ideas forward. This shift not only strengthened morale but also deepened the connection between staff and residents, enriching the daily experience for everyone in the community.
The commitment to staff well-being has further defined this cultural renewal. Mindfulness initiatives, leadership development, and meaningful recognition programs like “Moments that Matter” have helped employees feel supported both personally and professionally. These efforts reduced burnout, encouraged ongoing learning, and fostered an environment where appreciation is expressed openly and often. As a result, the workplace has become a place where people feel energized, respected, and proud of the care they provide.
The positive impact of this cultural shift is reflected in stronger team cohesion, lower turnover, and a noticeable rise in resident satisfaction. Rosemary Heights Seniors Village shows how a compassionate, inclusive approach to leadership can transform not just a workplace, but an entire community. By nurturing a culture where staff thrive, the organization ensures that residents receive the thoughtful, attentive care they deserve.
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Click here to register for the 12th Annual BC Care Awards ceremony.
Thank you to our award sponsor for their generous support:
