“The success of GEF is because of the amazing individuals who work here. The staff makes a difference everyday in the lives of the seniors living in our residences. They work as a team to create a living environment that the seniors refer to as home! The Greater Edmonton Foundation is very proud of the great staff!! We are very honoured that they have rated us as one of the BSME in Canada,” said Raymond Swonek, GEF’s Executive Director.

Tracy MacLeod, GEF’s Director of Human Resources, echoed Raymond’s comments by saying “What makes GEF a great place to work is the people! We have dedicated and loyal staff that just want to come to work every day and make a difference. GEF allows them the opportunity to do this. When you go to a GEF site you can see the pride that staff take in everything they do. It’s like walking into a big family home! Everyone, staff, residents, tenants, even visitors and families feel the warm sense of belonging the moment they walk in the door.”

The Foundation combined its Annual Staff Appreciation Day together with its celebration as a Best Small Medium Employer. Special activities with staff and residents will take place throughout the day at residences to celebrate staff and our award as a Best Small Medium Employer in Canada.

Becoming a Top Best Small and Medium Employer is a very detailed and competitive process. This national awards program recognizes top employers with between 50 and 400 employees. This study mirrors the renowned Best Employer in Canada initiative run by partner, Hewitt Associates; however, caters to smaller businesses. The rankings are primarily determined using the results from Employee Opinion Surveys. Here, 21 key engagement drivers are detailed and analyzed. The evaluation process also includes the assessment of organization practices and perspectives from the leadership team. This year, more than 200 companies across Canada registered to participate in the study.

Study partners include Queen’s School of Business, Queen’s Centre for Business Venturing and Hewitt Associates. More information about the Best Small & Medium Employers in Canada is available online at http://business.queensu.ca/qcbv/sme.

About GEF: Housing for Seniors

GEF provides friendly, affordable, secure accommodation and supportive living services to low to moderate income seniors throughout the City of Edmonton. The Foundation’s 17 apartments, 9 lodges and 2 duplex sites offer safe, affordable, community oriented living and a good quality of life for seniors. GEF lodges offer nutritious meals and snacks, daily housekeeping and a variety of recreation activities.

To help ensure we’ll be there when you need us, the Building for Life Campaign is raising funds to build more affordable seniors housing. Register for a one hour GEF Experience Information Session & Tour by calling 780-482-6561 or visit www.housingforseniors.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

Susan McCarthy, Manager of Public Relations
GEF: Housing for Seniors
Phone: 780-447-9207
Cell: 780-938-1243
Email: smccarthy@gef.org

Daryl McIntryre getting ready to hit the ice for GEF in the ATB Financial Charity Shootout on the CTV Rink of Dreams

All of us at GEF want to say a big thank you to Daryl McIntyre, CTV News Anchor for shooting for GEF on the Rink of Dreams and raising funds and awareness for our Building for Life Campaign.     

Thank you to ATB for your kind and generous donation to us.

Winter 2010

Fall 2009

Summer 2009

Spring 2009

Winter 2008

Fall 2008

Only five short years ago, GEF was considering closing the former Ottewell Lodge and potentially demolishing it to make way for new seniors’ apartments and lodges.

When word got out, other groups stepped forward asking to take a look, hoping it would be suitable for their clients.

The first partnership GEF embarked on was with Alberta Health which saw a Designated Assisted Living residence operated by Alberta Health staff and managed by GEF. The next use was a partnership with Shepherd’s Care Foundation where they operated it as an Assisted Living residence.

Today, South Manor is being leased for one year by St. Joseph Seminary as a residence for their seminary students while their new campus is being built.

Over the last few years, upgrades have been made to South Manor giving clients the best accommodation possible for the age of the building.

GEF also has plans to build on the vacant land next door to the new Ottewell Place and is gearing up for its 2nd Annual Building for Life Breakfast Fundraiser being held on October 30th. The project addition will add 24 apartment suites and 18 lodge rooms to the existing residence if funding is obtained to begin construction.

For more information contact: Susan McCarthy, Manager of Public Relations
Phone: 780-447-9207 Email: smccarthy@gef.org

Our Mission is to ensure seniors have the opportunity to enjoy a community oriented lifestyle, a home environment and a sense of well being by providing affordable, quality residences including supportive services delivered by dedicated and qualified people.

-30-

Many employees and residents shared stories about their association with us and guests enjoyed the beautiful cakes baked by our chefs. Special guests included Minister Yvonne Fritz, MLA Doug Elniski, Minister Heather Klimchuk and Councillor Linda Sloan. George Berry of Berry Architecture & Associates generously presented us with a $10,000 donation for the Building for Life Community Campaign. Residents & tenants of Pleasantview Place entertained guests with a fun fashion show dressing in styles of clothing from the 1950s to present day. Recreation Coordinators surprised everyone with their version of the RCMP Musical Ride, complete with hobby horses and Mountie uniforms and Samira, a gorgeous belly dancer mesmerized the crowd with her beautiful costume and dance. It was a fantastic event for the 400 guests who celebrated this milestone with us.

I am proud to be part of an organization that truly cares for employees and treats them with dignity and respect. I’m honoured that our employees feel so engaged with the Foundation and to have received such a distinguished award. This award affirms that the improvements we have made over the past few years are important to our staff and that we are moving in the right direction. I am happy to celebrate this achievement with the dedicated and compassionate staff of GEF: Housing for Seniors said Raymond Swonek, Executive Director.

As a non profit provider, we are so proud to be included with other companies who are all striving to engage their employees and retain quality staff. What is really special about this survey is that it gives employees the opportunity to express how they feel about working for GEF. The GEF culture is strong, diverse and caring and our employees demonstrate these key qualities through their teamwork and sense of family that they foster within each residence. Our employees are dedicated and committed and they not only provide a basic service, but everyday they make a difference in the lives of seniors. It’s wonderful to know that the management, board and staff all share a common vision. They believe in the mission of the organization and feel they add value to the community they live in. Raymond [Executive Director] takes the time to get to know every staff member by name and he works alongside them at each location a couple times a year. Having him as a leader and role model makes a huge difference to the morale of everyone at GEF” said Tracy MacLeod, Human Resources Director.

Becoming a Top Best Small and Medium Employer is a very detailed and competitive process. This national awards program recognizes top employers with between 50 and 400 employees. This study mirrors the renowned Best Employer in Canada initiative run by partner, Hewitt Associates; however, caters to smaller businesses.

The rankings are primarily determined using the results from Employee Opinion Surveys. Here, 18 key engagement drivers are detailed and analyzed. The evaluation process also includes the assessment of organizational practices and perspectives from the leadership team. This year, more than 250 companies across Canada registered to participate in the study.

Study partners include Queen’s School of Business, Queen’s Centre for Business Venturing and Hewitt Associates. More information about the Best Small & Medium Employers in Canada is available online at http://business.queensu.ca/qcbv/sme

About the Greater Edmonton Foundation

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Greater Edmonton Foundation: (GEF) Housing for Seniors. GEF is a non profit provider of quality, affordable housing and supportive living services for senior citizens living in Edmonton. The Foundation’s 11 apartments, 9 lodges and 2 duplex sites offer safe, affordable community oriented living providing seniors with a good quality of life. Our employees provide weekly housekeeping and food services and along with recreation and wellness programs we ensure our 1900 residents enjoy an excellent quality of life.

Please visit us at www.housingforseniors.org or call 780-482-6561 for more information.
For media inquiries, please contact:

Susan McCarthy, Manager of Public Relations
Phone: 780-447-9207
Email: smccarthy@gef.org

Sandra Olszowka, Director, Projects
Queen’s Centre for Business Venturing
Queen’s School of Business
Phone: 613-533-3119
Email: solszowka@business.queensu.ca

-30-

To download a PDF version of this Press Release, click here